AAPIs
Accommodations & Interventions
Accommodations
Asians and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) should receive adequate accommodations in the workplace and school settings. Accommodations can consist of active forums or focus groups where AAPIs can have a chance to voice their own opinions and thoughts over specific matters. Conducting these accommodations creates a safe space for all and will allow for AAPI individuals to feel welcomed and accepted for who they are!
Focus Groups & Online Forums
Focus groups can reveal a lot of information regarding deep issues so it's important to conduct focus groups in a well-directed manner. It's important to remember that a focus group is not a debate or therapy session. A focus group will simply allow each participant to feel safe enough to answer questions in their own words in a safe space. Focus groups must be facilitated by someone experienced and with neutrality intact.
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Online Forums will allow for easy and instant communication between AAPIs and their employers. Online Forums can be conducted by companies through MS Teams or any functional platform that emphasizes conversation! Forums will promote teamwork and collaboration to help assist in creating a safer environment.
Interventions
Intervensions can impact a companys overall environment by identifying a problem, assessing solutions, and then deploying the best option to help counter-act the issue.
Intervention Methods
1. Interventions can consist of a racial bias curriculum training that is taught to individuals in the company or classrooms. Training interventions can easily be adapted by companies through an experienced facilitator.The curriculum should be interactive and insightful and touch base on history, identity, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
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2. Companys could also conduct de-escalating workshops to protect AAPIs during conflicts of injustice in classrooms and workplaces. Allies can attend these workshops and become knowledgeable on the best measures to take during these situations. These workshops should be clear in their objectives. Workshops should also have set meeting times with quality content, teaching aids, group activities, and goal completion in mind.
Citations
Eliot. (2005). Guidelines for Conducting a Focus Group. IREP OLEMISS. https://irep.olemiss.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/98/2016/05/Trinity_Duke_How_to_Conduct_a_Focus_Group.pdf.
“Events.” Asian Americans Advancing Justice, www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/events.
Hirsch, Arlene. “Taking Steps to Eliminate Racism in the Workplace.” SHRM, SHRM, 20 May 2021, www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/behavioral-competencies/global-and-cultural-effectiveness/pages/taking-steps-to-eliminate-racism-in-the-workplace.aspx.
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Supporting Asian employees in the workplace. Willis Towers Watson. (n.d.). https://www.willistowerswatson.com/en-US/Insights/2021/06/supporting-asian-employees-in-the-workplace.