Events for All

Keep the number of typefaces used to a minimum, backgrounds should be white or pale pastel colours, use a sans-serif typeface and avoid small typescript.

It is helpful to provide a separate leaflet, which lists the provision you are making or any other general information about access or limitations to access. This can then be sent to enquirers and used as a crib sheet to answer telephone requests for information. It should include details on:

Important to include a named person who is knowledgeable about disability issues included on the information sheet, as a reference point for any disabled people who need help or information. All staff at the event should be aware of this contact name.

SECTION 3: THE EVENT

Venue requirements

Obviously, with events held in permanent structures, the issues are different from temporary structures, such as those in showgrounds, or those using marquees for additional accommodation. However, the principles are common to all venues.

People with limited mobility

• Approaches should be as short as possible.
• Accessible toilets should be located close to the main meeting room.
• Access should be level if possible, or ramped if necessary.
• Do not put all wheelchairs in one area - this segregates disabled people.
• Ensure stewards are properly briefed regarding wheelchair users (see Appendix C)
• You need to have procedures in place for emergency evacuation, which take into account the needs of mobility-impaired people.
• Ensure that at least one seat is alongside each wheelchair position for a friend to be able to sit with a wheelchair user.
• Some seats with arms are needed for people who have difficulty standing (particularly elderly people with arthritis).
• It is good to reserve some seats as an ‘easy-access’ section for people who cannot walk far; again, particularly elderly people.
• Think about safety issues if there is any possibility of people falling down during times of personal ministry. People have been badly hurt falling on wheelchair footplates, and wheelchair users have been also injured.
• If standing people may obscure OHPs, provide hard copies of any songs for those who remain seated, wheelchair users or not. Give priority at the front for wheelchair users who prefer to be where their view will not be obscured.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL), Deaf people who do not use BSL, and those who are hard-of-hearing (many of whom use hearing aids), need different provision and some aspects need to be considered separately. Good, clear signposting means that Deaf and hard of hearing people don’t have to ask for directions. In fact, everyone benefits from good signs.

Deaf people.

• Events should be interpreted into British Sign Language
• Enough suitably qualified interpreters should be provided. Normally interpreters work in 20-30 minute sessions.
• A clearly marked, reserved seating area should be provided for Deaf people, at the front of the venue.
• The interpreter must be separately lit at all times, including dramas, when house lights may be dimmed.
• Interpreters should be at a correct height where the Deaf people can see both the speaker and the interpreter, which will provide additional information, particularly an emotional dimension.
• The wall or area behind an interpreter should be plain with no windows.
• The interpreter needs a running order for the meeting beforehand.
• Worship leaders should give interpreters a list of songs and a copy of the words of new songs (before the meeting if possible). Similarly, it helps if speakers can provide a duplicate set of their notes that will allow the interpreter to think about difficult names or concepts.
• Care should be taken to avoid people walking between the Deaf people and the interpreter at any time.
• Leaders should inform interpreters about any out-of-the ordinary events planned for the meeting.
• For a more formal conference, a lip speaker will help Deaf people who do not use BSL or some hard-of-hearing people who need to lip-read, The lip speaker copies the speaker using highly readable lip patterns. Lip speakers, like interpreters, work in 20-30 minute sessions and the same courtesies need to be applied to lip-speakers as to interpreters.

Hard of hearing people

• An induction loop must be provided for those using hearing aids. If the loop covers the whole floor area, there is no need for reserved seating
• Hard-of-hearing people who lip-read need reserved seating near the speaker · See comments about lip-speakers above

People who are visually impaired.

• Make sure that all corridors, approaches and circulating areas are free from obstructions and there are no projecting signs or overhanging branches or plants.
• Large print versions of songbooks and of OHP acetates are essential.
• These large print songbooks are also useful for others who might be unable to see the OHP screen when others are standing.
• Print should be in a Sans Serif typeface like this one. Normally 16 point is adequate, although some people find 30 point necessary. OHP acetates should be in 30-point type, so an easy solution to providing large print is to photocopy acetates.
• Printing should be on contrasting colour paper (black on white or black on pale yellow is best) and on matt (non-glossy) paper. This benefits people with dyslexia as well. · Upper and lower case should always be used, as it is difficult to read text written entirely in capitals, other than headlines or titles.
• Remove a chair at a convenient point to allow guide dogs to sit with their owners and to avoid people tripping over or treading on the guide dog.
• Provide a drinking bowl (old ice-cream container is ideal) for guide dogs.
• Braille is the preferred reading mode of a relatively small number of people. For events expecting over 500 people, braille should always be provided. For smaller numbers, try to determine if there is a demand. If you can do so, let Braille readers know the Bible reading reference in advance so they can bring the appropriate volume. Braille bibles are huge!
• Provide pre-event publicity and information in alternative formats to ordinary print. These could include large print, audiocassette, braille, or as a plain text file on a floppy disk.
• For safety reasons, good lighting is essential for partially sighted people. (Deaf/hard-of-hearing people benefit too, as lip-reading is only possible in good lighting).
• Some reserved front row seats will be needed for partially sighted people to maximise their ability to follow events. These should be clearly marked using the international eye symbol
• Use colour contrast as much as possible to designate entrances/exits.

