Belonging Is More Than Being Included in the Meeting
Today is International Literacy Day, a day that reminds us of the importance of literacy as a foundation for opportunity, participation and inclusion. When we hear the word literacy, we might immediately think about reading and writing. But literacy can mean much more than that. It can influence whether we are able to understand information, communicate our thoughts, navigate the world around us and participate fully in the communities and spaces we are part of.
Being included isn't necessarily the same as feeling included. Someone can be invited into the meeting, given a seat at the table and included on the email, yet still feel that their voice has little opportunity to be heard.
A Seat at the Table Isn't Always Enough
Imagine being invited to an important meeting where decisions are being made, but the information has been shared in a way that is difficult to understand, the conversation moves quickly and there is little opportunity to ask questions. You are technically included but are you able to participate?
True inclusion means thinking not only about who is in the room, but about whether everyone has a genuine opportunity to understand what is happening, contribute to the conversation and influence the outcome.
Access Is Part of Belonging
Access is often discussed in relation to physical spaces, but meaningful access goes much further than ramps, lifts and accessible buildings.
It can mean making information available in different formats, using clear and understandable language, providing appropriate support, allowing people enough time to process information or making sure that communication does not depend on everyone having the same level of confidence, knowledge or literacy. This is about removing unnecessary barriers.
If we want people to participate, we need to consider whether they have the information and tools they need to do so. And that applies everywhere — in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, community organisations and public services.
Whose Voice Gets Heard?
Even when everyone has access to the same conversation, not everyone's voice is necessarily heard in the same way. Some people are naturally more comfortable speaking in groups. Others may need more time to gather their thoughts. Some may have learned that their opinions are rarely listened to, while others may be accustomed to having their voices taken seriously.
There can also be cultural, linguistic and social factors that influence who feels confident speaking and who feels comfortable challenging an idea. If we are serious about inclusion, we need to consider whose perspectives are shaping the conversation and whose experiences might be missing from it.
Communication Is a Two-Way Street
Good communication isn't simply about delivering information. It is about making sure that information can be understood and creating opportunities for people to respond.
That might mean moving away from complicated language when simpler language would communicate the same thing more effectively. It might mean checking understanding rather than assuming it, providing information ahead of a meeting so people have time to consider it, or offering different ways for people to contribute.
Not everyone communicates in exactly the same way, and that doesn't mean that some voices are more valuable than others. When we make communication more accessible, we create more opportunities for people to participate. And when people can participate, they are much more likely to feel that they genuinely belong.
Literacy, Voice and Opportunity
International Literacy Day provides an important reminder that literacy can open doors.
Being able to access and understand information can affect education, employment, independence and participation in society. It can influence whether someone feels confident asking questions, understanding their rights, making informed choices or speaking up when something isn't working for them. That is why literacy is an inclusion consideration.
When people have the tools to understand and communicate, they have greater opportunities to participate in the decisions and conversations that affect their lives.
And when those opportunities are missing, exclusion can happen quietly.
Moving From Inclusion to Participation
Perhaps one of the most useful questions we can ask ourselves is “Who has been given a genuine opportunity to participate?”
We can invite someone to the meeting without making it easy for them to contribute. We can share information without making it accessible. We can ask for someone's opinion without creating the conditions in which they feel safe enough to give it.
Belonging asks us to go further. It asks us to think about whether people have the access, information, confidence and opportunity they need to take part. It asks us to notice whose voices are naturally heard and whose might need a little more space. And it reminds us that communication works best when it is not about being heard but about being listened to.
Everyone Deserves a Voice
An inclusive space is one where different ways of communicating are recognised and respected, where information is made as accessible as possible and where people are given meaningful opportunities to contribute. Belonging isn't just about being invited through the door, it’s about being able to understand what is happening once you're inside, feeling confident enough to participate and knowing that your contribution will be valued.
So today, on International Literacy Day, perhaps we can think about literacy through a wider lens.
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