--- title: "Keys to Creating Inclusive Meeting Content" id: "61375" type: "post" slug: "keys-to-creating-inclusive-meeting-content" published_at: "2022-09-20T14:00:10+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:07:54+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/keys-to-creating-inclusive-meeting-content/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/keys-to-creating-inclusive-meeting-content.md" excerpt: "The spectrum for inclusive content is wide. By recognizing where your event may be deficient, using universal design concepts, and asking attendees what works for them (and doesn’t), you can create learning that meets a broad array of needs." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Keys to Creating Inclusive Meeting Content Part of the Deep Dive[Renewal](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/renewal-meetings-in-the-post-pandemic-era/) Many associations have made advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority in their programs and services, including in meetings and learning. Compared to your organization’s past practices, you may think the learning you offer at your conferences is inclusive—but is it really? “The most important thing that people always forget about is that you need to realize when you’re not being inclusive,” said Carolyn B. Thompson, a meeting planner and facilitator at Training Systems, Inc. “There’s a very large number of us who would say, ‘Yes. I love diversity and inclusion. Everything that I design and that I lay out for learning, whether it’s a big event or small, I always take those things into account.” However, that’s not always the case. Learning styles, native languages, ability levels, and educational achievement likely differ among your attendees, and while you may have made strides to expand inclusiveness, you still may not be meeting the needs of all learners. For organizations looking to make conference content more inclusive, experts say the key is to recognize where you’re missing the mark and identify which learners you are underserving. Ultimately, strengthening those weak areas will benefit an even wider array of attendees. ### Leverage Universal Design The good news is that research into how people learn has led to a better understanding of how to make education programs more inclusive and effective. Dwain M. Starks, M.Ed., chief learning officer at the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, recommends following the principles of [universal design (opens in a new tab)](https://udlguidelines.cast.org/) , a formal, research-based framework for optimizing educational outcomes for all types of learners. “With what has been built for people with accessibility needs, we often find we all benefit from it,” Starks said. For example, in everyday life, the curb ramps that allow wheelchairs to smoothly access the curb also benefit people pushing strollers or rolling wheeled luggage. Similarly, adding universal design elements like captioning will help people who have difficulty hearing as well as learners who prefer to read text. “Universal design gives us an opportunity to meet various learning preferences,” Starks said. “Some people prefer to watch a video or prefer to listen to audio instead of reading it. We make sure that we’re hitting different learning preferences through those types of means, with multiple modalities and ways in which people can consume content.” Another simple guideline will help you avoid creating “cognitive overload,” he noted. “One of the things I’m big on from the learning perspective is making sure the content is at an eighth-grade level. That way, all audiences who are from different backgrounds can easily consume the content.” [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [New Pricing Models for Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/new-pricing-models-for-meetings/) - [Sponsorship Options With Value for Everyone](https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/sponsorship-options-with-value-for-everyone/) - [Tips for Budget-Conscious Meeting Planners](https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/tips-for-budget-conscious-meeting-planners/) - [Three Reasons to Host Your Next Meeting in a Smaller City](https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/three-reasons-to-host-your-next-meeting-in-a-smaller-city/) - [Clear Your Conference-Design Blind Spots](https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/clear-your-conference-design-blind-spots/) - [Digital Strategies to Extend In-Person Events](https://associationsnow.com/2022/09/20/digital-strategies-to-extend-in-person-events/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/renewal-meetings-in-the-post-pandemic-era/) ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2022%2F09%2F20%2Fkeys-to-creating-inclusive-meeting-content%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !