Arranging Accessible Meetings - Basic 10 Point Checklist

If you are arranging a meeting the following checklist provides some basic questions you should ask yourself to ensure it is accessible to disabled people. If you require further information please refer to the more detailed Arranging Accessible Meetings guidance.

Legal Duty

Leicestershire County Council is a service provider and is also responsible for exercising public functions. This means under the Disability Discrimination Act we have a legal duty to ensure that wherever possible disabled people can use or receive the same services to the same standards as non-disabled people; and that disabled people do not experience unlawful discrimination. We also have a duty to anticipate that disabled people will want to use our services or be subject to our public functions and we should make reasonable changes or "adjustments" so that they are able to do so.

From December 2006 we will have a duty to promote Disability Equality. Information about this will be published shortly in our new Draft Disability Equality Scheme."

Things to ask yourself

Have you checked the venue especially if you are not sure about its accessibility?
Is there adequate parking for disabled people and accessible public transport provision?
Can people get in and out of the venue/building (this includes fire evacuation procedures)?
Has the building got accessible toilet provision?
Have you asked about particular access requirements when notifying people of the event?
Have you ensured that the attendee knows in advance if you are not able to meet their specific needs?
If providing refreshments - have you asked about any dietary requirements and checked accessible location of dining area?
Have you provided a map locating the venue, parking, entrance, rooms, toilets etc?
Have you arranged any necessary auxiliary aids e.g. flexible seating arrangements, tables, accessible information/agendas/papers etc (sent prior to the meeting), induction loop, speech to text etc?
Have you arranged any necessary communication requirements & facilitators e.g. sign language interpreters, translators, support workers etc?