“All bodies have strengths and needs that must be met. We are powerful not despite the
complexities of our bodies, but because of them. We move together, with no body left behind.
This is disability justice.” -Patty Berne, Sins Invalid
WHAT IS ACCESS CHECK-IN
Accessibility check-ins disrupt ableism in meeting culture. The majority of meeting systems, structures, and cultural norms are centered around the needs of abled, neurotypical participants. As a result, neurodiverse and people with disabilities are prevented from fully participating. An accessibility check-in provides an opportunity at the beginning of a gathering for every participant to share what they need in order to bring their whole selves to the process. These check-ins play an important role in developing an accessible workplace, establishing a culture of inclusion, as well as fully supporting individual participants. They are great for business, art, and education setting.
WHY THE ACCESS CHECK-IN
By asking everyone to share their needs, we take the burden of disrupting ableism off those who are made vulnerable by it. Because disabilities can be invisible or temporary, we normalize the idea that you can’t know someone’s accessibility needs simply by observing them. We create a welcoming and inclusive environment that doesn’t make neurodiverse and disabled peoples feel “othered”. Accessibility check-ins allow each of us to acknowledge the unique needs our bodies present at any moment, empowering us to collectively address barriers to our shared participation. This improves meeting systems, structures and norms for everyone, not just disabled and neurodiverse peoples.
HOW TO DO ACCESS CHECK-IN
Everyone should participate because everyone has access needs. For time management people can share access need in via chat in digital spaces. After sharing your name and other introduction topics (gender pronouns, title, organizational affiliation etc.) simply and concisely share whatever access needs you’re experiencing. Possible answers include, but are not limited to: “as a Blind participant, I need you to repeat your name each time you speak”; “as a participant with hearing issues I might need you to repeat language and I’ll signal with my hand to let you know”; “I have mobility needs that may require me to stretch my legs”; “my blood sugar is low and so I’ll need to eat during this meeting”; “because of my dyslexia, I’d like to have time with any text before being asked to read it aloud”; “I am pregnant and will be leaving often to use the bathroom” etc. Only share needs that you feel comfortable disclosing. We all have access needs, even if we’re not used to identifying them!
If access needs are met say, “All my access needs are met at this time.” That sentence affirms what is working in the space as well as equalizing power between all participants. Be aware that the stakes of sharing needs are different for each of us, so please resist making jokes about your own needs or those of others. Avoid asking people if they “feel good” since that different for everyone.
Language from Curiosity Paradox on Access Check-in
An Access Check In asks, “what do you need (or want) the group to know for you to participate?” It might also be an opportunity to respond to the questions, “how are you feeling and what do you need?” or “why are you here and what do you need?” or “what do you hope to learn and what do you need?”
During an Access Check In, a person might realize they need water. It is ok to stop the Access Check In for an access need to get met. Access Check Ins can be an agenda item that interrupts ableism, they may also interrupt an agenda.
Access Check in resource with video from 2019
The Access Check-In
This Access Resource Updated by Claudia Alick 2020.
Credit Grant Miller of the Curiosity Paradox for Access Check in Original Concept 2016 and Corrina August Schulenburg for editing 2017