Creating Respectful and Supportive CE Experiences

This resource provides examples of how an ASHA CE Provider might demonstrate compliance with Standard 1.2.7: Ensure that those involved in continuing education uphold high standards of conduct, provide learning experiences that reflect participants’ varied backgrounds and needs, take measures to support full and fair participation, and foster an environment where all individuals feel respected, supported, and valued.

Please note: This is a sample list. Feel free to adapt, revise, or add to it to meet your unique needs.

Conduct Standards

• Develop a clear and comprehensive professional conduct policy that is shared with all involved in the CE program.
• Set clear expectations for respectful communication and collaboration and how to address disrespectful behavior. Communicate these expectations to course planners, instructors, and learners.

Faculty/Facilitator Preparation

• Ensure that speakers and content contributors reflect varied backgrounds and experiences.
• Provide inclusive teaching practices and cultural humility training to course planners and instructors.
• Give instructors guidelines about content expectations and accessibility requirements.
• Provide course planners and instructors with guidance on ways to demonstrate that they respect, support, and value everyone’s experiences and perspectives. Possible resources include:
  • CE Educator’s Toolkit [PDF], Section 2.3 IDEA Principles
  • Checklist for Inclusive Facilitation Practices [PDF]
  • Inclusive Practices Tips and Checklist [PDF]

Communication

• Ensure that promotional and registration materials use inclusive and welcoming language.
  • Inclusive Language Guidelines
• Ensure that opening remarks or materials affirm the Provider’s and instructor’s commitment to respect and inclusion.
• Incorporate visuals and language that signal respect for all identities (e.g., inclusive images, pronoun options).

Learning Design & Delivery

• Develop a content review process that ensures that content includes a variety of lived experiences, perspectives, examples, and imagery.
• Incorporate opportunities for learner interaction (e.g., Q&A, discussion, group activities, polling) that encourage broad participation.
• Have course planners and instructors share how planned activities are designed to encourage participation from all learners.
• Document all accessibility features implemented (e.g., captions, alt text, screen reader compatibility) and share accessibility information for your course in advance.

Learner Experience & Feedback

• Provide opportunities for learners to incorporate personal experiences, backgrounds, and needs into course activities.
• Include questions about feeling respected, supported, represented, and valued in post-activity evaluations. Review evaluation data and use it to improve learning experiences.

Policies & Continuous Improvement

• Develop a process for those involved in the CE program, including learners, to report concerns related to discrimination or exclusion.
• Regularly review and update content for cultural relevance and inclusivity.
• Encourage staff to reflect on and improve their ability to comply with this Standard, based on available feedback.