Emphasizing Accessibility in Community Events

To me, the best thing about doing something super fun one year is being able to plan the next year. I love the planning phase of an adventure. Laying it all out and seeing all the fun stuff you get to do with how hard you worked to get to that point is priceless. It is easily my favorite part of any journey.

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Elevating standards for community events

After attending a local festival in Washington, I realized how important it is to keep speaking up. Music festival accessibility should be a priority, not an afterthought. Organizers of these large-scale events must raise their standards to ensure a positive attendee experience for everyone.

It is heartbreaking when people cannot attend community events because of poor ground conditions. A lack of communication regarding accommodations often creates unnecessary barriers.

Why inclusion is the way forward

Moving forward, I want to get involved in making a real change. People are too often excluded from these gatherings, and that should never happen. I plan to attend many more music festivals and community events for as long as I am able.

Last year was my partner’s first festival, and now she is hooked! This is wonderful news because I attended many festivals before the pandemic. Recently, I’ve been researching large events across the U.S. and Canada. It is interesting to see how different event organizers measure up to modern accessibility standards.

What makes a festival truly accessible?

One thing I love about music festivals is the feeling that everyone is welcome. I appreciate it when a venue stands by its word. It is inspiring to see workers and volunteers come together to ensure every attendee is safe and having a good time.

A truly accessible event starts with an organized website. Information should be easy to find so that people can get answers to their "burning questions" quickly. I always look for a detailed FAQ page. However, I am now paying much closer attention to the specific accessibility section of every event website.

Identifying barriers to the attendee experience

A well-planned website offers festival maps, contact numbers, and service information. This transparency is vital for a good attendee experience.

Unfortunately, when a website lacks detail, it creates a massive challenge for those needing accommodations. Finding the right contact person can be difficult and stressful. It is exhausting to search for information, reach out to a stranger, and then wait days for a response.

Jumping through these hoops often deters people from attending. In the past, I would simply give up at that point. It is easy to think, "I'm just not doing that," when faced with a complicated email or phone chain. While I have worked hard on my anxiety regarding this, many others are still struggling. Event organizers must consider this when designing their communication plans.

How to make your voice heard

Getting involved and having your voice heard in your community is the best way to spark change. I love advocacy because it allows you to meet like-minded people. Together, we can learn from one another and teach the world how to be more inclusive.