An IDRC Project An Inclusive Design Research Centre Project

Long-term Actions

  • Work with D/deaf, D/disabled, under-representated and local community organizations to share new standards.
  • Host community briefings, workshops, or explainer sessions to make the standards easier to understand.
  • Provide toolkits in digital and print formats that explain the standards in plain language.
  • Show how the standards can be applied in real-life situations and how people can use them to advocate for change.
  • Use multiple communication channels such as social media, newsletters, and community boards to reach different groups.
  • Offer translations, captions, or sign language/interpretation versions to make sessions inclusive.
  • Encourage feedback from the community on how well the standards meet their needs.
  • Highlight success stories where communities used standards to make a positive impact.

Barriers these actions address

Publishing standards does not guarantee awareness or access

Why is this a problem?

Publishing a standard does not mean people will see it or be able to use it. If people are not aware of it or cannot access it, it will not help the communities it is meant to support.

Common problems include:

  • Limited outreach can leave out small organizations or marginalized communities.
  • People or organizations may not know the standard exists.
  • The standard may be written in complex or technical language that is hard to understand.
  • A lack of accessible formats can prevent some people from reading or using the standard.

Ways to address the barrier

  • Establish continuous feedback loops
  • Make published standards free and easy to access
  • Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities
  • Promote standards in the communities they affect

Recruiting for diversity

Why is this a problem?

Even when an organization wants more diverse participation, it may not know how to recruit in an inclusive way.

Important questions to ask:

  • Are you always reaching out to the same people or groups?
  • Do you mostly recruit through personal or professional contacts, which can leave others out?
  • Are your outreach methods accessible and offered in different formats?
  • Are you reaching the communities you actually want to include?
  • Do you have the time and resources to build trust with underrepresented communities?
  • Are your recruitment steps and requirements inclusive, or do they accidentally exclude people?

Ways to address the barrier

  • Build in travel funding
  • Check and improve accessibility
  • Make communications multi-modal and consistent
  • Promote standards in the communities they affect
  • Recruit across D/disability and intersectional identity