ADA Question of the Month:

QUESTION:

I am hosting a small festival in my hometown. Do I have an obligation to make the event accessible to people with disabilities? How do I make my event accessible according to the ADA?

ANSWER:

Yes. You do have an obligation to make an event that is open to the public accessible. Accessible events signal that your organization values all people. This builds brand trust, strengthens reputation, and demonstrates social responsibility, which matters to attendees, sponsors, and partners alike.

• Choose the most accessible venue. Do you homework ahead of time and find the best location. For example, are there ramps for changing levels? Are there disabled parking spots close to the entrance? Do the fire alarms in the venue flash? Are the restrooms equipped for wheelchairs? Do nearby hotels have accessible entrances and rooms?
• Designate a person to be in charge of accessibility. They can be in charge of facilitating any requests for reasonable accommodations. List their contact information on all promotional materials and on the website.
• Make sure your website is accessible. Event websites should be accessible and follow the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines . This includes not only content, but registration pages and any forms that need to be filled out. All must be screen readable. You can also include accessibility information like parking, accessible restrooms, possibly renting scooters, where the accessible transit station is, etc.
• Offer accommodations during presentations. Provide an ASL interpreter. Use AI captioning or CART services. Offer any materials in large print and/or digital formats. And ALWAYS use a microphone even if you think your voice carries.
• Provide your vendors with resources to make their booth accessible. Tables should have a minimum of 27″ clearance. Avoid small text and fancy fonts, use high contrast lettering on signs. Have captions on any videos you are playing.
• Ask for feedback after the event. Becoming fully accessible is a learning experience. Needs or situations may arise that you haven’t planned for. Send out a survey a week after the event. You may find out about things that are pretty easy to do that you hadn’t thought of.