Access + Belonging = Community Event Guide
Looking to expand your reach and audience for your community event?
It's as simple as
A
Access
+
B
Belonging
=
C
Community
Providing a welcoming, safe, accessible environment for all members of your community, including those with disabilities and neurodivergence, is not just the right thing to do, but can also help increase attendance at your event! These considerations can help you identify small steps you can take now to make a big difference.
Consider Your Participants, Speakers & Entertainment:
- Does your schedule allow for “sensory friendly” times where the lights, sounds and other distractions can be minimizedso people can choose to attend during that time if they prefer?
- Can you hire an ASL interpreter to sign for Deaf persons?
- Do you have videos with captions added for people who are hard-of-hearing or who need visual supports?
- Is there a way for people to make requests for accommodations as well as a plan in place to honor such requests?
Consider Your Space:
- Can you designate a “quieter area” away from speakers where people can choose to sit and/or a natural settingclose by that you can utilize differently for a quiet/sensory area?
- Do you have a place for wheelchair users or those with other assistive devices to access the entertainment andother activities planned?
- Do you have plenty of accessible parking close by that also allows for sidewalk access to the area?
Consider Your Staff, Volunteers & Partners:
- Have you trained your volunteers, staff and team to ensure they know about any of the changes you’ve made toincrease access and belonging? If not, consider adding this to your pre-event training.
- Are there organizations in your community who can review your event plans with you and help ensure you are thinkingof ACCESS and BELONGING for all community members in your planning?
- Have you considered any potential access needs of the people involved in the planning and preparation for the eventto ensure all community members have the opportunity to contribute?
Consider Your Promotion:
- Are your promotional materials – print, digital, audio, and video – accessible for all? (visual contrast, font readability,alt text, etc.)
- If you will be providing accommodations, spaces and other things to improve access and belonging, are youpromoting that in your materials? How can you drive people to your website to learn about what you’re doing and howthey can better access your event (parking, quiet areas, ASL interpreters, wheelchair spaces, etc.)?
- See an example of a social narrative about the Ohio State Fair here: https://www.ocali.org/up_doc/GoingtotheOhioStateFairV2-1.pdf
Create a welcoming, safe, accessible environment for ALL members of your community with these small steps:
Participants, Speakers & Entertainment:
Schedule “sensory friendly” times at your event and consider hiring an ASL interpreter.
Space:
Designate quieter/quiet areas and sensory friendly spaces as well as accessible spaces for wheelchairs, walkers or other assistive equipment.
Staff, Volunteers & Partners:
Include training about quiet areas and accommodations and input from local organizations with pre-event planning.
Promotion:
Accessible to all and promote quiet areas, accessible parking and other accommodations ahead of the event.