Enhancing Event Accessibility for Fans with Disabilities: Key Strategies

By: Katie McMillan

There are countless types of events that everyone wants to experience, from major league sports like basketball, baseball and hockey, to concerts and conventions. For fans, events are a fun activity to look forward to.

Venues should always be striving to improve the fan experience. Specifically, let’s consider some ways that venues can welcome fans with disabilities and optimize their experience.

1. Provide Equal Ticket Pricing:

The first step in attending a sporting event or concert is gaining access to tickets. Venues typically offer very minimal accessible seating, restricting how many fans with disabilities can attend any given event. This could be the reason for often higher pricing for accessible seating. With that said, a fan requiring an accessible seat, who may very well use their own wheelchair to enjoy the event, should not have to pay more than double the amount of an able-bodied fan. Also, keep in mind that the fan may need to be accompanied by a care attendant, doubling the cost of tickets in some cases. It’s only fair to want ticket pricing equality for all fans and their companions.

2. Offer a Wider Range of Accessible Seating:

Everyone attending a sporting event or concert should be able to sit wherever they want. Most venues offer very limited space for wheelchairs and other mobility devices. In most cases, accessible seating is not offered on every level of the event space. This should be changed to accommodate everyone’s preferences no matter their abilities.

In addition to more accessible seating, venues could offer things like lower coat hangers and seat side tables for concession convenience, like placing food, drinks and treats in the seating area next to a fan for easy access. These can be portable so that they can be moved around to accommodate fans with disabilities, their companions or other spectators.

3. Improving Concessions:

Offering something as simple as a bendy straw or a cup with a handle could improve someone’s experience. Vendors should be open to accepting specific requests when it comes to accommodating the needs of fans with disabilities. For example, if a fan is requesting 1/2 bag of popcorn because of their inability to carry a full bag, accept the request, carry it out and charge the fan accordingly. If a fan asks for assistance to open or reach for something kindly oblige. Be sure not to assume that the fan needs help. Ask first.

Also, have methods of quick and easy payment readily available. A lower counter to access a debit machine that is set up to accept the tap feature would be ideal for most fans.

4. Have Fully Accessible Washrooms Available:

While accessible washrooms are fairly standard, there are plenty of adjustments that can be made to improve their accessibility. Things like grab bars, electric door openers and spacious stalls or standalone washrooms are common. However, in consideration of all the different types of needs and abilities it would be wise to widen the spectrum of what is offered for fans attending games. For example, there are many people with disabilities who cannot transfer without a mechanical lift. Venues could consider installing a ceiling track lift, or a mobile patient/Hoyer lift in the washroom. Fans who need to access a lift often travel with their own body sling, but not always. It would be nice to have a one-size-fits-all body sling available to use in case it is required. Other devices used to complete safe transfers are pivoting poles (a pole mounted on a disc, with a grab bar to hold onto that the user can use to pivot transfer.)  Also, a transfer board which is used in seated transfers from chair to toilet and back. Providing this equipment would improve the fan’s experience and potentially guarantee a repeat customer for the venue.

5. Offer On-site Care Attendants:

The most valuable resource that a venue could offer is on-site attendant care. If a fan can trust that their needs will be met, they will get the very most out of the experience and not have to stress about finding a companion to bring along. Some fans with disabilities travel without a care attendant but still require assistance. Care attendants could assist with things like washroom breaks, transfers to seats, helping with concession or merchandise shopping, eating and drinking, and arrival and departure.

Venues should consider a partnership with a resource like Whimble. Partnering with them in order to offer this type of service to fans and employees would truly make a world of difference.

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Header image (audience at music festival) via Canva / Pixabay (Pexels—2286921)

Katie McMillan is an advocate for people with disabilities, and has lifelong lived experience with a disability. She has spent some time working with the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto, where she continued her work towards disability awareness, advocacy and support. She has spent her adulthood receiving care services, both from agencies and has experience as a self-manager with the Direct Funding Program. Currently, she is working with the Toronto Blue Jays JaysCare Foundation. The foundation raises funds for underprivileged children and youth with disabilities, to assist them in being able to enjoy participating in sports. Katie is an aspiring writer, and wants to travel more in the very near future.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Katie on her social platforms, for support, assistance with advocacy or just to have someone to relate to.

Email: kmcmilla83@gmail.com

Twitter: @bsbraven

Instagram: katielee3891