Introduction

One in Seven people in the world live with a disability
That's 1.2 billion people worldwide
70% of those disabilities are classed as invisible
79% of people with a disability haven't attended an event due to lack of access

This guide is intended to help you understand invisible disabilities and the steps you can tae to be more inclusive in your event design and delivery.

What is an invisible disability?

An invisible disability is an umbrella term to cover disabilities that are not immediately apparent and significantly impair normal activities of daily living. Examples include:

Visual Impairments
Neurodiversity
ADHD
Autism
Epilepsy
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Mobility
Anxiety

Language and Communication

Language is often overlooked in accessibility and inclusion conversations. Research has found that many people are uncomfortable with talking about disabilities. Over half of people with disabilities try to hide the challenges they face due to fear of being judged or excluded by their peers.

Virtual Meetings and Events

Does it have captioning options that can be turned on or off at a viewer's discretion?
Asses the ease of finding the agenda, help desk and switching between sessions if there are more than one 'stage'
Create a step-by-step guide to be shared well in advance of the event or meeting
Consider text is easy to read against a presentation's background and its colours

Live Meetings and Events

Does your venue have the following:

Wheelchair access
Service animal relief areas
Accesible toilets
Accessible lifts
Hearing loops

Design and Planning:

Include a pre-event warning if flashing lights, fog and strobes will operate during your event
Consider how signage is viewed from various eye levels
Ensure staging design can be built to legislation and compliance requirements including width of routes though the event and ramps
Brief employees, suppliers and guests on accessibility requirements and emergency procedures
Ensure interpreters are in easy to see and well lit areas

The Office

By building inclusion and accessibility into your business from the start, you avoid the time and cost incurred when you need to build it in down the line. You also reach an underrepresented talent pool and potential audience members.

Considerations for the office environment:

Install fire alarms which have lights as well as sound in every room
Have adjustable desks and chairs available for use
Keep all spaces clutter free, with bags and packages put away
Consider having flexible working approach where people can work from home
Avoid over-scheduling meetings

Moving Forward

We cannot be truly sustainable, diverse, inclusive or accessible unless we take the time to listen, consider and include people with disabilities in our conversations. Ignorance still exists, and it is important to always look past the disability

To continue reading, view and download this report in full

Accommodating Invisible Disabilities

At Trivandi, we’re committed to creating exceptional, inclusive, and accessible guest experiences. Get in touch today to explore how our Sustainability and ESG consultancy services can support your vision.