Accessibility
Stanford University is committed to ensuring its facilities, programs and services are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. It should be a cornerstone of every event you plan to be as inclusive as possible and provide any accommodations as required by law.
Diversity and Access Office
The Diversity & Access Office provides disability-related access information and resources to Stanford community members, including faculty, staff, students and campus visitors.
Accommodations
Some disability-related accommodations you may need to provide at your event include:
- sign language interpreters
- assistive listening devices
- materials in enlarged print or braille
If you are holding a virtual event or if there will be any video content, you may also need to provide:
- live captioning
- closed captions
In all of your event promotional information, you should always include information about how to request a disability-related accommodation for your event. This announcement should include:
- Who the request should be made to
- How a request can be made
- And when the request should be made by
For more information about requirements and accommodations, as well as example language for requests, visit the Diversity and Access Office website page for Inclusive Event Planning. They also have an excellent checklist for planning an accessible event, including considerations you may need to be aware of for venue accessibility, setup, materials, and resources.
Considerations
Here are some areas of planning where accessibility will need to be considered.
Disability parking and transportation
Where is the closest disability parking to your event? Will you need to provide additional shuttles or golf cart transportation for your guests?
Venue access and reserved seating
Where is the nearest accessible entrance and restroom? What is the best path of travel for those with limited mobility. Does your venue have fixed seating? How many chairs do you need to remove for wheelchair seating locations? Do you need to reserve seating for sign language interpreting?
Service and support animals
Do you understand the university policy regarding pets and other animal restrictions?
Assistive technology and digital accessibility
Does your venue have access to assistive listening devices? Are your digital event assets and content accessible?
Resources
There are many resources to assist you with making your event accessible, as well as providing information for your attendees, such as the campus access guide, parking and transportation information, wheel chair accessible hotels and mobility device rentals, and more.
Disability Access Resources Page