“ Deciding to include accessibility at your events takes careful consideration and a long-term approach .”
SUMMER | OPINION
Pulling the invisibility cloak off accessibility
Meg Strahle is sustainability manager at The Bulb ; a sustainable consultancy for event organisers , brands and NGOs . Here she offers advice on how to successfully incorporate accessibility measures at events .
With accessibility and inclusion discussions becoming ever more prevalent , some people are taking the steps to integrate accessibility at their events , but others are still figuring out the necessary steps to take ; starting may feel daunting for fear of making mistakes .
Deciding to include accessibility at your events takes careful consideration and a long-term approach . Avoid planning at the last minute as it will be rushed , possibly expensive , and mistakes will more likely be made . I find that when people pause and break accessibility down into manageable steps , it ’ s easier to ensure everything is efficient and deliberate .
Listen Take a look at what people are speaking about online and at industry events , particularly the ones who have a lived experience . This will help you temperature check what is being shared and highlight areas for improvement in your own events .
Think about where the event will be and who will be attending , in order to consider what their needs might be before deciding what measures should be taken . It ’ s worth talking to all the stakeholders involved in the event too as they might have processes in place already .
Plan ahead Great accessibility at events is not something that just happens . It takes careful planning behind the scenes with all stakeholders involved , from the organising team to the on-site team and more .
Organisations such as Attitude is Everything can audit your CAD rendering , review plans for an event and then produce reports that outline areas for improvement . This gives you an opportunity to see where there are gaps , in terms of accessibility , so you can improve for the future .
Design accessibility into the experience Here are some top tips to make an event accessible :
• Have accessible transport to bring people to the event site from parking areas and public transport drop-off points . You could even go one step further and make it into an ‘ experience ’ rather than moving from point A to point B .
• Have comfortable quiet spaces available ( such as the ones offered by Event Well ).
• Have sign language interpreters on stage , and captioning for any screens around the venue .
• Have a section cordoned off near the stage for people with accessibility requirements and allow a ‘ plus one ’ to be able to see and hear the stage comfortably . This can include people who have wheelchairs , need seating , d / Deaf and visually impaired attendees and more . By allowing a ‘ plus one ’, they will be able to sit with their support system .
Meg Strahle
“ Deciding to include accessibility at your events takes careful consideration and a long-term approach .”
Share what you ’ ve learned Avoid gate-keeping your lessons learned and share the best practices with your peers , as this will allow fellow industry professionals to learn and place best practices at their events too .
It ’ s important to remember that accessibility is not a one size fits all - every person has a different lived reality and needs . Take time to listen , plan ahead , design it in , and share your experiences to help others do better .
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