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The Tip of the Inclusive Speaking Iceberg
We’re all familiar with the image of the iceberg, and how it shows only a very small portion of its mass above water, while what is unseen below the surface is incredibly massive and so much bigger than what you can see with the naked eye. The iceberg metaphor applies perfectly to the landscape of disabilities and inclusive communication, as the disabilities that are easily noticeable make up for only a portion of the situations that affect how audience members will experience our content.
According to the Invisible Disabilities Association, invisible disabilities refer to symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, brain injuries, learning differences, and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments. These are not always obvious to the onlooker, but can sometimes or always limit daily activities, range from mild challenges to severe limitations, and vary from person to person. Up to 74% of audience members who have disabilities will fall into this category, meaning that you wouldn’t be able to tell that these people are disabled just by looking at them. But make no mistake, these issues are real, and affect many of your listeners.
Research shows that everyone has certain preferences as to how we like to learn, and will primarily operate as a visual (65%), auditory (30%) or kinesthetic…
