Event Accessibility

This is a resource made by Marcelo Ponce and fanny kearse for Vines Art Society, community partners and anyone interested in offering more accessible events. If you’re making use of this checklist to draft your event accessibility, please give credit!

Please keep in mind that providing accessibility is not a checklist, it’s an act of community care. We invite you to explore what works for your community.

  • ASL interpretation
  • Blind/Low Vision-friendly event
  • Wheelchair access
  • Sensory information
  • Seating
  • Food & drink
  • Schedule availability
  • Harm reduction
  • Tickets

ASL Interpretation

English to ASL interpretation allows for Deaf and hard of hearing community members who communicate using ASL to access events where english is the main spoken language.

Consider:

  • If your event is poetry, theatrical, or musical performances, you will need to provide ASL interpreters with scripts or transcripts in advance. Arts interpreting is specialized and cannot be properly done on the fly. Email marcelo@vinesartfestival.com to ask for a list of vancouver based interpreters who work in arts
  • Interpreters typically work in teams of two. For arts, some may charge for prep time on top of interpreting time. Does your budget allow for this?
  • Interpreter’s availability will depend on whether they have other daytime weekday jobs, and whether they are comfortable working past a certain time in the evening
  • ASL interpreters should be visible to Deaf/HoH people. Make sure they are positioned on stage with enough lighting and space. You may want to reserve front seats for Deaf/HoH people
  • Do you have Deaf/HoH contacts to share the event with?

Blind/Low Vision-Friendly Event

VocalEye and Amy Amantea define a Blind/Low Vision friendly event to be over 95% music or spoken word with no visual elements to describe

Consider:

  • Could your event be enjoyed by blind and partially sighted people without the need to provide live description? Shows that are 95% music and spoken word could be considered “low vision friendly” 
  • Is there room in the budget to pay for blind/partially sighted people’s transportation to the event? How about meals? 
  • Is someone who knows sighted guiding technique available for the event? Sighted guiding is used to help blind and partially sighted people navigate a space when they require so. Guiding requires some training, as improper guiding can be unsafe and uncomfortable for blind and partially sighted people. Vines Art Festival staff have been trained in sighted guiding by Amy Amantea.
  • Can the event be promoted to blind/partially sighted people? 

Wheelchair Access

Consider: is the venue/event location wheelchair accessible?

  • A space having an accessibility audit available does not necessarily make it accessible. Doorways and washrooms could not be as usable to some as to others. More description may be necessary 
  • A space being wheelchair accessible does not mean your event set up will be. Consider how much space there is for people on wheelchairs and using other mobility aids to move between chairs, tables, etc

Sensory Information

Consider: will there be any low sensory options offered? Low lights, no flashing lights, stim toys, art supplies.

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For events where silence from audience is expected (ie. poetry, theatre), are folks who may be stimming and making involuntary noise welcome?

Could you make colour communication stickers available? They are used to communicate comfort with social interaction:

  • Green sticker: anyone can talk to me
  • Yellow sticker: I will talk to those who know me
  • Red sticker: please give me space/don’t interact with me

Food & Drink

Consider: will food and beverages be served? What is it? Is there a cost?

Seating

Consider: what kind of seating is offered? Are there sturdy chairs? Are there wider chairs? Are there chairs with no arms? Is there space for people on wheelchairs? Remember fat and disabled people may need more seating options

Schedule Availability

Consider: timing, breaks, intermissions

Harm Reduction

Consider: Has work been done to de-stigmatize drug use? Will there be harm reduction supplies offered (new needles, pipes, straws, sharps disposal)? Will Naloxone kits be on site? Are event organizers trained to administer naloxone?

Washrooms

Consider: are the washrooms gender neutral? Are the washrooms fully wheelchair accessible?

Parking

Consider: what is the parking like around the event location/venue? If there is pay parking what is the approximate cost of parking? How far is it from the venue?

Bus Stops

Consider: where are the closest bus stops to the event location? How far? What is the route like from the bus stop, ie. Are there paved walkways, are there inclines? Can a wheelchair user access the event from the bus stop?

Tickets

Consider: is it a free event? Is pre-registration required? If it is not a free event what is the ticket price? If tickets are by donation, see the donation guide below!

Ticket Donation Guidelines

$30 - You are financially comfortable and are able to help keeping Vines Art Festival events remain accessible to all of our community members.

$15 - You are able to attend a few paid arts events but have to be deliberate about your support.

$5 - you are working with limited funds but can spare coffee funds for initiatives you would like to support.

FREE - We keep all our events accessible for folks of any financial background. Thank you for coming, we're so excited to have you!