Many businesses host events to help draw in new customers or to express their appreciation for their current clients. Either way, it can be a great way to build rapport with the community and strengthen connections. However, any event you host must be accessible to everyone, including those with reduced mobility. Keep reading to learn a few helpful tips on ensuring that your event is accessible to all your clients and potential customers.
Have Handicap-Accessible Parking
Wherever you plan to host your event, make sure there is handicap-accessible parking available and that any of the event’s attractions are not blocking this parking. For example, if you’re bringing food trucks to a local park for customers to enjoy, there will probably already be handicapped parking available. However, it’s your duty to ensure that the food trucks you hire are not parking in these spots.
If you’re going to a more remote location, double-check that there will be ample parking, including space for handicapped individuals. If there are no designated parking spots (e.g., if the parking is just a gravel lot), set out cones and signs designating a few handicapped spots close to the event, and have space for loading and unloading mobility devices.
Have Accessible Walkways
If you’re hosting an event somewhere indoors, you likely don’t have to worry about this, as buildings generally have very accessible hallways and rooms. However, if you’re having an outdoor event, you don’t want to alienate somebody who uses a walker or wheelchair by making part of that event inaccessible to them.
For example, let’s say you’re setting up a customer-appreciation carnival in a large, open field. There are no paved walkways, and the terrain isn’t very even. This would be difficult for anyone in a wheelchair or using a walker to navigate, as their device could get stuck in tall grass or soft soil. When choosing your venue, you should keep these factors in mind and ensure that all parts of your event are accessible to everyone.
Have Wheelchair Ramps Where Needed
If there are any curbs, stairs, or raised areas that guests need to access, you should ensure that you have ramps so those with wheelchairs and walkers can also access those spaces. Even getting up over a curb is impossible in a wheelchair without a ramp or some serious assistance. Anywhere you have to step up, make sure there is a ramp available. If the venue is lacking in them, you can buy temporary, portable wheelchair ramps for sale in Baton Rouge, LA, that can easily be set up when you’re setting up for the event. You may also be able to rent your wheelchair ramps if you don’t want to purchase them outright.
