Belonging at AIPPI: Making Our Events More Inclusive and Accessible

At AIPPI, inclusivity and accessibility are about more than removing barriers — they are about creating spaces where everyone belongs.

From enhanced website features to on-site facilities in Yokohama, the AIPPI Events Team, supported by the D&I Committee, has collaborated to ensure every participant can fully engage, contribute, and feel at home.

Making AIPPI Events More Inclusive and Accessible – Our Commitment in Action

Inclusivity is not only about meeting practical needs — it is about creating an environment where every participant feels they truly belong. This year, the AIPPI Events Team, in close collaboration with the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, has made another step to ensure that the Yokohama Congress reflects that commitment.

Inclusivity and accessibility have been at the heart of our planning from the outset. During the registration process, participants were invited by the AIPPI Events Team to share any specific needs. We also received questions and suggestions concerning AIPPI events after D&I webinars. The feedback we received was invaluable, ranging from requests for wheelchair access, large-print materials, to the need for a prayer room, a quiet space, and assistance for those with reduced mobility during cultural activities.

At the same time, our Congress website has been enhanced with features designed to support all users, including:

• Alt text for images to facilitate screen reader navigation
• WCAG 2.1-compliant color contrast for visual clarity
• A responsive layout for all devices
• No flashing content or animations
• A clear and consistent structure
• Accessible forms and buttons

In Yokohama, these measures are now a reality:

• A quiet room (G419) for rest and recovery
• A prayer room, wheelchair-accessible restroom, and nursing room at the convention center
• Large-font signage wherever possible
• Adjustments to the closing dinner entertainment to make it shorter and less noisy

These initiatives are more than just logistical solutions — they are an expression of AIPPI’s vision of belonging. We believe that every member, regardless of background, ability, or personal circumstance, should have the opportunity to participate fully, contribute meaningfully, and feel at home in our community.

By working together — the AIPPI Events Team, D&I Committee, and all those who shared their needs and ideas — we are taking steps to ensure that belonging is not just a concept, but a lived experience at every AIPPI event.

At the same time, we recognize that change is an ongoing process that runs alongside our learning about the needs of our members.

Therefore, if there are any other points we should consider, please get in touch with us – we look forward to hearing from you.