Accessibility and Inclusion Resources

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming, and productive environment for all AERA Virtual Meetings and Events. The aim of AERA meetings and convenings is to accomplish the purposes of the event in a way that supports the presence of all participants or attendees. AERA expects that virtual activities held under its auspices promote the full participation or engagement and belonging of all attendees, and are free of harassment, unwelcoming or exclusionary conduct, or discriminatory actions or innuendo.

AERA expects those speaking at or leading such activities or those participating in them to value and support the diverse, inclusive community that the Association strives to be and that its mission seeks to advance.

The overarching objective of this policy guidance is to engender productive outcomes in virtual meeting environments of varying sizes and purposes that are embracing and respectful of all participants. Although this guidance does not specifically set forth every possible virtual event or activity that AERA holds, all participants in AERA functions are expected to understand the aims of this guidance and to make reasonable extrapolations to specific circumstances. This expectation is consistent with the standards for professional conduct set forth in the AERA Code of Ethics (2011).

Standards for Virtual Participation

All participants in virtual meetings and events are expected to adhere to the following standards of virtual conduct:

What to do…

• Demonstrate respect and consideration for all people;
• Listen well to others; enable or create space for a diversity of voices in group discussions, in breakout sessions, on panels, through Q&A, and the like;
• Be responsible in your use of virtual airtime and chat space;
• Be collaborative. Be mindful not to exert dominance over others. Consider the effect of relationship, position, experience, and privilege power differentials, and other factors to avoid dominance;
• Demonstrate that differing perspectives are valued—critique ideas (not people);
• Demonstrate welcome for a diversity of individuals and their identities—be respectful and appreciative of the contributions of persons with wide-ranging (dis)abilities;
• Pay attention to whether individuals of many identities are included on panels, leading sessions, being called on when they raise their hands (whether physical or through virtual functions), and having their points considered;
• Be accessible in how you virtually communicate and, when relevant, the presentation modalities that you use (e.g., voice and shared screen, chat, live or moderated Q&A);
• Answer questions about conduct concerns in a forthright and complete manner(e.g., when registering or during a review of concerns);
• Immediately comply if any virtual convening leader or facilitator of an activity/session/event, or any AERA staff member directs a participant to stop a behavior or comment. Subsequent opportunities to address differences of view or concerns are available by contacting the AERA Executive Director or the Chair of the AERA Ethics Committee at  ethics@aera.net;
• Respect and adhere to all policies and procedures of the American Educational Research Association.