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The following guide is useful to aide in the planning of Wheaton sponsored events on or off campus. The guide is organized according to specific accommodations according to the need of attendees with disabilities. For support in planning college events, please contact conference and events and disability services.

People Who Have Physical Disabilities

  • Is the facility (building, theatre, stadium, etc.) accessible to a person who uses a wheelchair?
  • Have you publicized that your event will be accessible for people who have mobility impairments?
  • Have you include the international access logo shown below at the bottom right hand corner of your advertisement?
  • Is the facility entered on ground level or ramped?
  • Are outside doors able to be used independently by persons using a wheelchair or having some other mobility impairment?
  • If the main entrance is not accessible, is signage showing alternate access available?
  • Once inside, are all the floors accessible to wheelchair users, persons with mobility impairments or persons who are blind or have visual impairments?
  • Is there an elevator to all floors?
  • Are the elevators marked with Braille or raised letters?
  • Is there dispersed wheelchair seating or unobstructed view seating?
  • Are there men’s and women’s restrooms close to the meeting area?
  • Are entrance doors wide enough for wheelchair users? The proper width is 32 inches.
  • Are sinks, mirrors and paper towel dispensers accessible?
  • Are there wheelchair accessible stalls?
  • Is Handicapped Parking available?
  • Are spaces marked with the HP symbol?
  • Are spaces close to the main entrance?
  • If transportation is being provided, have accommodations been made for wheelchair users?
  • Have you scheduled wheelchair accessible buses or vans?
  • Is food areas wheelchair accessible?
  • Are buffet areas, bars and seating tables accessible to wheelchair users?

People Who Are Deaf and Hard Of Hearing

Deaf and hard of hearing persons use varied modes of communication. Please be sure to make the most appropriate accommodation.

  • Have you arranged for an interpreter to be present at your event?
  • Have you publicized that interpreters will be provided at your event by placing the interpreting logo shown below at the bottom right hand corner of your advertisement?
  • Is your event visually accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing attendees?
  • Have you reserved a section at the front of the audience for Deaf and hard of hearing people?
  • If slides or overheads are used, will there be an alternate light source (i.e. spotlight) so that the interpreter will remain visible?
  • Is there an appropriate backdrop? Visually distracting patterns and backlighting must be avoided. For the background, a blue curtain would work well.
  • Have you provided space for the interpreter(s) on the stage next to the speaker, as well as extra seating, if necessary, as near to the presenter as possible?
  • Are you familiar with the interpreting process?
  • At any event or meeting with multiple participants, it is important to regulate turn taking behavior so that only one participant is speaking at a time. It is impossible to accurately interpret more than one remark at a time.
  • Be sure to give the Deaf participants any printed materials before the start of the presentation. It is not possible to watch the interpreter and read through distributed documents at the same time.
  • Have you arranged for other assistive equipment that may be required?

Persons Who Are Blind or Have a Visual Impairment

  • Is your event accessible for persons with visual impairments?
  • Have you reserved a section at the front of the audience seating for people who are blind or have a
    visual impairment?
  • If slides or overheads are to be used, will they be made available in alternative format to people who
    are blind or have a visual impairment?
  • Have you arranged for handouts, surveys, programs, etc. to be put in alternative formats? (Braille, Audio, Large Print, Digital)
  • Are you aware that blind people sometimes use a guide dog and that they must be allowed into the function?
  • Other service dogs include hearing dogs for the Deaf and hard of hearing and assistant dogs for wheelchair users and other people with mobility impairments.
  • If materials/forms are to be filled out at the event are there readers and/or scribes available?

Persons Who Have a Learning Disability

  • Is your event accessible for persons with learning disabilities?
  • If slides or overheads are to be used, will they be made available in alternative formats for people who
    have a learning disability?
  • Have you arranged for handouts, surveys, programs, etc. to be put in alternative formats? (Audio, Digital)
  • If materials/forms are to be filled out at the event, are readers and/or scribes available?