Inclusive rural events are the result of an inclusive planning process.
One of the easiest ways to start making your event more accessible for people with disabilities is to include them in the planning process. Think about who is in your community and who is involved in making decisions about your community event. Do you have people with disabilities on your planning committee? You might consider a “disability ambassador” position.
Do you know how many people in your community report having a disability? Check out the “Who lives in my community” section below to learn how to look up disability data for your community.
Image description: “Thoughtful planning that includes people with disabilities can lead to changing cultural norms, reducing exclusion, and opportunities for new connections and self-development.” Quote from Rayna Sage and Erin Flores, in “Disability and Rural Events: The cultural reproduction of inclusion and exclusion.” (Routledge 2019).
Russell*, a 32-year-old quadriplegic who grew up in a rural town in a frontier state, has enjoyed being involved in organizing community fundraisers and an annual pig roast that was started by his grandfather several decades ago. “I do every year, me and my buddy, the two of us organize a pig roast… it’s open to whoever in the community wants to come up…It’s actually something that my grandpa did, and since he passed on we started doing it like four years ago.”
*not real name
In some communities, someone like Russell might not be seen as capable of assisting in these kinds of events. In this instance, this young adult has come to play an important role in carrying on community traditions.
In this section
- Who lives in my community?
- Planning
- Venue considerations
- Promotion
Organizational policies
Who lives in my community?
Often, people are surprised by how many people in their communities are experiencing disabilities or significant difficulty with daily tasks, such as walking up stairs or running errands. More people in rural areas report having a disability than people living in urban places.
You can start to understand disability rates and related activities (such as poverty and employment) in your county by using RTC:Rural’s Disability Counts tools and resources.
Disability Counts is a collection of online tools and resources that provide accessible data about disability in rural areas and communities across the U.S. These resources include the Disability Data Lookup Tool, the Disability in America Map Series, the State Profile Map Series, and our Guide to Accessing Disability Data.
Planning
The Planning section covers things you need to think about as you get started planning and organizing your rural event.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link for more information: |
| People with disabilities are involved in planning the event | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| There is a map of accessible services and features at the event | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Event staff and volunteers have basic awareness training on how to interact with and help people with disabilities | Event Accessibility Checklist Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Event staff and volunteers know how to help people with disabilities if there is an emergency | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| There is a designated ‘quiet zone’ | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| There is an awareness of a need to balance historic preservation and accessibility in rural communities. Local community members are involved in decision-making around this issue. |
Venue considerations
Things to think about when picking a location for your event.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link for more information: |
| Conduct an on-site visit before the event | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Accessible transportation and lodging nearby | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| Accessible shops and restaurants nearby | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit |
| On-site accessible restrooms | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Accessible parking that is clearly marked | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Passenger drop-off area near entrance | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Service animal accommodations |
Promotion
The Promotion section covers things you should do while you are promoting, marketing, or advertising your event to make sure the public knows that the event is accessible.
| Accessibility Item | Link for more information: |
| Promotion materials are in accessible formats | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Statement on flyers and posters that the event is accessible | Planning accessible meetings and events: A toolkit Event Accessibility Checklist |
| Website content is accessible | Event Accessibility Checklist |
| List contact information so people can ask about specific accommodation needs | |
| Any barriers that cannot be addressed are listed in the promotion materials | Event Accessibility Checklist |
Other social media/promotional tips: [link
Organizational policies
When organizing an event, it’s a good idea if your group has some policies around accessibility.
| Accessibility considerations: | Link for more information: |
| Policy for ADA compliance | Self-assessment tool for ensuring access for people with disabilities |
This page is part of the Community Assessment for Accessible Rural Events (CAARE) Toolkit.