Define the level of participation
The IAP2 Spectrum for Public Participation defines the roles you might want participants with or without disability to fulfil along a spectrum of impact on the final outcome. You can engage people with disability at any level of the IAP2 Spectrum and you may not be aware that people with disability are even participating.
Choose the appropriate level of participation
The IAP2 Spectrum for Public Participation places engagement activities on a spectrum from having the least to most impact on the output or outcome of an engagement. You will have different responsibilities depending on the level of activity, noting that your project may include multiple activities across the different IAP2 Spectrum levels shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Levels of the IAP2 Spectrum
Relevant pages
Design: Identify activity characteristics
IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum © International Association for Public Participation www.iap2.org.
Inform
The goal of an inform activity is to provide an audience with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problem, alternatives, opportunities, and/or solutions.
If your project includes an inform activity, people will receive one-way communication that keeps them informed about the project and/or its output.
In an inform activity, you promise to:
- Keep people informed about the project.
Examples of inform activities:
- newsletter (digital or print)
- pamphlet
- poster
- social media post.
Consult
The goal of a consult activity is to obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives, and/or decisions. If your project includes a consult activity, people with disability will be sources of information for the project.
In a consult activity, you promise to:
- Keep people with disability informed about the project and/or its outputs.
- Listen to and acknowledge the concerns and aspirations of people with disability.
- Provide feedback on how people with disability influenced project decisions.
Examples of consult activities:
- interview
- focus group discussion
- survey.
Involve
The goal of an involve activity is to work directly with the public throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered.
If your project includes an involve activity, people with disability will be sought for information, advice, or opinions about the project’s output.
In an involve activity, you promise to:
- Work with people with disability to ensure their concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the outputs developed.
- Provide feedback on how people with disability influenced project decisions.
Examples of involve activities:
- an advisory committee
- a co-design workshop
- a symposium.
Collaborate
The goal of a collaborate activity is to partner with the public in each aspect of the decision, including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution.
If your project includes a collaborate activity, people with disability will be working jointly with others in the project.
In a collaborate activity, you promise to:
- Look to people with disability for advice and innovation in formulating outputs.
- Incorporate the advice and recommendations from people with disability into the decisions made to the maximum extent possible.
Examples of collaborate activities:
- an advisory committee
- co-design and co-facilitation of workshops
- when a member of the project team is a person with disability.
Empower
The goal of an empower activity is to place final decision-making in the hands of the public.
If your project includes an empower activity, people with disability will be owners of the project and its outcomes.
In an empower activity, you promise to:
- Implement what people with disability decide.
Examples of empower activities:
- co-creation
- deliberative democracy
- when the project lead is a person with disability.
Other considerations
You can engage people with disability at any level of the IAP2 Spectrum and you may not be aware that people with disability are even participating in your activity.
- Consider what type of role you want participants to take in your event/project. How will they experience and participate in the event? How many participants (including people with disability) will be involved?
- Include individuals and groups who are impacted by the decision. People with disability should have decision-making power in decisions that affect them.
- Include a representative mix of individuals at the highest level of involvement that is appropriate for your project. Remember, people with disability are individuals and not a homogenous cohort. A person with disability is only able to speak to their experiences and the experiences of any people they officially represent.
- Select your target cohort by considering the insights or experiences that will provide the most relevant input to your project. You may have multiple activities that engage different cohorts. People’s unique life experiences give you diverse perspectives.
- Consider the biases and limitations that may exist at any level of involvement of participants so that your decision to include people with disability is informed and deliberate. Biases and limitations could be present in any stage or part of your project, including participant recruitment, decision-making, design, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Balance the amount of time and effort you would like each participant to contribute with what is necessary to achieve a high-quality outcome and what is feasible for people to commit to.
- Ask participants what you can provide them to help them meet your expectations. For example, when you want a person with disability to join you at a testing session for two hours, they can let you know they are willing and need a break every 30 minutes. You can now plan your day with this in mind.
- Ensure that you communicate your expectations of the commitment when you prepare participants, both ahead of time and when you deliver.
Relevant pages
Context: Understand what disability means
Context: Address access barriers