Making meetings accessible to people who communicate differently

Tips on Making Board and Committee Meetings Accessible

Though everyone is an individual and we are not about furthering labeling or stereotyping – there are a few things that it may be useful to know:


• Read all materials out loud
• The difficulties can be so great, that communication does not occur
• Nothing about me with out me – We want to be at the table where decisions are made on policy and practice that impacts our life and ability to receive services, funding and supports
• If people are not supported in their right to communicate – they don’t have freedom of speech
• Communication is more than speech, through art, relationships, interactions and gestures. Make space for the poetic streams of justice
• Understand that because we communicate and process information differently doesn’t mean we are less competent than others on the committee – it just means we need a personalized plan of support to participate effectively.
• Communication is more than sounds coming out of your mouth. It’s thoughts and ideas and the forming of opinions. Provide a variety of ways for sharing – and find out how each person on the committee processes and communicates ideas best.
• Plan accordingly for the kind of supports we need. This may include funding for support staff, planning time before a meeting, or support in accessing between meeting correspondence.
• People may process at different speeds on different days, or have difficulty initiating action. One of the main supports my personal assistant may be providing for me is assistance with initiating of motor functioning or executing communication plans.
• See the environment as we do, and understand why it is sometimes hard to stay in our chairs or not act out for a long time. Of course this is different for each person, but some examples of accommodations that may be needed are: Rooms have lights that make noises, hold meetings in rooms with as much natural light as possible and turn off florescent lights.
• Provide a choice of chairs for a meeting, sometimes cushy chairs are just too soft or they may be too uncomfortable or distracting if they have slats in the back.
• Give time for response when a group is sharing ideas verbally. I may be a question or two behind because it takes time to type and to initiate movement.
• Assist people to develop new competencies and learn new things. Don’t ask them to be on the board or committee just as a token.