Embracing Inclusivity: Tips for Respectful Conversations at Conferences

Day one at the DynamicsMinds conference has been incredible, filled with insightful sessions and amazing people. However, I’ve noticed that my cane and hip brace have sparked quite a few questions: “What happened?”. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to tell you about it, but I have also told the story more times than I care to, and I would much rather talk about #Dynamics365, #PowerPlatform, or #Copilots. :)

While I understand the curiosity, I wanted to take a moment to talk about something important—identity-first and person-first language, and how we can approach conversations in a more inclusive manner.

As an autistic person, I prefer identity-first language. It acknowledges my autism as an integral part of who I am. In other words, I prefer to identify as autistic, rather than a person with autism. However, when it comes to my physical disability, I prefer person-first language, emphasizing that I am a person first, who happens to have a disability.

For those who are curious, I’m very open about my physical disability. I’ve had two hip surgeries since the beginning of the year on the same hip. The brace prevents my hip from moving in ways that could be dangerous to my surgery and recorvery, and the cane helps with balance and creating space. I am expected to make afull recovery in about 6 months time.

Here are a few tips on how to engage in a conversation without centering it around someone’s visible aids:

• Start with a greeting: A simple “Hello” or “Hi, how are you?” goes a long way.
• Focus on shared interests: Ask about the conference, sessions, or common interests. For example, “What session are you looking forward to the most?” or “How has your day been so far?”
• Avoid assumptions: Not everyone is comfortable discussing their health or mobility aids. Let them guide the conversation if they choose to share.

It’s great to be curious and kind, but let’s ensure our curiosity doesn’t overshadow our kindness. Looking forward to connecting with more of you and continuing these meaningful conversations!

#Inclusion #IdentityFirst #PersonFirst #ConferenceLife #RespectfulCommunication