Inclusivity is important in community association living. No matter the type of community you manage—homeowner’s association (HOA), townhome, or condo association—all of your residents should be respected and welcomed.
When residents feel included in community life, they are more likely to be engaged and follow its rules. Therefore, an inclusive community association tends to experience fewer conflicts and higher resident satisfaction.
Achieving inclusivity does not have to add stress to your Board. Instead, follow the steps outlined below, and you will immediately notice a positive change.
Steps to Create an Inclusive Community Environment
The following steps can help your Board increase inclusivity across all aspects of community living.
1) Encourage open and accessible communication.
In general, clear and transparent communication is essential for a well-run community. Effective communication is similarly important for the inclusive community.
Ensure your Board provides information through multiple channels, including email, newsletters, community portals, and posted notices. Doing so allows residents to receive important updates in the format that works best for them.
Additionally, use plain language, offer translated materials when possible, and clearly explain Board decisions to keep all residents informed and engaged.
2) Make meetings and events more accessible.
Meetings are one of the most important ways residents can make a change in their community. If some of your residents cannot participate in meetings due to a disability or other accessibility concerns, they may feel their opinions and input are not important to the Board.
Instead, schedule all meetings at reasonable times and offer virtual attendance options when feasible. Also, make in-person meetings more accessible by providing seating, lighting, and mobility access alterations.
3) Ensure digital spaces are accessible.
Digital spaces, such as websites, portals, email, and social media, are becoming increasingly common ways for residents to engage with their HOA. Your digital spaces should be just as accessible as your physical spaces.
Do the following to ensure all members of your community association can access and use your digital tools.
- Ensure all websites meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.
- Use readable fonts and high-contrast colors.
- Provide alt text for images.
- Offer downloadable documents in accessible formats.
4) Establish a clear accommodation request process.
Even with the best planning, some residents may feel as if they are not being accommodated. All residents have the right to request reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act.
Therefore, your Board needs a well-defined process to make this request simple for residents. Do the following.
- Provide written guidelines for submitting requests.
- Designate a point of contact.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Respond within reasonable timeframes.
- Document decisions carefully.
5) Partner with a professional community association management company.
A community association management company, such as Community Property Management (CPM), can guide your Board towards best practices in inclusivity and accessibility. Our team has years of experience helping the Board make their communities more accessible for all residents.
Don’t wait until residents complain; make your community association more accessible today by contacting CPM.