Podcast

Widening the welcome: Stephen Cutchins on elevating event accessibility

2 Event professional talking about the accessibility in Events
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Episode description

Are your events and content truly accessible for all who’d like to participate?

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 16, 2024, we’re dedicating this episode of Great Events to just that - improving event accessibility

And we have just the expert to help us. 

Stephen Cutchins, Senior Manager of Accessibility at Cvent, has been working in accessibility for over twenty years. In this episode, he sits down with host Felicia Asiedu to share his latest insights. 

They discuss how creating inclusive and accessible events can not only better serve a diverse audience but also significantly boost business revenues. We'll also explore the tangible steps and strategies organizers can implement for better inclusivity. 

Plus, Stephen shares about upcoming initiatives, including a groundbreaking “No Attendee Left Behind” webinar and the exciting launch of his book "The Big Book of Event Accessibility." 

So, whether you're a seasoned event planner or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable information that will help you ensure no attendee is left behind. 

Here are a few key takeaways from Part 1:

  • Companies that are more accessible make 60% more revenue than companies that are not inclusive of people with disabilities. That’s a remarkable return on the roughly 2% extra it costs to make your products more accessible.
  • The first step to better accommodating event attendees with disabilities is to ask them what they need. Not sure what to say? Ask if they require ADA (American Disabilities Act) accommodations and, if they do, inquire about specific needs. 
  • While fantastic tools can help, a planner’s top priority should be ensuring that their software enables them to create accessible content. 

Things to listen for:

00:00 Intro to Stephen Cutchins + the true definition of accessibility 

04:53 The cost of not being inclusive - personally & from a business standpoint 

08:26 The top 2 things event planners & organizers should do to improve accessibility 

13:13 Responsibility standards for event planners: where to incorporate & where to make wise accommodations 

20:26 Accessibility Law updates: the Americans with Disabilities Act, European Accessibility Act, and more 

24:41 Tools & practices that planners can implement immediately to improve accessibility

 

Meet your host

Felicia Asiedu, Director, Europe Marketing, Cvent

Meet your guest host

Stephen Cutchins, Senior Manager of Accessibility at Cvent
 

Additional Content:

  1. You can watch the on-demand session of our two-part webinar "No Attendee Left Behind: Making Events Accessible to All" on May 16th, in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. We hope you didn't miss out on this opportunity to learn about creating inclusive events at your convenience!-  Watch now 

  2. A blueprint to planning events that are accessible to people with disabilities - Get access to all available chapters now!

  3. How Accessible is Your Event to Attendees with Disabilities? - Download the eBook