Code of Conduct

Updated: August18, 2021

This Code of Conduct was adopted to promote diversity and create an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative environment at the Accessible Yoga Association (AYA) programming. This includes the Accessible Yoga Conference Online and our monthly events. AYA values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among our participants. We are committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all. 

All AYA online participants – including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, administrative staff, members of the media, and service providers (hereinafter “participants”) – are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct.

Expected Behavior

All participants are expected to treat each other with kindness, respect, and consideration, and extend respect for a diversity of views and opinions, including those you may not share.

When participating in the conference, we expect participants to:

  • Use intentional safe and respectful language. This means being respectful of pronoun usage as well as any other way that they define themselves, including person-first or identity-first language in relation to disability. An example of person-first language is “person with a disability.” Identity-first language would be “disabled person.”    
  • Offer a sense of belonging, foster a culture of inclusion in your attitude and language.
  • Support relationships, dialogue, and learning and unlearning. Make space for multiple voices, knowledge is co-created through relationships.
  • Honor diversity. Avoid assumptions and stereotypes.
  • Constantly question your own biases and assumptions.  
  • Be empathetic. 
  • Invite everyone to be seen and heard.

Unacceptable Behavior

Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form is unacceptable. Participants are asked to refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing communication directed toward other participants.

Harassment includes any communication with another participant which is not welcome or is personally offensive. Language that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another and participants are expected to use discretion. 

Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to:

  • Verbal or text-based abuse of any participant.
  • Unwelcome or offensive comments related to age, appearance, race, disability, gender identity and expression, physical or cognitive ability, employment, military status, ethnicity, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, race, or religion.
  • Unwanted communications of a romantic or sexual nature.
  • Use of obscene or discriminatory images in sessions or on participant profiles. This includes indirect incorporation of such materials via hyperlink.
  • Retaliation for reporting unacceptable behavior
  • Spamming any area of the online conference environment with irrelevant or duplicative material.This includes sharing misinformation.
  • Unauthorized advertising of products or services through session Q&A chat boxes or the social feed.
  • Communication that is overly aggressive (e.g., spamming questions, using ALL CAPS, using heated language, unrelated commentary, etc.) will be warned and removed from sessions at the moderator’s discretion. Repeat incidences will result in revocation of access for the remainder of the event without refund.

Monitoring for and Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

Volunteers and staff will be monitoring Q&A chat boxes during all sessions. Volunteers and staff will also monitor activity on the Community message boards.

If you feel that you are subjected to unacceptable behavior or harassment while participating in our programming or witness any such behavior, please report it right away. Staff will work with appropriate leadership to resolve the situation. All reports will be treated seriously and will receive a prompt response. Reports may be submitted to [email protected].

Consequences for Unacceptable Behavior

Any participant posting material or engaging in communication that is in clear violation of the behavioral expectations stated above will have their access to the program revoked for the remainder of the event without refund. 

Staff will remove material from any location within the online conference environment that they deem to be in violation of the expectations stated above.