Simple Ways to Make Class Discussions More Inclusive

One way to practice Neuroinclusive Culture is to give people time to generate questions, perspectives and feedback rather than only inviting this on the spot. Assume that there are questions and people are processing the information. Replace: "If you have any questions, just ask" with wording like: "Email me with whatever questions come up for you in the next few days." "Your perspective matters to me, what are your thoughts?" "What am I not seeing/ What am I missing?" Many neurodivergent people ask a lot of questions and are responded to with reprimand that we're challenging authority or exasperation that we're a burden. We are keenly aware of these assumptions made about us, so when you use genuinely inviting lauguage that explicitly lets us know our questions are welcome, it makes a world of difference in creating the conditions for accessibility, belonging, and contribution.

Someone recently asked me, “How do you make sure everyone feels heard in virtual meetings, especially when some voices tend to dominate?” Here’s what I’ve found works: ✅ Set Expectations – I always start by encouraging open dialogue and making sure everyone knows their input is valuable. This simple step sets the tone for inclusivity. 🔄 Rotate Speaking – I make a conscious effort to rotate speaking opportunities, ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute. 📊 Use Tools – Polls, chat features, or hand-raising tools can help quieter team members participate without feeling put on the spot. 🤝 Break into Smaller Groups – If the group is large, smaller breakouts foster more comfortable discussions where everyone feels more at ease to speak. 🎯 Direct Invitations – If someone hasn’t had the chance to chime in, I’ll gently ask for their thoughts. A simple invitation can unlock valuable perspectives. These approaches have helped me create more inclusive conversations where all voices are heard. How do you make space for everyone in your meetings? #Teamwork #InclusiveMeetings #VirtualMeetings

Many of us have experienced this: We give a presentation and when we are done, we open it up for questions. Moments of awkward silence follow. Eventually, a few questions trickle in. Embarrassment avoided. But we know: active audience engagement looks different. Much of my work with clients revolves around designing engaging, highly interactive workshops, trainings, panel discussions, and presentations. I just stumbled upon a short article by Joe Murphy, CCEP (see link), sharing an effective technique he uses to get participants involved during presentations or trainings. The beauty of it: It is very easy to apply, doesn’t require props of any kind, and suitable both for in-person and virtual settings. The technique in brief: 1) After a short introduction of yourself and your topic, ask participants to turn to a neighbor or two. Ask them to introduce themselves and share what they hope to get out of this session. 2) As you finish your presentation and move into the discussion part, ask participants again to turn to a neighbor and discuss: What was presented that you have questions about? What is your perspective on the topic? 3) After a few minutes, harvest discussion topics from the group. Why is this simple technique effective? 1) The presentation becomes more user-centered. It allows the presenter to be responsive to the interests of the audience and conveys to the audience that they and their perspectives are valued. 2) The exercise loosens participants’ tongue. As they speak to each other, they rehearse what they have to say, boosting their confidence to speak up in the larger audience. 3) People are much more satisfied with a session where they were able to contribute and felt heard. The best techniques are sometimes very simple. I hope you will find Joe’s technique as useful as I did. I am curious to hear: What techniques can you recommend for designing more engaging sessions? Please share in the comments. #facilitation #uxdesign #ethicsandcompliance https://lnkd.in/eivNaqZB