Creating Inclusive Events for Diverse Parent Participation

How Do We Ensure Every Participant's Journey Starts on the Right Note? 🎶 We often focus on the main event experience, but how many of us have paused to consider the very first touchpoint - the registration process? A truly inclusive event starts the moment someone considers attending. Here are a few strategies to ensure our registration processes pave the way for comprehensive inclusivity: 1. Accessible Platforms: Ensure your registration website/platform is ADA compliant and mobile-friendly, catering to diverse digital proficiencies. 2. Diverse Imagery: Use graphics and visuals that reflect a myriad of ethnicities, abilities, genders, and ages, signaling a welcoming environment for everyone. 3. Clear Communication: Offer language options or, at the very least, ensure clarity in your information. Avoid jargon. 4. Payment Flexibility: Consider various payment methods, possible installments, or even sponsorship options for those needing financial assistance. 5. Inclusive Accommodations Check: No, not sleeping rooms, but incorporate an option where attendees can specify any special requirements or accommodations they might need, be it related to physical accessibility, dietary needs, visual, hearing, or otherwise. The way we welcome our participants sets the tone for the entire event. Let's ensure we're rolling out the red carpet for everyone, right from the start! ✨ How do you prioritize inclusivity during your event registration? Share your strategies or experiences below, and let's pave the way for even more inclusive beginnings! #FirstImpressionsMatter #InclusiveEventRegistration 🌟🤝

I attended Transform last week and it was far and away the most inclusive large conference I've attended. And yet there was still room for improvement, as there always will be as we aim to fully include everyone! I thought why not share some best practices on inclusive conferences and events for anyone who may be organizing them now or in the future. 〰 Ask for pronouns in the registration process and include them on name badges. Either only provide a space for write-in or provide diverse options like he/him, she/her, they/them, she/they, he/they, they/she, they/he, they/he/she, ze/hir, and xe/xem. For the write-in option, be sure to use language like ‘Self-identify:’ instead of ‘Other:’ which can be, well, othering. 〰 Provide space to request accommodations during the registration process. Some folks may need ASL interpretation, have allergies, be sensitive to strobe lights, need reserved seating, or many other accommodations. 〰 Choose a venue that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, and designated parking spaces. Provide clear and legible signage to assist attendees in navigating the space and accessibility guides to support specific needs. 〰 Provide at least some (ideally all) all-gender restrooms. If your venue doesn’t provide these already, consider designating single use/family restrooms as all-gender and just make it clear using your own signage. Another option is to cover gendered restroom signs with signage that describes the layout (i.e. ‘Restroom with stalls’ and ‘Restrooms with urinals and stalls’) if your venue will allow it. 〰 Ensure diversity and representation in speakers, panelists, moderators, and presenters. Aim for a range of identities, perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to reflect the diversity of your audience. Be sure this applies to all roles equally, not just moderators or emcees which can lead to tokenism. 〰 Create a neurodivergent-friendly environment by offering quiet spaces, providing sensory-friendly materials, and minimizing loud noises and bright lights. If you want to go above and beyond, provide fidget toys! 〰 Establish community guidelines or a code of conduct that outlines expectations for respectful behavior and prohibits discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behavior based on identity or background. Share these guidelines before the conference and then do a quick review at the kickoff session. Enforce these guidelines consistently throughout the conference and ensure there are options for safe reporting. 〰 Provide a nursing room for breastfeeding individuals. Call it a ‘nursing room’ instead of a ‘mother’s room’ as not all mothers breastfeed and not all breastfeeding individuals are mothers. 〰 Provide various Q&A options, including traditional mic setup, QR codes, and text codes for accessibility. I'm running out of space, so continued in the comments! But would love to know, what else would you add?

Inclusivity at events — it’s so important. Let’s talk about it! 🤗 This list isn’t comprehensive, but it’s a start. Keep these six things in mind: 1. Accessibility: Ensure the venue is accessible to people with disabilities. Does it have great ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms? And for your sessions, are you offering captions, transcripts, or sign language interpreters? 2. Diverse representation: Choose speakers, panelists, and moderators who look like the general population. You should have all sorts of genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds represented. 3. Inclusive language & signage: Prioritize inclusive language in all of your communications, and consider offering pronoun badges for attendees. Also, be sure your signage is easy to read and includes multiple languages if necessary. 4. Dietary considerations: Provide a variety of food options to cater to different dietary needs and preferences, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal, and kosher options. Also, be sure to clearly label all food with allergen information. And don't forget the mocktails. 5. Cultural sensitivity: Be mindful of religious and cultural holidays when scheduling events, and respect cultural practices and customs, such as prayer times and attire. 6. Inclusive spatial planning: Designate a specific Mother’s Room, Prayer Room, and Meditation Room to let attendees step away and attend to their personal needs.

Creating Inclusive and Family-Friendly Events As the new academic year begins, a wide range of activities—including social events, award ceremonies, and club meetings—are starting to take place, often scheduled after 5 pm. These events are highly valued, as they foster personal connections, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and help build networks crucial for future opportunities. No one wants to miss out on these valuable experiences! With that in mind, I kindly urge organizers to consider the needs of those with family responsibilities when planning these events. While I am fortunate to be able to afford after-school care (2:45-5:30 pm), attending events after 5 pm often requires me to either hire additional help or rely on my spouse to manage pick-up, dinner, and other family duties. Unfortunately, not everyone has these options available, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear of missing out, and concerns about being excluded from important networking opportunities. To help make these events more inclusive, here are a few suggestions: • Whenever possible, avoid scheduling work-related events after 5 pm. • Consider hosting social gatherings from 3-5 pm as a great way to conclude the workday. • Lunches, as well as morning or afternoon coffee/tea sessions, can also be excellent alternatives. • If events must be held after 5 pm, please consider providing accommodations for families with children. This could include setting up a kids’ area, offering babysitting services, or choosing a child-friendly venue. Thank you for taking the time to consider these suggestions and for making every effort to ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued. Cheers!