Event Leadership Institute Unveils New Certificate Course to Make Events More Inclusive for Disabled Attendees 

November 14, 2022

Understanding how to design events that are welcoming and inclusive for attendees with disabilities has become essential for today’s event planners. According to Forbes Magazine, the disability community is larger than the size of China, with 1.85 billion people, and if you add in their friends, family and caregivers, that adds up to an additional 3.4 billion people.  

But creating in-person or virtual experiences that are inviting and accessible for everyone can be a challenge for many event organizers, planners and producers, who may lack the knowledge, tools and strategies to do so. 

Enter the Event Leadership Institute (ELI), a provider of progressive online education, training and professional development programs for event and meeting industry professionals. Recognizing the need for standardized accessibility policies and education for event planners, ELI recently launched a comprehensive, multi-week certificate course specifically focused on event accessibility: the Event Accessibility Strategist Certificate

“Not everybody has equal access to event experiences, and we’ve found that there are limited resources available to event professionals to address this in a comprehensive way,” said Howard Givner, founder and CEO of ELI, which boasts an extensive on-demand video class library as well as instructor-led professional development courses, group training and webinars. 

He continued, “Our goal is to support event professionals in planning events that include universal access for the event. A lot of event planners are simply not aware of what’s required to develop a welcoming environment regardless of the disability, and we want to change that with the release of our Event Accessibility Strategist course.”

Designed to go beyond ADA compliance and requirements, the certificate course will raise awareness while providing event professionals in any industry role with the knowledge, skills and know-how to transform their in-person and digital events so they are welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all attendees. 

Taught by accessibility expert and attorney Joshua Klipp, founder and principal of Made Welcome, an accessibility consulting firm focused on accessibility at workplaces and events, the course syllabus includes: 

·      ADA Basics and Intersection With DE&I

·      Venue and Vendor Selection RFP Considerations

·      Digital Platform Selection and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

·      Designing Inclusive and Accessible Event Marketing

·      Accessibility for Digital Events and Presentations

·      On-site Toolkit Development Focused On:

o   Mobility

o   Vision

o   Hearing

o   Invisible

o   Temporary and Situational Considerations

·      Best Practices for Room Layouts

·      On-Site Logistics, Safety and Registration Best Practices

·      On-Site Staff Training to Create Inclusive Environments

·      Post-Event Surveys and Reporting

According to ELI officials, each course participant will be equipped to develop or refine an event accessibility policy and checklist for their organization’s hybrid, in-person or virtual meetings and events. Additionally, course participants will have access to a training guide for on-site event staff on best practices for interacting with disabled attendees. 

According to Tammy Kockaya, ELI chief strategy and growth officer, the Event Accessibility Strategist Certificate course is a perfect fit for event agencies, corporate in-house event teams, associations and venues that are looking to learn and educate their teams on creating accessible event experiences.

“This course is the first step for us, and we’re also learning how we can make our existing courses, events and resources more accessible,” Kockaya said. “We’ll be working to break down this course into a shorter module for event staff who are on-site and need additional education and support, so all event attendees feel welcome.” 

ELI’s five-week Event Accessibility Strategist Certificate course begins on Nov. 14, and participants can earn eight Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) hours. To learn more about and to register for the Event Accessibility Strategist Certificate, go here.

 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact