5 Accessible and Virtual Icebreakers for Your Next Work Meeting
Tired of the same old awkward small talk and uncomfortable silences in your Zoom meetings? Well, fear not because we've got 5 epic virtual ice breakers that will have your team bonding and laughing in no time. Plus, we'll throw in some extra tips on how to make them accessible for all!
Remember to practice a bit of empathy for our teammates who may need accommodations, whether you may be communicating through closed captions, an ASL interpreter, or need to add some extra context for visual descriptions. Because let's face it, we're all just trying to survive this virtual world together. So buckle up and get ready for some virtual fun that'll make your next Zoom meeting anything but boring!
1. Two Truths and a Lie
Each person takes turns sharing three statements about themselves, two being true and one being false. The group then guesses which statement is the lie.
How to make it accessible: Have each person send their 3 statements and guesses in the chat. This way, everyone can keep up without any delay!
2. Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of items for participants to find in their homes within a certain time limit. This helps people get to know each other's living environments while also encouraging teamwork.
How to make it accessible: Send the list of items in the chat. Use an online stopwatch and share your screen so everyone can see the time left, without having to rely on verbal cues.
3. Emoji Introductions
A shorter icebreaker, if you don't want to do something really long. Each participant introduces themselves using only emojis, allowing for a fun and creative way to break the ice.
How to make it accessible: Have each person send their emoji through the chat.
4. Never Have I Ever
Teammates take turns sharing something they have never done before. Those who have done it must virtually raise their hand or show an emoji reaction, leading to interesting conversations and connections.
How to Make it Accessible: Use captions to make sure that everyone can see what's being said. Or, have folks share through the chat!
5. Virtual Charades
Use an online charades generator or create your own list of prompts for participants to act out on camera. This game is great for getting people out of their comfort zones and having a good laugh together.
How to Make it Accessible: This game is fairly accessible for Deaf and hard-of-hearing folks. It actually might give some Deaf folks the upper hand, because we've often gotta guess what people are gesturing in real life!
Need Help Setting Up Accommodations?
Ava is more than captioning software – we're also a bunch of dedicated humans that care about changing the way we talk about accessibility. Our accessibility experts have the tools and skills to help set your organization up for accessible communication, and they're here to support every step of the way.
Whether you need accessible captions for meetings, workshops, lectures, conferences, online events, or beyond, we're here to help! Our goal is to create an inclusive and accessible environment for all.
