Top 10 Access Tips for delivering accessible events

Developed & delivered by: Supported by:

The aims of this session are:

• To increase understanding of how to organise and deliver accessible events

• To increase understanding of key physical, information, and communication barriers when organising events

• To increase understanding of how to remove or minimise key physical, information, and communication barriers, and create an accessible event

Why this is important:

• The diversity of disabled people

• If you do not know who is out there, you cannot meet need

• Your USP

Access Quiz

• Working in table teams (feel free to give yourselves team names!)

• You have 10 questions

• Allow 2 minutes per question

Access Quiz Answers

Tip 1: Walk the route from bus stop and train station to the venue

Ask yourself these questions:

1.How far is the bus stop / tube station?

2.Are there any barriers, uncontrolled crossings, kerbs, road works etc?

3.Where can people park?

•Use www.tfl.gov.uk or the Station Master app to get information about the accessibility of the station

•Use London Blue Badge map

Tip 2: Test the entrances and exits yourself

Ask yourself these questions:

1.How far is the entrance from parking spots?

2.If there are steps, are there handrails?

3.Is there a ramp, or alternative entrance?

4.Is there is a temporary ramp? Ask the staff to put it out for you to see how they cope.

Tip 3: Walk around the building carrying a meter rule

And look for:

•Anything that reduces the width of the corridors / doors to under 750mm

If you find anything:

•Can it be removed?

•Can we go another way around?

Tip 4: Sit on the accessible toilet

Ask yourself these questions:

•Can you reach the sink, turn the tap and reach the soap and towels?

•Hold your meter rule in the middle, and stand in the middle of the room: can you spin through 360 degrees without hitting anything?

•Does the recess for the wheelchair have 750mm, and are there bins or other obstructions in the way?

•Does the door open outwards?

Tip 5: Sort your seating out

• Leave gaps for wheelchair users – not all people who are wheelchair users like each other or want to sit together

• But… reserve a designated space for Deaf BSL users, that has the best sight line for Interpreters

• Have different kinds of chairs – with and without arms, high and low, etc.

Tip 6: Let there be light! (and not too much echo)

• Try and avoid using rooms with hard floors and few soft furnishings: the echo can really make it difficult for D/deaf people, other people with hearing impairments, or those for whom English is not their first language

• Make sure your space is well lit: this helps lip readers, and those reading the palantype

Tip 7: Learn how to use and test an induction loop

• Sign-posting here: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk

• If the venue has one but is not sure, teach them!

Tip 8: Follow RNIB’s ‘See it Right’ Guidance

• Royal National institute for Blind People (RNIB) ‘See it Right’ guidance is an all you need to know fact sheet on making your documents (hand-outs, etc) accessible.

• They also have ‘Clear Print Guidelines’

Includes:

• Font size (12-14 pt, preferably 14 pt)

• Text shouldn't be overlaid on images

• Don't use blocks of capitalised letters, and try not to use any italics or underlining

Tip 9: Get to Grips with a little Etiquette

Tip 10: Tell People

• Tell people what access is already in place

• Tell people what access they will have to book in advance

• Put the information in places where a wide range of people will see it

Q & A

Any questions?

Taking it further…

Making your Events Accessible: A practical guide

Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2015Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pmVenue: 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA

An in-depth workshop on how to make your events & training accessible to disabled clients.

You will learn…

...about the entire process (from initial planning to the day of the event), including:

• Outreach

• Booking communication support

• Setting up your space (incl. equipment you may require)

• Creating accessible training materials

• On the day etiquette and support

PLUS

• 2 facilitators for extra HANDS ON SUPPORT!