Accessibility has been a conversation at the forefront of many events in the recent months. With neurodiverse conditions becoming more widely diagnosed and understood, those within the sector are starting to investigate areas in which we can improve to help those affected feel more comfortable in any event space.
We’re also looking to also do our bit. Here are some steps you could take when planning your next event with accessibility in mind:
- Consider adding in a ‘quiet’ room’
Events can be overstimulating even when you’re not diagnosed with a neurodiverse condition. There is a lot of noise, a lot to look at and even more than that to process.
This can often be incredibly off-putting for guests and team members on the spectrum, meaning you won’t be getting them at their full capacity. To put them more at ease and show support, why not include an area in your events that they can retreat to when they need?
This doesn’t have to be anything specially decorated or even particularly large, just a designated space (such as an office) that provides a calm and quiet environment. It should be shielded from noise and allow activities such as focused work, relaxation or meditation, or just a time out.
- Actively plan schedules
This isn’t just one for the neurodiverse!
Team wise, have a full plan for each day of the event – who needs to be where and when and what key objectives need to be completed. Make sure everybody has fair notice of any meetings and their aims so that they can plan.
Attendee wise, allow space in the event programme/app for them to be able to plan a schedule for themselves for what they want to see and achieve.
- Leave time
Don’t fall into the trap of over-filling schedules and not leaving space in between discussions, demonstrations etc for people to take a breather and make their way over!
- Consider all accessibility issues
While this article has mainly focused on the neurodiverse, it’s important to acknowledge that there are people with other accessability issues that you can accommodate too.
For example, consider having hearing loops for those with hearing impairments so they can have audio descriptions. Ensure all text and colours are clear to read for the same reasons. Give all videos subtitles, so those who are hard of hearing can fully understand your marketing collatera.
Consider how content can be tailored for visually impared attendees and provide staging areas and ramps for those in wheelchairs to easily view all panel discussions and entertainment.
This will all make every single attendee feel valued and the ability to be fully immersed in your event experience – if there’s anything else you want to share with us on making events more accessible, please do get in touch! hing!
If you’re looking for support on how to make your events more accessible but don’t know where to start, give our team a call!
You can reach us by phone: 0330 223 3176 or email: hello@sheeredge.co.uk
