Accessibility Training for On-Site Event Staff
On-Demand
This course equips on-site event staff with the empathy and practical skills to create welcoming, inclusive experiences for attendees with disabilities — from ADA accommodations to catering, security, and emergency preparedness.
Modules
9 modules of content
Format
On-Demand
What You'll Learn
As a result of this course, event staff will be able to…
- Operationalize best practices in event accessibility to ensure every person can participate meaningfully in the experience from the moment they enter the venue until the moment they leave.
- Support individuals who present with a wide-range of disabilities by operating from a place of empathy and leveraging a decision-making framework informed by best practices and up-to-date knowledge.
- Recognize requests for accommodation and feel empowered to solve problems that might arise on-site.
- Embrace opportunities to share knowledge with on-site personnel to ensure that individuals with disabilities feel supported and welcomed in every aspect of their experience
Choose Chicago proudly supports this course as a training opportunity aligned with Choose Chicago’s commitment to creating a more accessible Chicago for all.
Course Outline
Introduction: Welcome Every Body
- Every on-site staff member plays a critical role in creating meaningful experiences for every person at the event- centering a sense of agency / responsibility
- Emphasizing the importance of starting from a place of empathy and shared humanity
Requests for accommodation
- A brief and visual overview of what the ADA is and what an accommodation means
- Emphasizing the interactive and relational aspect of the ADA / RFA
- Understanding the accommodations available in the venue / from the event organizers before the event
- Understanding PTSR and emphasizing the on-site event team member’s collective responsibility to support participants and other colleagues in making sure the event is welcoming and safe
Supporting individuals with mobility devices
- Identify best practices for supporting individuals with mobility devices
- Identify specific requests for accommodation
Supporting individuals who are deaf or have hearing impairments
- Identify best practices for supporting individuals who are deaf or have hearing impairments
- Identify specific requests for accommodation
Supporting individuals who are blind or have vision impairments
- Identify best practices for supporting individuals who are blind or have vision impairments
- Identify specific requests for accommodation
Supporting individuals with service dogs and invisible disabilities
- Identify best practices for supporting individuals with service dogs and invisible Disabilities
- Identify specific requests for accommodation
Emergency preparedness
- Identify overall best practices for emergency preparedness in relation to supporting attendees with disabilities
- Identify specific best practices for particular disabilities
Catering
- Identify best practices in catering and food service to support individuals with disabilities
- Learn proactive strategies to ensure an inclusive event environment
Security
- Learn the common pitfalls of security at events in relation to supporting individuals with disabilities, and how to avoid them
- Engage in a thoughtful approach of empathy and understanding when it comes to accommodating individuals with disabilities while keeping your event secure
How This Course Works
This course is delivered entirely on-demand, so you can learn at your own pace — no set schedule required. Whether you have 20 minutes or two hours, you can move through the content when it works best for you and revisit key lessons as many times as you need.
Pre-recorded Modules
Move through the course with on-demand video lessons crafted and delivered by an industry expert — giving you direct access to honed, real-world insight whenever you're ready for it.
Course Access Window
You'll have access to this course for one year (365 days) from the date of enrollment, giving you plenty of time to work through the content at your own pace. Need more time? Extended access is available for an additional fee — just reach out to our team to request an extension.
Learn from an Industry Expert
Joshua Klipp
Founder & Principal
Josh is the Founder and Principal of Made Welcome, an accessibility consulting firm focused on accessibility at workplaces and events. Prior to founding Made Welcome, Josh practiced law for 16 years, specializing in the Americans with Disabilities Act. He is also a Certified Access Specialist (CASp No. 812) through California’s Division of the State Architect and is certified to provide guidance on accessibility in the built environment.
After practicing law for nearly 2 decades, Josh left litigating to do all things disability for one of the world’s largest tech companies, Salesforce. At Salesforce, Josh set up and implemented the reasonable accommodations process for Salesforce’s 15,000 employees in the United States and Canada. He also created and implemented the first accessibility initiative for Dreamforce, the world’s largest tech conference – an accessibility strategy that Dreamforce continues to implement today. Because of his experience in workplaces and events, Josh understands the challenges and nuances faced by employers, event producers and venues. On nights and weekends, Josh moonlights with his band, the Klipptones, and is a volunteer Planting Leader with Friends of the Urban Forest.
Ready to Level Up?
We want to make sure you're getting the best price available to you. PCMA and CEMA members, as well as Institute subscribers, automatically receive a discount — no codes needed. Simply log in at checkout and your savings will be applied based on your account.
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Satisfaction Guarantee
The PCMA Institute stands behind all of its content. If you feel you didn’t learn what you expected to in this course, just let us know within 30 days of your last lesson and we’ll give you a full refund. Full terms & conditions apply.
