Site Accessibility Considerations for People with Disabilities

— filed under: Placement, American, Non-US Citizen

The need-to-know basics for ensuring any event, conference, training, or meeting space is ready for those with physical and sensory disabilities.

Learn Site Accessibility Considerations for:

Accessibility of main entrances to the site (ground level entrance, elevator or portable ramps for 1-2 steps for wheelchair users with wide level landing, or elevators, handrails, benches for resting on long distances for those using crutches, walkers, etc.).

Doorways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters of varying sizes (32-36 inch width/turning radius).
Capability of the site to provide appropriately graded ramps or level surface in inaccessible areas (including meeting rooms, dining, and lounge areas).
Wide spaces, corridors, and aisles.
Accessible restrooms (including wide doors, lever door handles, unobstructed sinks of appropriate height, large stalls, grab bars around toilet, adequate space in which to maneuver a wheelchair and transfer, and controls and equipment easily operated from a sitting position).
Adequate space for wheelchairs in meeting rooms, at conference and banquet tables with all the participants, not on the outskirts.
Wheelchair accessible registration table and options to provide seating or priority service if long lines for those using walkers, crutches, etc., and wheelchair accessible transportation or parking spaces for event and for excursions.

Well-lit areas, adjustable lighting.
Obstacle-free environment (i.e., free of protruding objects that cannot be detected easily).
Large, tactile directions for equipment, elevators, and restrooms; elevator numbers written in Braille or raised print.
Written information in alternative formats.
Orientation to the meeting space, rooms, and assistance with buffet meals.
Close access to public transportation and clear instructions to the registration table or greeters who can provide assistance.

The following accommodations should be provided for individuals who are hard of hearing or who are Deaf:

Rooms equipped with alternative emergency devices such as visual alarms and indicators, (e.g., flashing lights on doors, telephones, and as fire alarms).

Assistive listening devices, captioning, and/or sign language interpretation (this may vary based on the person’s needs and availability of services).
Preferential seating if requested and adequate lighting.
Notetaking services and handouts of presentations available.

Control background noise to the greatest extent possible; and choose a meeting room with good acoustics and an auxiliary sound system, if possible.
When planning for presenters with disabilities, check presenter access, which may include ramps or podium/microphone adaptations, a sign language interpreter to do spoken translation for the audience, or guide for a person with limited vision.
Presenter Tip: Develop a presentation and handouts that will be accessible to all participants - speaking in moderate pace, pausing for people to read visual information, verbally explaining all information conveyed visually, providing electronic handouts for the presentation, captioning or written transcription of video materials shown, etc.

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