Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash
The way we communicate
Have you ever thought about how we communicate and whether it truly reaches everyone? Well, that’s exactly what the CIRCLE2 project is all about! This isn’t just about sending messages; it’s about making sure that everyone can understand, participate, and feel included. Our goal is to ensure that the way we communicate reflects the core values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights.
Communication is complex and not as simple as just a sender and receiver. In the CIRCLE2 project, we’re looking at communication through different lenses, from the basic transmission model to the more dynamic interaction and transactional models, all to improve how we engage with users like teachers, trainers, and students.
But it’s not enough to just communicate; we need to do it accessibly and inclusively. Accessibility, in this context, means that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use, reach, and engage with the information we provide. We’re basing our work on the principles of Universal Design (UD), which aims to create products and environments usable by everyone, to the greatest extent possible. That means designing content that is equitable, flexible, simple, and perceptible. For instance, we ensure that our content can be used by people with various abilities, by providing options like subtitles in videos and alternative text for images. We also focus on making information easy to understand and minimizing errors.
And just as important is inclusivity. Inclusivity means making sure everyone, regardless of their background, abilities, or communication styles, can participate and understand the information. We are committed to use person-first and gender-neutral language, and to avoid stereotypes. This commitment includes ensuring that our visual materials reflect the diversity of our audiences. We also aim to provide multilingual materials. Our goal is to reach everyone, taking into account different barriers, such as disabilities, health problems, cultural differences, and economic limitations.
This project is a journey of learning, and we are striving for a world where accessibility is an inherent part of everything we create. So, join us as we explore how to make communication more accessible and inclusive for everyone. As the document states, the words we use matter, and we have a lot to learn for the benefit of all!