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Are Your
Meetings Accessible for Persons with
Disabilities? 10 Ways to Make Sure They Are.
By 2030, it is estimated that 24 percent of the
U.S. population will be disabled; this is an
increase of more than 30 million in 1997.
Chances are that in the coming years some
attendees of your meetings will
have disabilities – do you know how to ensure
that your meetings are accessible? Below are
some steps you can take to ensure that this
growing segment of the populations is not
excluded from your next meeting.
1. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
requires that all public facilities are
accessible, but many just meet the minimum
requirements, which may not be enough. Selecting
a location that goes above and beyond the
requirements is the most important step in
making your meeting is accessible.
2.
Include an ADA clause in all of your contracts
that details the responsibilities’ of the venue
and the meeting planner in making the location
accessible. This can be especially important if
the conference is being held in a location that
is not legally required to meet the ADA laws,
such as a historic location or one built prior
to the enactment date of the ADA. For more
specific information about making a location
accessible, view our
Accessibility Checklist
for Meetings and Conferences.
3.
Make sure that you and your staff are
knowledgeable about proper disability etiquette.
A great resource is
The United Spinal
Association’s Disability Etiquette Guide.
4.
Provide a registration system that is accessible
and an opportunity during the process to
self-identify as a person with a disability and
detail any accommodations that are needed.
5.
Provide print material in alternate media - this
request may be made by both Visually impaired
people and people with learning disabilities.
(Communicate with the person making the request.
The alternate media can be Braille, large-print
text, audiotape or computer files.)
6.
Encourage exhibitors and speakers to also
provide materials in alternative formats.
7.
Request room sets that accommodate wheelchairs
and guide dogs.
8.
Provide interpreters for deaf and blind
attendees. Provide sign language interpreters.
(Communicate with the person making the request
as to the type of interpreter: American Sign
Language, Pidgen Signed English, Signed Exact
English or Oral Interpreters.)
9.
Offer assistive listening devices (ALD) for
people who are hard of hearing.
10.
Provide sighted guides and orientation and
mobility specialists for visually impaired
attendees.
Do you need help ensuring that your meeting or
event
is accessible?
Contact Designing Events at
info@designingevents.com or
866-867-1933.
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