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“Nothing for us without us” is a central principle of the disability justice movement. It emphasises that people directly affected by an issue must be involved in shaping the process, not merely invited to comment on outcomes. Safe(r) spaces value community expertise, particularly when rethinking digital participation. This can mean inviting diverse collaborators and also using tools such as:
Co-design workshops and arts-based practices that surface lived experience rather than assumptions that will be covered in greater depth by INSPIRE resources
Safe(r) Spaces: Planning for the Health of Your Participation
Digital participation does not automatically broaden inclusion. Organisers must actively reflect on:
Who is likely to register, post, or comment on Decidim (or platform you are using)
Who may be present but silent
Who is absent altogether and why
These patterns are often shaped by unequal access, confidence, time, safety, and prior experiences of being ignored or harmed in digital spaces. Simply opening a platform is not enough to shift these dynamics.
Organisers should therefore strategise deliberately about how participation is supported, recognised, valued, and rewarded. This can include:
Strategise actions to support digital access
Plan possible alternative participation options to ensure meaningful engagement for those unable or unwilling to participate online
Encourage early knowledge sharing, for example, you can model it by sharing your own experiences of navigating digital platforms and what you learned
Acknowledging contributions publicly (with consent), offering certificates or formal recognition
Making skills and learning gained through participation explicit and transferable
Giving ‘ownership’ of the space to the participants i.e. the space is theirs to shape, create, and experiment with, regardless of the program agenda
Creating moments of celebration and visibility
Connecting participation to contexts where it can be valued as skill-building or leadership, such as work, education, civic engagement, or community organising, can help participants demonstrate their contributions and build confidence. Recognising participation as labour and learning, rather than voluntary “input,” supports more equitable engagement and signals that people’s time, knowledge, and care are genuinely valued. To think about your participation health in a more structured way checkout the ‘Health Check Survey’ in the Toolbox!