Key Consideration 9: Participation and Engagement
Events and programming are far more than simply sharing information. Participants are expected to engage in a wide variety of ways. Participation and engagement should also be considered as broadly as possible. While specific group activities should be inclusive, participation can also be asking questions or getting food during breaks. There are a wide variety of ways we expect participants to engage in our events and we must think critically about what effective engagement looks like across these areas.
As with other aspects, it is important to think about how you can provide participants with, to use the language of Universal Design for Learning, multiple means of engagement Links to an external site.. Creating ways to flexibly participate will ensure that many more people can engage in the event or programming.
Core Questions
- Are food and meals accessible and inclusive?
- Are group activities accessible?
- How can participants raise questions or join into relevant conversations?
- How are virtual participants being included?