What are the best practices for creating team workshops accessible to participants with disabilities?

2 Choose an accessible venue

The location of your team workshop can make a big difference in the accessibility and comfort of your participants. You need to ensure that the venue is easy to reach by public transportation or parking, and that it has ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. You also need to check the lighting, acoustics, and temperature of the workshop room, and make sure that there is enough space for mobility devices, service animals, or interpreters. If possible, visit the venue beforehand and test the equipment, furniture, and layout.

3 Adapt your materials and methods

The way you present and deliver your workshop content and activities can also affect the accessibility and engagement of your participants. You need to use clear, simple, and inclusive language, and avoid jargon, acronyms, or idioms that may be confusing or offensive. You also need to provide alternative formats and modes of communication, such as captions, transcripts, audio descriptions, or sign language. Additionally, you need to vary your methods and use interactive, collaborative, and multisensory approaches that appeal to different learning preferences and abilities.

4 Communicate clearly and respectfully

During your team workshop, you need to communicate clearly and respectfully with all participants, and encourage them to do the same. You need to introduce yourself and the workshop objectives, agenda, and ground rules, and check for understanding and consent. You also need to use verbal and non-verbal cues, such as eye contact, gestures, or pauses, to emphasize key points and invite feedback. Moreover, you need to address participants by their names or preferred pronouns, and avoid making assumptions or judgments about their abilities or impairments.

5 Solicit and act on feedback

After your team workshop, you need to solicit and act on feedback from your participants and co-facilitators, and evaluate the accessibility and effectiveness of your workshop. You can use surveys, interviews, or focus groups to ask about their satisfaction, learning outcomes, and suggestions for improvement. You can also use self-reflection tools, such as journals, logs, or portfolios, to assess your own performance and identify your strengths and areas for development. Finally, you need to use the feedback to revise and refine your workshop design and delivery for future sessions.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?