Making your event accessible

Why accessibility is good for your event

Like everyone else, people with disabilities want to get involved in community events. By making your event accessible, you'll increase the number of participants and your event will be more successful.

How can you improve accessibility?

Accessibility is not just about physical barriers such as steps. It also includes:

• how you treat people,
• assumptions you make about people,
• how you engage with people with speech difficulties, and who are hearing or vision impaired.

Here are some practical ways to improve the accessibility of your event:

• make room in your budget for access requirements, such as interpreters or portable ramp hire, for instance
• use a large, simple font on your advertising material
• provide clearly marked accessible car parking
• provide elevator or ramp access to the venue
• ensure there's enough seating
• avoid strobe lighting or flashing lights
• provide a hearing loop
• allow enough space in the venue for walking frames, wheelchairs and scooters
• ensure you have a flat, non-slip surface

What are we doing?

We've put together an Accessible events checklist (PDF, 178KB) to ensure your events are accessible for all.

It gives you tips on how to:

• plan ahead for accessibility issues that may arise
• promote your event in an accessible way
• provide information on transport and parking
• set up an accessible venue 
• make staff aware of accessibility