accessible events
Episode 3: Accessible Meetings and Events Questions and Answers
Download Question and Answers File: Accessible Meetings and Events (PDF)
If someone brings a service animal am I responsible for walking it so it can relieve itself?
No. A public entity or private business is not responsible for the care and supervision of a service animal.
What is audio/visual description and do I need to provide this?
Public entities and private businesses have responsibilities under the ADA to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. Description of visually presented materials is considered an auxiliary aid or service.
I am hosting an event at a hotel. Who is responsible for providing wheelchair access to the stage?
Both the hotel and the public entity or private business renting the hotel meeting space have responsibilities under the ADA to ensure that everyone regardless of disability has an equal opportunity to enjoy the services and facilities offered by your event.
If the hotel provides temporary stages or raised platforms, they must make these temporary elements accessible to people with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue administrative or financial burden.
I received a request from someone who will be traveling from another state to attend my workshop. She is deaf and wants to bring a sign language interpreter with her. Do I have to pay for her interpreter?
A public entity or private business conducting a workshop cannot require an individual with a disability to bring another individual to interpret for him or her.
We are providing meals at our conference. An attendee said she has food allergies. Do we need to have a special meal prepared for her?
In order to be viewed as a disability under the ADA, an impairment must substantially limit one or more major life activities. An individual's major life activities of respiratory or neurological functioning may be substantially limited by allergies or sensitivity to a degree that he or she is a person with a disability. For example this may include an individual with severe nut allergies, the symptoms of which may include difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Our church is sponsoring a seminar that is open to non-church members. An attendee is sensitive to perfumes, lotions, etc. and has asked that we request that all attendees not wear any chemicals or fragrances. Do we have to do this?
Our church is sponsoring a seminar that is open to non-church members, and attendees must purchase a ticket. An attendee is sensitive to perfumes, lotions, after shave, etc. and has asked that we request that all attendees not wear any chemicals or fragrances.
If I am using my facility to host a job fair, must I provide a sign language interpreter?
- When is an organization or business required to provide an interpreter?
Public entities and private businesses have responsibilities under the ADA to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. A qualified sign language interpreter is considered an auxiliary aid or service.
Our town has a crafts workshop every spring. Some presenters use big heavy extension cords to run their equipment. Do we have to do anything to cover them?
Buildings or outdoor venues designed for complete accessibility can become inaccessible without proper attention when setting up temporary events such as your crafts workshop. A poorly placed extension cord can make your crafts workshop venue unusable to people with mobility disabilities. In regards to the ADA, the extension cords need to be addressed if they are obstructing the accessible route or access to craft workshop activities for people with disabilities.