NTC26 Kragh

WORKSHOP EVALUATION

Parliamentary Procedure and the Deaf Community: Building Inclusive Meetings

Presenter: Eliza Kragh

As organizations become more diverse, parliamentarians must understand how to ensure full participation for Deaf and hard of hearing members. This beginner-level workshop introduces hearing parliamentarians to the Deaf community’s unique communication needs and cultural considerations when conducting meetings. Participants will learn practical strategies for working with ASL interpreters, creating accessible meeting materials, and adapting parliamentary procedures for visual communication. Drawing from lived experience as a Deaf parliamentarian, this workshop addresses common misconceptions, explains why standard accommodations often fail, and provides actionable solutions for inclusive deliberative processes. Whether your organization currently has Deaf members or wants to be prepared for inclusive participation, this workshop equips you with foundational knowledge to protect minority rights in practice, not just in principle.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key differences between auditory and visual communication needs in parliamentary settings.
• Explain the role of ASL interpreters in meetings and how to work effectively with interpretation teams.
• Recognize common accessibility barriers in meetings that prevent Deaf participation.
• Apply at least three practical adaptations to standard parliamentary procedures that support Deaf members.
• Demonstrate cultural competency when interacting with Deaf members in deliberative settings.