IDENTIFY NEEDS EARLY
It will be easier for you to accommodate
people’s needs if you are aware of them early on. Ask on the attendee or
speaker registration form if they need reasonable accommodations. This will
give them a chance to explain their needs and give you an opportunity to meet
those needs.
You can do this by providing a free form textbox
for people to tell you what accommodation they need. You could also provide a
series of checkboxes with some of the most usual requests for accommodation (in
no particular order):
· Wheelchair access
· Allowing a personal attendant to get in for free
· Sign language interpreter
· Video captioning
· Alternative formats (Braille, large print, electronic
formats)
· Dietary restrictions
· Scent free
· Do point out that you will attempt to provide the
accommodation but that you make no promise! If for any reason you end up being
unable to hire an interpreter and you promised one, it will not only make for a
bad experience for the Deaf attendee, but reflect badly on your event.
CONCLUSION
If you’ve read this far, you realize how many
things could be done to reduce barriers to participation at your event.
As I said early on, this is not an exhaustive
list. It is a series of items to help you get started on your journey to
improving accessibility. Don’t be daunted. It could feel overwhelming. You
might decide that perhaps if you can’t do all these things, you might as well
do none. In fact, you are better off implementing as many as you can, even if
it’s just a handful.
How have you made
your conference more accessible for all people?
If you are
interested in learning more about Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or how to make accessibility a natural
part of your business through the application of Corporate Social Responsibility, please contact Sandra Broekhof @
416-579-1035 orsandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca
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