Planning a community picnic, arts festival or a rodeo? Here are some things you should consider as you plan your outdoor event.
Parking
Not only is accessible parking necessary for people with disabilities, having a clearly marked passenger drop-off area and clear pathways to entrances makes it easier for older people and for people with small children in strollers to get into your event.
| Accommodation considerations: | Link to more information: |
| Enough accessible parking | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Accessible parking is clearly marked | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Passenger drop-off area near accessible entrance | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Event Accessibility Checklist Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| Level and unobstructed pathways from parking area to entrance | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
Bathrooms
Everyone needs to be able to have a restroom they can easily access and use. Make sure bathrooms have clear signs, and are easy to get to.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link to more information: |
| Accessible bathrooms onsite | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Clear signage for accessible bathrooms | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Path to bathroom unobstructed and wheelchair accessible | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities Event Accessibility Checklist |
Walkways
Accessible walkways benefit everyone, not just people with disabilities. Parents with strollers or small children, older adults, people carrying bags or transporting equipment, and other groups will also appreciate having safe and unblocked walkways.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link to more information: |
| Clear and unobstructed pathways to all activities and services | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Handrails on each side of all stairs | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| Ramps at all steps or uneven surfaces | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| In places with no curb cuts, ramps are present | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| Challenging surfaces, such as sand, loose dirt, grass, gravel, have an accessible pathway across them |
Service Animals
Some people who use service animals also use mobility equipment, such as a wheelchair or scooter. Make sure service animal areas are also accessible for mobility equipment users.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link to more information: |
| Accessible toileting area | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Water bowls | |
| Adequate space in sitting areas for service animals |
Programming
Even if the mayor thinks they can yell loud enough that everyone in the stands can hear them, they should still use a microphone. Especially at outdoor events, there is always competing background noise. Using properly adjusted microphones allow everyone at the event to hear what the speaker has to say.
(And besides, no one likes yelling anyway).
| Accessibility considerations: | Links to more information: |
| All video presentations have closed captioning | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| Interpreters for any needed language, including ASL, available for all activities | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| All media and materials are in accessible formats | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| Hearing assistance technology is available | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
| Microphones for audience during Q&A sessions | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
Seating and Tables
Make sure everyone has a comfortable place to sit where they can still participate in the event if they choose. Make sure vendor booths are at a height that people using wheelchairs or other mobility equipment can easily view and reach the booth.
Meals
It’s all about the food! Sharing meals together are an important part of many community events. It’s important to make sure that everyone is included at the table- and that they can get to the table.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link to more information: |
| Chairs with arms available | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Specialty diets and food sensitivities are accommodated | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Labels and allergy warnings are clear and obvious | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Food that can be eaten without utensils is available | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Seating is separate from the food serving area, and able to be rearranged | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
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