Finding already-trained staff for a specialized area can be difficult. Luckily, it’s likely there are people already in your community who can help you staff this department. If you don’t already have someone in mind, a general outreach to your community is an excellent way to begin. Is there someone on your staff who’s expressed interest or who has relevant experience? What about among your membership? If you survey your membership, consider including a request for volunteers with relevant skills or experience to join the accessibility team. If your survey doesn’t yield anyone, go bigger. Put an announcement on your website and social media accounts that you are looking for an Accessibility staff member. Encourage your membership to retweet, share, tag, or otherwise spread the word. There are very likely potential staff members (and volunteers!) lurking in your follower counts, unaware that this is an opportunity. As a bonus, you may increase your membership by publicizing that you are taking accessibility seriously.
Here’s what you should look for in an Accessibility staff member:
- Someone with a disability. This is so important, and unfortunately so uncommon in the event world. You want someone who “lives the life,” as they’ll bring an insight into your department than an abled person cannot. Someone with considerable relevant experience as a caregiver or partner of a disabled person may also be familiar with disability issues.
- Someone with training and/or experience. Having a disability does not make someone an expert on all disabilities, and sometimes not even on their own disability. Look for someone who has worked other events or has a degree, certification, or other training in creating and running access programs. There aren’t many official training options out there, so don’t get hung up on letters after names. Let experience speak for itself.
- Someone who is knowledgeable about your event’s focus. You don’t just want someone who can get the job done. You want someone who can get the job done and have a blast doing it. Your Accessibility staff member should be a senior staff member, so pick someone who you know will want the event to be its absolute best.
How do I support my Access coordinator and department?
With patience and positive reinforcement. For established events that are adding or expanding Accessibility services, there may be resistance to making change from staff or management. Budgets will have to be negotiated, and inter-departmental communication is key. Achieving true Accessibility requires every department to buy into the plan. Set that expectation from the first moment, and be prepared to repeat and reinforce it as often as necessary. Empower staff members to offer solutions to identified problems in their own departments. Using their specialized knowledge of their areas increases buy-in and creates solutions that can be implemented much easier and quicker.
Give your Accessibility staff member contact information for each team. Set regular check-in meetings to go over barriers that they are identifying and discuss possible solutions. Just like you do with all your staff, make sure your Accessibility staff member is supported in their work. Be available to mediate disagreements on either side, but have faith in the person you recruited to help deliver an amazing and accessible event for your attendees.
And don’t forget the budget! Your Accessibility department needs supplies just like any other, and may need to hire services. They may also need staff, from dedicated assistants to day-of helpers.
Anne for Access: making events accessible to all 