Serving the Whole Community: Inclusive Education and Training

August 27, 2024

Practical tips for diversity, equity, and inclusion in your community

It’s back to school time across the United States. Learning best practices apply to learners of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you’re creating presentations or training for active members, junior firefighters, potential recruits, or community education, you can implement inclusive practices to make sure everyone can take part in your fire or EMS department’s educational programs.

  • Provided varied training opportunities. When it comes to learning, one size doesn’t fit all. If your department is launching a Fire Prevention Week campaign, for example, think about all the different people you wish to reach. Education can mean many things, including presentations, handouts, demos, virtual games, and hands-on activities. More options equal a bigger potential audience.
  • Choose your training delivery method carefully. Someone’s journey to learning doesn’t start when they sit in a classroom seat or log onto Zoom. Think through what steps your attendees will have to take to join your presentation or training. Will they need reliable internet access? Will the schedule accommodate work and family schedules? If in-person, is the building accessible for people with disabilities? Try to plan your session to accommodate the most people possible.
  • Do your research. Every learning delivery is different. Take the time to understand your audience, the technology and resources you’ll have available, and why your learners are there (do they have to be, or want to be? How can you adjust your training to their expectations?).
  • Ask the experts. You don’t have to be an expert in every potential learner group. Presenting to a group of young children? Work with teachers or daycare leaders to make sure the content is age appropriate. Reach out to an assisted living home for ideas on working with caretakers and older adults. Find out how to develop a comprehensive training plan from a professor. Colleges are a great source of finding people who are looking for opportunities to put their skills to use.
  • Connect learners to other resources. Always provide next steps, whether it’s a handout with a summary of what you covered; a link to additional training opportunities; or information about other community resources and organizations for support. For example, if you’re giving a recruitment presentation, you could ask the audience to visit your department’s web site or social media pages and share a video showing a day-in-the-life at your department.
  • Don’t forget the human component. Research supports that learners are far more likely to stay with a program, continue learning, and utilize knowledge when they feel connected to a human – peers, the instructor, etc. This is especially true for certain populations, such as those who are new to a field, older adults, and non-native language speakers. If your training is virtual, add a welcome video or photo. Whenever you present, share contact information for follow-up questions. Within your department, make sure trainees know who to go to for questions – and feel encouraged to ask questions when they arise.

Additional Resources

Articles on adult learning

Virtual Training