People with learning disabilities.

In any major family event, there will be a number of adults and children with learning disabilities. Causeway PROSPECTS (see Appendix B) can help you create a special stream at your event with easily comprehensible material.

Some practical issues that you should bear in mind are:

• People with learning disabilities will be helped if any signposting contains a pictorial element - toilets, refreshment area, information point, etc. (Non-English speakers benefit too.)
• Treat adults with learning disabilities as you would any other adult. You can communicate more easily if you use straightforward vocabulary (avoiding jargon words and also avoiding childish language) and keep sentences simple. Try to avoid abstract or complicated concepts or questions.
• Many people with learning disabilities do not read. Therefore do not rely on printed sheets to inform people about the programme and facilities. Keep people informed through simple explanation at various points in the event.
• During worship, try to use songs with simple concepts and language. Take the trouble to explain anything that may be difficult to understand.

People with mental health difficulties

Mental health difficulties include a wide range of conditions. As these are invisible disabilities, you may be unaware that a person is affected, but it is common for people with mental health difficulties to have problems coping with large crowds. It is important that stewards and organisers are aware of this and are prepared to be flexible when necessary. It is helpful to identify a room where such people can discretely sit for a while if they become anxious. Make sure stewards are alert to this type of situation.

Other disability issues.

• Remember that many disabilities are invisible (Deafness, allergies, heart complaints, kidney dysfunction), so assume nothing until a disabled person makes a specific request.
• Always address a disabled person directly, never the person accompanying them, if your question/information is for that person.
• It is important to give adequate time to those with difficulty of speech and not make any assumptions of any mental impairment.
• Don’t group all disabled people together in a ‘disability pen’. You will need to seat some groups together - profoundly Deaf people for example - but try to minimise this for other disability groups.
• Make sure you have a qualified first-aider present at larger events to provide help should a situation, such as someone with epilepsy having a seizure can be quickly, safely and discretely helped.
• Ensure that all event staff and helpers have a full briefing on disability provision and encourage them to familiarise themselves with this booklet.
• Make no assumptions about a person who staggers or who has slurred speech, that person may have a condition such as cerebral palsy.

Provision for disabled children/young people

Separate provision for children is frequently made at major events lasting more than a few hours and the needs of disabled children must be addressed. Children and young disabled people, particularly those with learning disabilities or with complex disabilities, benefit from teaching much more if their needs are specifically addressed. Care needs to be taken when taking bookings for children’s events, that parents are given the opportunity to give as much information as would be helpful to the leaders about the needs of their particular child. In this context, parents are the experts on their children’s needs.

Setting up a buddying system, whereby each disabled child has a helper who is fully briefed on the child’s needs and can make the teaching accessible to them, is a very effective method of ensuring that children benefit from the teaching and activities in their meetings. Information on how to do this is available on Through the Roof’s website, on the ‘Helping Disabled Kids’ pages.

It is appropriate that children with learning disabilities are included in groups suitable to their chronological age, rather than their intellectual age.

Parking at the event.

• Ensure that there is clear signposting to reserved spaces for blue badge (and the older orange badge) holders. Provide a marshal to help particularly at the busier time of arrival.
• Be firm with non-disabled people who try to use the reserved parking or who try to bring vehicles into circulation areas.
• Allow disabled people to be dropped by the entrance if parking is some way away and give disabled drivers priority, as they cannot be dropped off by the entrance.
• Remember that the main issue for mobility-impaired people, particularly those who don’t use wheelchairs, is distance, so try to ensure that reserved parking spaces are close to the meeting venue, and if they cannot be within, say, 50 metres of the venue, make this clear in publicity before the event.
• For an event where there are long distances from parking areas, consider hiring or borrowing a few wheelchairs to bring people from the car park to the venue. Ensure this is publicised beforehand so people know how to take up the service.
• Try to avoid positioning disabled spaces in places where the mobility-impaired person will have to cross a road or way of traffic.
• There should be enough parking spaces, on hard standing, for disabled people (a ratio of 3 blue badge spaces to every 100 seats is recommended)
• Keep all entrances and approaches clear, including from vehicles used by PA/lighting crew.

Toilets and showers.

• Wheelchair accessible toilets are essential at all events
• Do not use them for storage; the extra space is needed for manoeuvring wheelchairs
• Residential events must provide accessible showers that can be hired in if necessary.
• It is possible to hire hoists to aid people who are mobility impaired.

