Draft community guidelines that promote digital accessibility, intersectional approaches, and respect for culturally specific practices in new media or technology-based spaces. This should reflect Black, Indigenous, and Disability Justice (BIDJ) perspectives and address how online and tech platforms can be designed and used to prioritize care, agency, and respect for marginalized communities.
• Digital tools for drafting (online collaboration platforms, text editors, etc.)• Examples of community guidelines for digital spaces (emphasizing inclusivity and culturally responsive practices)• Reference materials on BIDJ, Crip technoscience, and digital accessibility (optional but recommended)
1. Brainstorm Digital Community Needs (5 Mins)Reflect on the diverse needs of the communities you serve in online or tech-based environments and list 5-10 key words related to them. Consider the intersection of race, disability, gender identity, and culture in the digital realm. What specific online protocols or tech adjustments are required to ensure that all participants can access, engage, and feel respected in your virtual spaces?2. Draft Initial Guidelines (15 Mins)In small groups or individually, draft a short document (1-2 pages) that addresses at least some of the following:• Digital Accessibility: How will your tech platforms (e.g., websites, virtual events, online tools) be made accessible for people with disabilities? Consider features like screen-reader compatibility, captioning, alt-text for images, and low-bandwidth options.• Intersectionality in Online Spaces: How will you address the intersectional experiences of participants in your digital spaces? This might include guidelines for anti-racist moderation, the inclusion of non-binary and gender-diverse participants, or strategies for addressing digital exclusion (e.g., lack of internet access for certain communities).• Cultural Sensitivity and Autonomy: How will your guidelines reflect culturally specific needs? For example, how will you ensure Indigenous land acknowledgments in virtual spaces, or create boundaries around the use and sharing of cultural knowledge in tech platforms?• Tech for Digital Accessibility: How will your online platforms or virtual events accommodate disabled participants? For example, can you implement sensory-friendly design or alternative communication methods in virtual spaces?• Decolonizing Digital Spaces: Develop guidelines that resist the extractive nature of technocapitalism. This could involve limiting the use of surveillance tools in online spaces or prioritizing low-energy tech solutions.• Data Sovereignty and Control: How will your guidelines protect the privacy and autonomy of marginalized communities in digital environments? Consider how you will avoid data extraction and create secure, respectful digital environments.5. Review and Discuss (10 Mins)Share your draft guidelines with the group, integrating feedback to ensure they are comprehensive and culturally responsive. Consider:• Do the guidelines address the intersection of identities in digital and tech-based spaces?• Are they adaptable for different virtual platforms or digital environments (e.g., social media, virtual reality, online conferences)?• Do they consider privacy, security, and control of community data?
This exercise encourages participants to create guidelines tailored to the unique challenges of new media and digital platforms, ensuring that they are culturally specific, intersectional, and accessible. These guidelines will set expectations for how to build and sustain respectful, inclusive digital spaces, reflecting the diversity of participants in virtual environments.