Event Accessibility: Planning Events and Experiences that Work for Everyone (Disability & Philanthropy Forum)

Event accessibility is the practice of intentionally shaping spaces, systems, and experiences so every participant can engage fully and without barriers from registration through post-event follow-up. Grounded in LaVant’s 5 Pillars of Accessibility™, this training offers a holistic and proactive approach to planning that moves beyond checklists and last-minute fixes by integrating access into each stage of an event’s lifecycle. The session explores practical methods for strengthening both in-person and virtual experiences, including thoughtful program and site design, accessible pathways and signage, effective use of interpreters, captioning, high-quality venue and platform selection, and strategies for hospitality-centered operations.