Catering at the event

• Be prepared to remove chairs to facilitate people in wheelchairs. Make sure there is an alternative to fixed seating.
• Provide robust drinking straws for use by people unable to hold cups
• If you operate a self-service refreshments involving the use of trays, be prepared to help disabled people by offering to carry their tray
• For conferences, make sure there is provision on the booking form for dietary needs.
• Chunky cutlery is very helpful for people with poor grip
• A colour-contrasted alternative to ordinary glass is helpful for visually impaired people

Training for Stewards

Proper training in disability issues for stewards makes a huge difference to the experience disabled delegates have at a large conference or other event. This training can be delivered in-house or a specialist organisation such as Through the Roof can help. An advice sheet of the most important points, which may be photocopied for each steward, is included as Appendix C.

It is very important that Stewards are aware of all facilities available at the event that are of particular relevance to disabled delegates, such as:

• Arrangements for car parking for disabled delegates
• Location of wheelchair accessible toilets
• Availability of information, song sheets etc in alternative formats, such as large print, braille etc
• The area of the venue served by the loop system, if the whole venue is not covered.
• Any special arrangements for locating wheelchair users, e.g. by removing seats from a row etc. They must not make wheelchair users feel a nuisance by inappropriate over-direction or by unhelpful statements like the person is a fire hazard!
• Any reserved seating arranged for those with particular needs, such as interpretation into sign language, the services of a lip speaker, seats near the entrance due to mobility impairment, seats with extra legroom etc.
• Any special chairs giving extra lumbar support for people with back problems
• The location of chairs with arms, for people who find it difficult to rise to a standing position

Appendix A:

The issue of language

People worry about using inappropriate language that may cause offence to disabled people, aware that the issue can be a sensitive one. The appropriate use of language is less to do with “political correctness” than with the reinforcement of negative images, incorrect assumptions and stereotypes associated with disabled people.

A far more important issue is your attitude towards disabled people. You won’t be expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of individual disabilities and the simple way is to ask the disabled person himself or herself if they need any assistance and take your cue from them. This guideline runs through all contact with disabled people - ask the disabled person.

Disabled people have identified a vocabulary that they feel is appropriate to use and it is a matter of simple courtesy to use terms which are preferred. The table below will help you to avoid language that is unhelpful.

In this document we have used the phrase “disabled people” rather than the phrase “people with disabilities”. This is at the request of disabled people, active in the community who make the point that they are people with impairments, disabled by society. Either phrase is generally acceptable.

Words and phrases to be avoided:

Don't say cripple Say instead
person with a disability / disabled person

Don't say invalid Say instead person with a disability / disabled person

Don't say handicappedSay instead disabled

Don't say mentally retardedSay instead person with learning disabilities

Don't say mentally handicappedSay instead person with learning disabilities

Don't say deaf aidSay instead hearing aid

Don't say the disabledSay instead disabled people / people with disabilities

Don't say spastic Say instead person with cerebral palsy

Don't say suffering from....Say instead person with ....

Don't say a victim of....Say instead person with ....

Don't say afflicted by....Say instead person with ....

Don't say confined to a wheelchairSay instead wheelchair-user

Don't say wheelchair-boundSay instead wheelchair-user

Don't say deaf and dumb Say instead Deaf

Appendix B: Guidelines for stewards/welcomers

General

DO

• Treat disabled people as you would anyone else.
• Always speak directly to the person who has a disability.
• Always ask the person who has a disability if you can help him or her in any way.
• Whenever possible, seat disabled people with their friends or family.
• Try to be aware of people's hidden disabilities such as epilepsy or Alzheimer's disease, which may require assistance.
• Assume nothing - always ask!

Don't

• Don't use negative terms such as 'crippled' or 'victim'.
• Do not consider a companion or carer to be a conversational go-between.

Visual Impairment

DO

• Identify yourself by name and as a steward.
• Show a blind person to his or her seat.
• Ensure they know large print song sheets are available.
• Explain to a visually impaired person where things are located.
• Provide space for a guide dog to lie down by removing a chair

Don't

• Don't push a visually impaired person - always allow them to take your arm.

Hearing Impairment

DO

• Ensure your face and mouth can be seen clearly.
• Look directly at the person and speak at normal speed with clear (not exaggerated) lip patterns.

Don't

• Don't exaggerate or shout.
• Don't speak directly into the person's ear.
• Don't obscure your face

Speech Impairment

DO

• Give your whole, unhurried attention with good eye contact.
• Remember the person with speech impairment may use another method of communication, such as writing.

Don't

• Don't finish a sentence or word for the person.
• Don't get agitated or impatient

Mobility Impairment

DO

• Always ask a wheelchair user if she or he would like assistance before you help.
• Try to sit or crouch down to talk to wheelchair users so that eye contact is easier.
• Provide seats near the entrance for people with mobility difficulties to minimise walking.

Don't

• Don't push a wheelchair user unless they ask you to.
• Don't hold on to or lean on a person's wheelchair

Learning Disabilities

DO

• Be patient, give someone with learning disabilities plenty of time

Don't

• Don't assume the person cannot understand you.

[1] Many so-called ‘accessible toilets’ do not meet the minimum standards required by Building Regulations Part M, which is the section about access to public buildings by mobility-impaired people.

[2] This applies to residential events with camping or caravans often held on showgrounds.