​

Ground Rules

​

In order to establish an accessible and inclusive space for discussion, the reading group has some general ground rules, and those at the bottom are specific to online communication. We hope these will enable cross-disciplinary discussion with space for diverse experiences and opinions.

​

• The focus of the reading group is to read and discuss academic texts – we will try to complement this with non-academic texts and videos.

• Not everyone has experience with reading groups; be generous with and patient towards others and yourself.

• Everyone is invited to participate equally – note that facilitators will actively seek to make sure that everyone who wishes to can speak.

• We have different academic backgrounds and knowledge; if you need a definition or further explanation, please ask – and please respond generously to requests for definitions/explanations.

• We welcome different communication and thinking styles and speeds; e.g. we equally appreciate linear and non-linear communication, free thinking and written communication.

• We welcome participants, and neurodivergent folk specifically, to make themselves comfortable -- feel invited to tic, stim, fidget, move around etc.

• Respect the experiences of others; acknowledge that lived experience shapes understanding and perspective.

• Note that this group does not exclude or include any particular perspective on diagnostics, medication and/or ‘treatment’; a critical discussion of the medical, pharmaceutical and diagnostic industrial complex is welcome; judgement of personal choices, however, is not welcome.

• You do not have to discuss – or disclose – your own experiences and identifications; equally, do not ask others to discuss or disclose theirs.

• With regards to confidentiality and anonymity, the Chatham House Rule will be followed: i.e. “participants are free to use the information received” that emerges in the RG, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.”

• We specifically welcome LGBTQ+ people, people of colour, and disabled people and aim towards an inclusive space.

• Use preferred pronouns (e.g. she/her/hers, they/their/theirs, he/him/his).

• We expect participants to acknowledge their own normative and hegemonic experiences and (internalised) perspectives - be that in the realm of abledness, race, gender (identity), sexuality, class or otherwise.

• While we all will learn, the group is not a place for people with normative identities to seek other participants’ marginalised experiences; we encourage all to self-educate.

• This group is not a neutral space to debate people's identities and experiences with oppression.

• The group's baseline is to support struggles against not only ableism and neuro-ableism, but also anti-black and other forms of racism, Islamophobia, transphobia and trans-exclusion, misogyny and sexism, classism, and sexuality-based oppression.

• These are not public meetings, and those not following the ground rules or otherwise disrespectful are unwelcome.

 

Guidelines for online communication through Zoom

​We seek to have a neurodivergent-friendly way of communication, while also accommodating other access requirements. Here are some initial guidelines that will help this.

• Download Zoom (https://zoom.us/) and make sure you update this regularly

• Log on with a camera and headset (ear buds for a phone can work)

• Avoid background noise

• Keep yourself muted, until unmuted by the host

• The reading group uses two ways of communication:

• 1. The 'raise hands' method: 

     • on the bottom of your screen, select the 'Participants' tab and select 'Raise hand'​

  2. Written contributions

     • The public 'chat' function is disabled, as this makes the conversation inaccessible for those using screen readers and for some neurodivergent folk 

     • You can still write your contributions. On the bottom of your screen, select the 'Chat' tab: here you can comment on the reading, comment on the conversation, ask a question - and send this to one of the facilitators (i.e. 'hosts'), who will read them aloud.

• At the start of your contribution, please start with: "This is [insert name]". And when you're done, please end with: "End of thought."

• To those of us who are privileged (e.g. neurotypical, abled, white, male, cis, middle class), please make sure that you do not take up disproportionate time and space. Note that this is actively facilitated.

This list will be adjusted​ en route. We share updated guidelines at the start of each meeting.