Hot Topic: Welcoming disabled delegates: accessible meetings and events

7th June 2007, 10:00am - 1:00pm, Past event

Disabled delegates, speakers, clients or potential employees coming for an interview may have a wide range of specific requirements, which you are required to make as a reasonable adjustment. This might include physical access to your venue, hotel accommodation, car parking, Braille, audio description, sign language interpreters and palantypists.

When organising an event or meeting, proactively addressing the needs of potential disabled delegates will help you to ensure that you are providing excellent customer service to all attendees and to be confident that you are meeting your legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

This session will equip you with the practical understanding of managing meetings and events so that they are accessible to all your guests and delegates and help you to pass on the knowledge to your colleagues.

Why attend?

This event enables you to:

• Understand your obligations as a service provider under the DDA when running events or holding meetings.
• Anticipate the needs of delegates with disabilities such as mobility impairments, visual impairment and hearing impairment.
• Ensure your event is inclusive by making adjustments such as hiring an accessible venue, providing information in alternative formats, or booking a palantypist or BSL interpreter.
• Brief event staff with regard to etiquette and language when greeting disabled delegates, responding to specific requirements and working with disabled speakers.

Who should attend?

Event organisers and venue managers; training organisers, PAs, diary secretaries and those with responsibility for planning client meetings, HR or diversity professionals with responsibility for promoting change on disability.