SEEN

Start by Challenging Assumptions

Inclusive protection begins with one simple rule: do not assume.

Disability is not uniform, visible, or predictable. What one person can access easily may be a barrier for someone else. Effective protection work avoids assumptions about people’s abilities, needs, or access to resources.

Good practice includes:

• Avoiding assumptions about what a person can or cannot do
• Asking individuals directly about their needs and preferences
• Recognizing that some people may require technical, communication, or environmental support
• Being mindful that not everyone has reliable internet access or digital literacy

This approach aligns with the humanitarian principle of dignity and participation, ensuring that people are not spoken for, but spoken with.

Use Respectful and Person-Centered Language

Language shapes how protection is understood and delivered. Inclusive protection requires language that respects the person first, rather than defining them by a condition.

Key principles include:

• Asking individuals which terms they prefer
• Using person-centered language (e.g., “person with a disability”)
• Avoiding stigmatizing or medicalized labels

Examples:

• ✔ “Person with a psychosocial disability”
• ✘ “Mentally ill”
• ✘ “Crazy,” “insane,” or “mentally disabled”

Respectful language reduces stigma and creates safer spaces for disclosure, participation, and support.

Use Clear Visuals and Meaningful Symbols

Protection information should be understandable at a glance. Visual accessibility plays a critical role, especially for people with cognitive, psychosocial, or learning disabilities.

Effective practices include:

• Using clear, simple images
• Avoiding cluttered or overly complex visuals
• Supporting text with illustrations or symbols
• Using stories or real-life examples to explain abstract concepts

Visual clarity improves comprehension and helps ensure that critical protection messages are not lost.

Make Materials Easy to Read

Accessible protection documentation is not only about what is written, but how it is presented.

Key readability practices:

• Use clear, legible fonts (minimum size 11–12)
• Break text into short paragraphs
• Use sufficient spacing and white space
• Avoid long blocks of text

These practices benefit everyone—not only persons with disabilities—but are essential for inclusive access.

Communicate Clearly and Simply

Clear communication is a protection measure in itself. Overly technical language can exclude people from understanding their rights, available services, or safety options.

Good communication practices include:

• Short, direct sentences
• Simple, everyday language
• Avoiding technical terms, acronyms, or unexplained jargon

When communication is accessible, people are better able to make informed decisions about their safety and well-being.

Inclusive Protection Is Collective Responsibility

Designing inclusive protection practices is not limited to disability-focused organizations. It is relevant to:

• Local and grassroots organizations
• National NGOs
• International humanitarian actors
• Community networks and informal groups

Inclusion strengthens protection outcomes and ensures that responses do not unintentionally exclude those most at risk.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Inclusion International have worked together to make the Protection Analytical Framework (PAF) resources more accessible.

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