Tips for Making Your Event More Accessible

Excerpted  from QPIRG Concordia’s Accessibility Guidelines

1. Compensate all contributors fairly. If at all possible in cash, and at the beginning of their work period. Don’t forget to provide/pay for accessible transportation.

2. Make your event pay-what-you-can/free and advertise this clearly on all promotional materials.

3. Provide pay-what-you-can/free snacks or meals (especially if the event takes place over a meal time) include dietary restrictions information.

4. Make clear the event and location policies about alcohol and drug use, and associated costs. Don’t display alcohol bottles, and serve all drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in the same cups. Also provide easy access to free water.

5. Make sure there is a well-informed harm reduction team at the event, who are ready and willing to listen in a non-judgmental manner, who are aware of common drug interactions, and who are trained not to call 911 without a person’s consent.

6. Find a location that is wheelchair accessible, and advertise this clearly (if possible include the dimensions of the entrance and bathroom doors). Think through how mobility will happen in the space. Are there clear wide paths for moving around? How will people with mobility aids interact with the bar, tables or stage?

7. Have gender neutral bathrooms.

8. Provide childcare during the event, ideally in a space outside of the main area of the event.

9. Make sure staff know not to ID guests, and to accommodate their needs, even if it goes against a policy of the location.

10. Have an enforced scent-free policy.

11. Have clear start and end times for your event, and stick to them as much as possible.

12. Provide English and/or French translation at all times, and upon request provide ASL/LSQ interpretation. Strive to include Spanish or other language translation as appropriate.