Why is this a problem?
Many standards organizations do not clearly explain what committee roles involve at the time of application. Providing details like who is on the committee, what they do, and how to contact them is necessary.
As a result, people are often left with basic unanswered questions, such as:
- Eligibility and who the role is for
- Who can apply?
- Who is the committee looking for?
- What does “expertise” mean (formal credentials, lived experience, or both)?
- What experience or skills are required?
- Role expectations and responsibilities
- What will I actually be doing in this role?
- What are the main responsibilities?
- How much influence do members have?
- How are decisions made (consensus, voting, chair decision)?
- Time and workload
- What is the time commitment (hours per month)?
- How often are meetings?
- How long are meetings?
- What is the expected length of membership (months/years)?
- Meetings and participation format
- Are meetings online, hybrid, or in-person?
- What time zone are meetings based in?
- Are meetings during work hours or evenings?
- Will I need to travel?
- Accessibility and accommodations
- Will accommodations be provided (sign language/interpretation, captions, accessible documents)?
- How do I request accommodations, and when?
- Are plain language versions available?
- What happens if I face accessibility barriers during the process?
- Costs, pay, and support
- Is the role paid, volunteer, or supported with an honorarium?
- Who covers costs like travel, internet, or software?
- Will support be provided for assistive technology needs?
- Application process and next steps
- What happens after I apply?
- How long will it take to hear back?
- Who can I contact if I have questions before applying?
- Safety, inclusion, and accountability
- How will diversity and intersectionality be considered?
- What is the process if someone experiences discrimination or harm?
- What happens if I need to step back temporarily due to disability, caregiving, or health?
- Recognition and credit
- How will my contribution be recognized?
- Will my name be listed publicly?
- Will I be credited in the final standard or related materials?
Ways to address the barrier
Be transparent in the application process
Quick Actions
- Publish clear selection criteria for technical committee members that reflect inclusion and diversity goals.
- Provide role descriptions that outline:
- Time commitments
- Tasks and responsibilities
- Compensation or volunteer expectations
- Provide information on accessibility supports including:
- What accommodations are available by default (e.g., captioning, large print, flexible schedules)
- What can be provided by request (e.g., sign language interpretation)
- How to request support, and who to contact
- Communicate regularly with applicants about their status and timelines.
- Offer alternative ways to participate such as public comment periods to those not selected.
Barriers these actions address
- Inaccessible registration systems
- Lack of clear and accessible onboarding process
- Lack of organizational support
- Unclear participation information
Create a shared support system
Long-term Actions
- Collaborate with other organizations and SDOs to provide and coordinate accessibility services for joint initiatives and events
- Advocate for system-wide access funds modelled after successful initiatives like the Swedish Disability Rights Federation which is the national umbrella group for disability organizations in Sweden. It speaks on behalf of the Swedish disability movement, raises awareness about disability issues, and provides advice to the government, parliament, and national authorities.
Barriers these actions address
- No funding for accessibility accommodations
- No clear way to report problems or get help
- Unclear participation information
- Lack of organizational support
- Lack of financial support or payment
Host onboarding meetings before committee work begins
Quick Actions
Co-chairs should meet with new members individually to:
- Introduce the structure and goals of the committee
- Clarify roles, expectations, and responsibilities
- Explain workflows, working culture and norms, and decision-making processes
- Identify any initial access needs and come up with a plan to meet them
Barriers these actions address
- Difficulty receiving and communicating information
- Dominant “expert” culture
- Lack of clear and accessible onboarding process
- Lack of training and support for committee members
- Lack of training and support for chairs and facilitators
- People don’t start at the same place
- Unclear participation information
Make communications multi-modal and consistent
Quick Actions
- Distribute information through multiple channels such as websites, social media, newsletters, community spaces, partner networks, mailing lists and community radio to reach people where they are.
- Use a mix of communication formats such as recorded videos, written guides, infographics, visual diagrams and print materials to make content as widely accessible as possible
- Provide materials in alternative formats (large print, braille, plain language, screen-reader compatible documents, audio/video).
- Offer synchronous (live), asynchronous (on-demand), and hybrid options to support different time zones, learning styles, and access needs.
Long-term Actions
- Maintain clear, consistent communication across multiple modalities, channels and platforms.
- Share opportunities in many different places and in different ways. This helps reach people who may not realize that standards development is open to them, or who do not see themselves represented in these spaces.
Barriers these actions address
- Recruiting for diversity
- Communication styles default to Western norms
- Difficulty receiving and communicating information
- Unclear participation information
Provide a welcome package for new members
Quick Actions
Welcome packages can include the following:
- Committee member list and roles (who to go to for what)
- Overview of timelines and workflows
- Tools and platforms being used
- Key documents to read first
- Contact points for accessibility supports
Long-term Actions
- Provide documents, materials and technologies based on roles and responsibilities
- Provide information in flexible, small, digestible parts by using multiple shorter orientation sessions instead of one long session. This will give new members time to process the information and ask questions
Barriers these actions address
- Difficulty receiving and communicating information
- Lack of clear and accessible onboarding process
- People don’t start at the same place
- Unclear participation information
- Too much background information for new members