Organising Accessible Events (OAE)
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Programme Description
There has been growing awareness about the diversity and richness of disabled identities, thanks to the relentless work of many disabled advocates over the years. As such, we see a rising interest in discussions on what it means to design events and spaces that are accessible and inviting to disabled people. We are excited to see words like “Accessibility”, “Disability Inclusion”, and “Disability Justice” becoming more mainstreamed.
What would it take to translate these aspirations into concrete actions in terms of the events we organise? Come join us to learn how to centre accessibility from the get-go of event organising in Equal Dreams’ Organising Accessible Events programme!
Wondering why else you should join?
This programme will be highly interactive with a focus on hands-on learning.
We will guide you to think through how to implement accessibility for the type of events you are interested in, including how to navigate potential challenges and constraints you foresee based on your context. Hence, we hope to deliver learning outcomes that go beyond what you can find by researching online.
We also strive to have a diverse range of event organisers in the room, both disabled and non-disabled, so that you can benefit from rich discussions!
Additionally, you will get to experience yourself what some event accessibility arrangements could look and feel like, through the access arrangements we are planning for this programme.
We have curated content for this programme by combining:
- Insights gleaned from overseas and local events
- Learning points from our own journey in accessibility
- Feedback from our work with disability community, and disabled consultants
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will demonstrate understanding of various disability models.
- Participants will be able to apply universal design in event planning.
- Participants will be able to support each stage of event planning with considerations for accessibility.
- Participants will be able to craft key takeaways to work towards drafting an action plan, integrating accessibility considerations for events.
Target Audience
This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in what it means to organise accessible events. We welcome anyone interested in learning more about organising events to join us, regardless of whether you’re doing so in individual or organisational capacity.
Class Size
Limited to 18 pax
Note: There needs to be a minimum pax of 8 participants to conduct the programme. If the minimum number is not reached, you will be informed before the start of the programme to be refunded. There’s no refund of programme fees once paid, unless the programme is cancelled.
Accessibility
We are committed to creating a programme experience that is inclusive, accessible and affirming of diverse accessibility needs. Read on to find out more about the access arrangements available for this programme!
- Speech-to-Text Interpreting (STTI) to be viewed on your own devices like phone or laptop
- Breaks
- Multiple modes of expression for processing information and responding, particularly verbal and written modes
- Session notes reflecting slides’ content, which is sent ahead of programme
- Programme outline sent ahead of time
- Materials provided in screen-reader friendly formats
- Glossary of all technical terms taught in the course
- Captions for all audio content
- Presenters will actively speak at a moderate pace and encourage one speaker at a time to facilitate smoother information processing
- Visual Interpretation (for example, sighted guidance, describing any contextually meaningful visual elements on slides and videos)
- Speech-to-Text Interpreting (STTI) to be projected on a big screen beside speakers
- Singapore Sign Language interpretation
- Specific seating arrangements (e.g. request to sit near the speaker, near the slides, or near power points)
- No scent policy i.e., disallow use of scented products by participants
We understand that access needs are diverse and nuanced. Thus, please note that the list above is not exhaustive. If you would like to make additional access requests, do share with us when registering, or email us at training@equaldreams.sg as early as possible, this is so that we have sufficient time to coordinate these access arrangements and ensure that they are implemented effectively.
Trainers
Hidayat Khalid, Team Lead
Hidayat is a Team Lead at Equal Dreams. He oversees curriculum development, and is a trainer for programmes on disability awareness, inclusive practices and for emerging professionals. He also works closely with the Singapore Sign Language curriculum development and instructor teams.
Hidayat offers accessibility services such as Singapore Sign Language and Speech-to-Text interpreting, supporting communication access for diverse audiences. His work spans a range of settings from higher education and conferences to award ceremonies, art exhibitions, and theatre.
An interest in language led Hidayat to discover linguistics, where he was immediately drawn to the idea that language shapes how we think and experience the world (a nod to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis). That perspective took on new meaning when a Deaf lecturer introduced him to Deaf culture, community and Singapore Sign Language (SgSL). Years later, he would find himself working closely with the Deaf community, and has since expanded his work to other disabled communities. Learning from disabled individuals has deepened his understanding of how differing lived realities are shaped by real-world barriers, social attitudes, and access. These experiences continue to shape his approach to accessibility and motivate his everyday work in designing inclusive programmes relating to accessibility.
Minjie Tim, Accessibility Specialist and Training Developer
Minjie began her journey into disability work through doing disability rights research, which opened her eyes to the wide range of access considerations relevant to all areas of life.
She is a firm believer in Disability Justice community organiser Mia Mingus’s perspective that access work should be driven by justice, community and love, not solely logistical concerns.
Curious to know what Mia Mingus’s perspective would look like in practice, she took on the role of Accessibility Coordinator for the “Activism in Crisis” digital festival, which drew over 500 participants and 43 speakers. This experience gave her deep insights into what events’ access coordination entails, both the technical and “soft skills” aspects.
At Equal Dreams today, she focuses on developing and training core programmes such as Organising Accessible Events, programmes about Neurodiversity and Disability Inclusive Language. She also provides access services like Speech-to-Text Interpretation. Identifying as neurodivergent too, she is excited to create more spaces where more people could see how invigorating, creative and healing access work can be!
Pricing
Introduction to the sliding scale pricing model
- Our goal: do our best to ensure finances are not a barrier to anyone interested to sign up.
- There are 3 tiers: Reduced, General and Supporter.
- We invite those with more financial privilege to pay a higher rate (e.g. General or Supporter Rate), and contribute to addressing inequalities; to give more from a place of solidarity, not charity.
- We trust your judgement to select the tier that best fits your financial situation, no questions asked. The descriptors of each tier may not fully reflect your situation — please choose one that feels most relatable.
- Our rates also honour the time, intention and care that went into designing this programme. By signing up for this programme, you are also contributing to sustaining our small staff team in our ongoing work to deepen disability inclusion and accessibility.
- Existing discount codes or vouchers do not apply to this programme.
Supporter Rate – $400
1. You have sufficient income to pay for a programme like this, and you can afford to subsidise the cost for those who have financial difficulties.
2. An organisation is paying for you. You have a large amount of funding from your company to use for training programmes. That fund is more than enough to cover the supporter rate.
3. You have a large amount of savings or access to generational wealth (e.g. inheritance, assets). This is more than enough for you, with extra to spare.
General Rate – $320
1. You have enough income to pay for a programme like this, at the general rate.
2. You have a financial safety net. For example, you have some savings, inheritance, or wealthy friends and family you can depend on if you’re in financial trouble.
Reduced Rate – $260
1. This rate allows you to participate in the programme.
2. You have limited income to take part in learning opportunities like this.
3. Your income supports yourself, and others.
We would like to thank and acknowledge IDHA, AORTA and Singapore Improv Festival for inspiring this programme’s approach to pricing.
Registration
Interested in running this programme for your organisation?
Check out what our past participants have to say!
Can’t make it this round, but still interested?
Shortened URL link to interest form: tinyurl.com/EqualDreams-OAE-Interest
Once you registered your interest, we will reach out to you if and when we have the next run of this programme!