Events need to put the same amount of time and money into accessibility as they do creativity, says Ryan Curtis-Johnson from The Valuable 500
Firstly, let me start by saying there are many organisations out there that are putting accessibility at the forefront of their agenda. From the offset, they consider how everyone can access and feel part of the event.
However, too often we see examples of events that don’t cater to disabled and neurodivergent audiences, despite these groups making up such a large proportion of the population. If we put the same resources into accessibility as we do creativity, we would open the doors wider to inclusion and innovation.
DEI is embedded in most businesses, but too often it doesn’t stretch to their events. We see examples all the time of events that don’t cater to disabled and neurodivergent audiences or where accessibility is an afterthought rather than the focus.
To quote Valuable 500’s founder Caroline Casey, we are not after the “a la carte” of disability inclusion. We cannot pick and choose when we do and don’t do it.
There should be a baseline standard of accessibility for all events. The biggest issue is that cost becomes the common excuse as to why it can’t be added to event design. Another one is that it’s not our focus this year; we are looking at gender and diversity. This opens up the conversation to understanding how intersectionality works within your organisation or event.
The thing is that the solution is fairly simple if you consider accessibility from the offset and do not wait for the request. Why should the responsibility fall to the delegate to tell you if they have an access need? If people see you have already considered it, they’re more likely to request further accommodations or support when attending your event.
It’s like making it part of your DNA. Unfortunately, the world is not designed to be accessible. So, society is already failing many. Yet, business has an opportunity to change this by deciding to only use accessible venues, and always provide live transcription, sign language interpreting, and quiet spaces for those needing them.
Even incorporating a virtual option was fine for when we were all stuck at home during the pandemic and should be fine now. Then, you truly are being inclusive.
Yet, if you don’t, you are penalising people for having a disability, and I think everyone can say that is morally not right. It should be catered for within the budget, and before you hear the words “we don’t have budget”. I often suggest one less break-out brownie or even take out some of the budget for the big creative opening video, because if not everyone can experience it, what’s it all for?
The industry was very quick to incorporate sustainability within events and align itself with the UN’s sustainable development goals, and if we look at SDG 10, it focuses on inequalities across countries. Although it isn’t stating disability, it is very much linked. So, I ask the question, are you being sustainable if you exclude people from your events by not being accessible?
Within the events industry, many organisations can support you on this journey; they are experts in these various fields. We often hear the phrase from the disability community: ‘Nothing about us, without us.’ I encourage the events industry to engage more with disabled talent. Are they involved in the conversation from the offset, and are they supporting the design or functionality of your event? If not, why?
This begs the question of whether you are being inclusive as a business; if not, how can you truly do inclusive events?
The Valuable 500 is a global business community of 500 companies working together to end disability exclusion.
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