This webpage is part of the broader Equitable Community Engagement Guide for Disability Inclusion. This Guide can also be accessed as a downloadable document: Equitable Community Engagement Guide for Disability Inclusion (MS Word).
Consider multiple, different forms for recruiting participants to ensure your communication reaches diverse people and that all community members have the chance to participate. Ensure all communication materials are available in accessible formats, including alternative text on images and closed captions on videos. Consider personalized recruitment of students or departments where you have pre-existing relationships.
Set clear expectations for:
- What activities participants will engage in;
- Available accessibility tools and the process to request accommodations;
- What impact participant engagement will have on the project;
- How participants will be compensated (including amount, format, and timeline);
- How participants can stay informed about the project process.
When working with members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, avoid including room numbers in broad recruitment promotion. Members of vulnerable, equity-denied groups may feel safer if the broader community is unaware of their exact location at a specific time. If possible, communicate the exact location of the community engagement in individual, private communications (e.g. registration follow-up emails). Note that this recommendation may differ depending on the intended audience; for example, including room numbers may provide access information for persons with disabilities to use in planning without forcing disclosure.
When recruiting participants, apply an intersectional lens that ensures engagement with the full diversity of our community. Provide explicit opportunities for members of equity-deserving groups, including Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, to participate in your community engagement. Consider promoting your community engagement through established affinity networks for equity-deserving groups, including:
- Student networks (Glow Centre, RAISE, Women’s Centre, Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre, etc.)
- Employee networks (UW Gender and Sexual Diversity Alliance, Women and Nonbinary Wednesdays, Black Faculty Association, etc.)
Self-selection for participation means a built-in bias. This can be appropriate for this type of community engagement because they focus on storytelling rather than generalizable quantitative data. The data can be meaningful in guiding your project but does not allow you to speak for generalized communities or cultures.