Transplant Support Group Guidelines
Welcome to the Transplant Patient Support Group! These guidelines are designed to ensure that everyone can make the most of their experience during our calls.
Purpose of the calls:
Our calls provide an opportunity for you to seek answers to your questions, receive additional support throughout your transplant journey, and share any notable experiences.
Depending on the number of people on the call, we may ask you to pose your question in the chat vs un-muting yourself.
Have a question? Ask away using the chat or use the Zoom reactions to raise your hand.
We encourage you to share any helpful or useful tips or resources that you have discovered along your journey.
Etiquette:
Showing yourself on video is welcomed/strongly encouraged.
You will be muted by default when you first join the call. You are welcome to unmute yourself and say hello, but please make sure if you do unmute that you are in a quiet place, as background noises can be very distracting.
If it becomes apparent that you are engaged in a conversation with someone outside of the call (such as a family member or partner), we will mute you to maintain the focus of the group.
OUR STANDARDS
All members of the community are expected to respect our group graces and act and interact in ways that contribute to an open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.
These group graces extend to all events, whether virtual or in person.
EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIOR THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDE:
Kindness, empathy, and respect
This is the foundation of our community. Everyone deserves respect and carries value. We expect kind, generous, considerate communication.
Judgment-free zone
Sharing your story can feel vulnerable. We welcome discussion, considerate and constructive feedback, and encouragement. What works for one does not necessarily work for all.
Inclusivity
Be mindful of the language and words you choose.
Could your words make someone feel judged, isolated, or offended? Please remember that participants in the support group have diverse backgrounds.
- Things to be aware of:
- Ableist language: phrases that imply that a disability makes a person less than, and that disability is bad, negative, or a problem to be fixed, rather than a normal, inevitable part of the human experience.
- Gendered language: the gendering of words and phrases that shape our thinking about what is masculine and feminine, male and female and thus perpetuate assumptions and stereotypes in society.
- Cultural appropriation: when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way.
- Optional articles to read:
- 70 Inclusive Language Principles: https://medium.com/diversity-together/70-inclusive-language-principles-that-will-make-you-a-more-successful-recruiter-part-1-79b7342a0923
- Ableism 101: https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/blog/ableism-101/
- What is gendered language? https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/understanding-gender-inequality/0/steps/66842
- What is cultural appropriation? https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-cultural-appropriation
EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR INCLUDE:
- Shaming, demeaning, discriminatory, or threatening behavior.
- Trolling, insulting or derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks.
- The use of sexualized language or imagery, and sexual attention or advances of any kind.
- Public or private harassment.
- Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting.
