What can conferences do to be more accessible to participants with disabilities?

Conference organizers can take a number of steps to ensure that their meetings are more accessible to participants with disabilities. Considerations may include:

Planning and Communication

• Are individuals with disabilities included in the planning process?
• Are facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities?
• Is the website accessible?
• Can participants request accommodations through the registration process?
• Do staff and volunteers know how to respond to requests for disability-related accommodations?
• Are presenters given information about making their presentations accessible?

Facilities

• Are aisles wide and clear of obstructions for the safety of users with mobility or visual impairments?
• Is signage high contrast and large print so that it can be read by someone with limited vision?

Activities and Presentations

• Is there adequate space for interpreters or captionists?
• Are microphones provided for all presentations?
• Can tables for food and drinks be reached from a seated position?
• Are videos captioned?

Other publications on this topic include:

• Removing Barriers Planning Meetings That Are Accessible To All Participants from the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health in collaboration with The Center for Universal Design
• SIGAccess Accessible Conference Guide
• Composing Access Project
• How to host inclusive hybrid meetings
• SIGAccess Accessible Virtual Conferences Guide

For additional information and resources on this topic consult,  What can professional organizations do to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in their field?, SIGCHI: A Promising Practice in Increasing Accessibility in Professional Organizations and Conferences, How can you make your presentation accessible?, and Equal Access: Universal Design of Conference Exhibits and Presentations.