As we head into Summer, many of us are excited to attend outdoor sports, music concerts and festivals, and county and state fairs. In a few short weeks, we’ll celebrate the 33^rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 55^th anniversary of the Architectural Barriers Act. Both laws have had an impact on how we access the venues and spaces where Summer events take place. NARIC Director Mark Odum reflected on the joy of equitable access to all that Summertime fun.

“As many of our readers know, I sustained a spinal cord injury in the mid 70s and have been a wheeled mobility user for all my adult life. What you may not know is that prior to my injury I played a plethora of organized sports and at all levels – from pee-wee and travel leagues, through high school, and some in college.

So, to the surprise of no one, that sporting culture continues to pulsate through my blood. Except, instead of playing I am now attending — not only sporting events but also large gatherings of a wide variety including large- and small-venue concerts, exhibitions, and political conventions.

I am a huge sports fan, especially of the Mid-Atlantic teams! For decades I’ve been a season ticket holder and continue to regularly attend Orioles baseball games, Ravens football games, and Maryland University events. I even worked for the Capitals hockey team’s media and analysis group for a time. I went to games in stadiums built in the first half of the 20^th century, and I sat on accessibility advisory boards as new stadiums took their places. I loved going to games in the old stadiums, but they don’t compare to my experience in the new venues built after the ADA and ABA went into effect. It was as different as night and day!

In what seemed like a few short years, the ideal of accessibility had drastically changed. Pre-ADA, it took a few well-toned ushers to lift me (with my 400lb+ power chair) down two steps, across approximately 4 feet of floor space, and then back up two steps. All to provide a “program accessibility service” and finally get to my seat space. Now, there are plenty of opportunities for me to purchase an accessible seat in the location of my choice, with ramps and elevators to get me there quickly and safely. This change didn’t come easily. It took a combination of laws like the ADA and dedicated advocates attending meetings, joining advisory boards, holding protests, and yes, even suing venues like the MCI Center (now Verizon Center) for “line of sight accessibility” to make it all happen.

We’ve come a long way. Today, some venues and concert organizers have heard from the community that they can do better when it comes to equitable access for fans with disabilities, and I’m pleased to see it’s getting better. I’ve read a few pieces in the news lately highlighting great examples of equitable access to concerts and sports, like bringing in and recognizing interpreters at big concerts. We can still do better, from providing more accessible seating options and protecting accessible parking to training venue staff on disability etiquette. The NARIC team collected some resources from the NIDILRR community and elsewhere which we hope can help make for a Summer of truly accessible concerts, sporting events, fairs, and other fun activities.”

The ten regional centers of the ADA National Network can advise venue owners and managers and event organizers on their responsibilities to patrons and employees with disabilities. Calling 800/949-4232 (4ADA) will connect you to the center serving your region. You can also explore these resources they have created:

• Planning Guide to Making Temporary Events Accessible to People with Disabilities: Street festivals, craft fairs, music events, sporting events, and home shows are but a few of the many temporary events that take place every day in communities both large and small throughout the nation. Temporary events celebrate and support a “sense of community” and must encourage participation by all people. This guide provides information to assist planners, managers, operators and building owners in making temporary events accessible to people with disabilities.
• Factsheet: Ticketing: This factsheet offers guidelines on ticketing accessible seating, requirements for descriptions and notices to purchasers, and much more.
• Accessible Events & Conferences: How Accommodating Are You?  This webinar covered what to consider when planning an accessible event or conference such as effective communication (e.g., captioning, sign language interpreters), permanent and temporary physical access (e.g., buildings, room set-up), and program access (e.g., accessible documents and materials, allergy-free food options). It also covered emergency preparedness for these events.
• What Large-Scale Planned Events Can Teach Us About Inclusive Planning for Disasters: This webinar focused on the intersection of large-scale inclusive event planning and emergency preparedness, including coordinating with local police, fire, transportation, and other first responder agencies.
• Assembly Areas: This webinar covered the scoping and technical requirements for assembly spaces such as lobbies, meeting areas, and more. Presenters discussed wheelchair spaces, companion accommodation, aisle and bleacher seats, and press boxes!
• A Place at the Table: Accessible Event Planning Basics: This webinar focused on smaller events, from family dinners to organizational gatherings, with key principals to keep in mind for truly inclusive experiences.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design and the Built Environment conducts research and development in the application of accessibility and universal design to commercial and public buildings, housing, community infrastructure, and transportation. This center is in its fifth iteration and, over more than 20 years, has evolved from justifying the need for universal design, to providing evidence to support it and evaluating the implementation of it.   

As we close out June, our Bilingual Information Specialist recently wrote about inclusive and accessible Pride events. Their post includes even more resources you might find helpful.