Amplifying Expert Voices in Accessibility Innovation: Leveraging Community Conversations

• In Event: Toward Educational Renewal: Individual and Collective Conference Access

Abstract

There are numerous reasons to allow for community engagement when discussing accessibility, as it ensures inclusivity, leads to more effective solutions, raises awareness, fosters collaboration, and upholds ethical standards of involvement and representation for disabled individuals (McDonald et al., 2022; Sitter & Nusbaum, 2018). Engaging with a community, regardless of the organization, creates spaces and services that are genuinely accessible to all. When considering the complicated and ongoing obstacles related to the accessibility of the annual American Educational Research Association (AERA) meeting and the lack of consistent measures to maintain and improve accessibility services of the conference events, it begs the question of whether AERA has truly engaged with the organization’s community members on the overall accessibility of the conference and the inclusivity of disabled AERA members at the annual meeting? While there is a post-conference questionnaire and some conversation between AERA leadership and Disability Studies in Education SIG committee members, there is room for growth (Author, 2024; Nusbaum, 2024; Rath, 2024; Reese & Lomellini, 2024; Wilson, 2024).

Purpose of Symposium Paper
This conference presentation proposes using community conversations for initiatives related to the accessibility of the AERA annual conference. Community conversations are structured conversations that engage all relevant stakeholders in a specific community to discuss important topics related to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities (Bumble et al., 2019, p. 29). This presentation will offer a structure of integrating community conversations for all AERA members and include questions related to the accessibility of the conference and the perceived inclusivity of disability within the organization.

Conceptual Framework and Scholarly Significance
This presentation will structure the use of community conversations through a conceptual framework integrating components of ableism, a sense of belonging, and social justice. An ableist environment negatively views an individual by their disability and oftentimes discriminates against behavior considered outside of typical functioning (Linton, 1998). It is important to incorporate the idea of ableism within the conceptual model as the success and engagement of disabled AERA members may be contingent on the level of ableism within a specific organizational setting.

The concept of “sense of belonging” highlights the role and importance of individuals feeling welcomed within their organization and their peers (Dávila & García, 2012). Sense of belonging is important to include within the conceptual model as disabled AERA members participating in the annual conference must not only perceive a sense of belonging but experience a sense of belonging at the conference and within the overall organization.
A social justice approach explores potential elements of oppression and privilege within a specific environment (Evans et al., 2017; Patton et al. 2010). Including the role of a social justice mindset within this conceptual framework is key when exploring the perceptions of institutional members, namely AERA members, on the role and importance of perceived inclusion and engagement within an accessible space. By capitalizing on recurring community conversations guided by these frameworks, we can, together, create an inclusive and accessible environment for all members of AERA.

Authors

• Maria Paula Mello, St. John's University

• Katherine C. Aquino, St. John's University