Getting Started
Planning an Accessible Meeting
There are four important items that anyone who is serious about inclusion issues should keep in mind as they begin to plan their meeting or conference.
- Consult with people who are differently-abled, blind, and people who are deaf in planning meetings and conferences. They are your best source for knowing the needs of the people who will be attending these meetings.
- When doing a site visit, try to see the location through the eyes of people who are differently-abled. The checklists above will help you do this but nothing will be as effective as envisioning the barriers people who are disabled could encounter at the event that is being planned.
- Walk through the program both in your mind and physically. If more than one site is being used for an event, drive or walk the route between sites to make sure that no barriers have been overlooked.
- Make sure you have an area on your registration form to indicate special needs. When special needs are indicated, the person should be contacted by event planner(s).
Example:
Special Needs: (please explain)
Dietary Restrictions: (please explain)
E-mail address:
Phone number:
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