Accessibility Unleashed: RAA Helping Event Planners

The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 will go down in the books as historic for many reasons. Those of us in the Rochester region were privy to a fabulous experience of the ‘darker side’ of an eclipse due to heavy cloud coverage that moved in during the hour before the eclipse. Those clouds made for a perhaps disappointing view of the eclipse itself, but certainly made for an even DARKER darkness that fell upon us.

Another reason it was historic is that perhaps for the first time, at least in our region, there was INTENTIONAL and STRATEGIC planning that began YEARS BEFORE the actual event itself — and those plans included strategies for ensuring people with disabilities, as well as others who have historically not been invited to this party, could participate alongside other event goers.

What you do BEFORE the party will make it or break it for your guests. They can absolutely tell whether you were expecting them to show up.

The key? Plan ALL of your events through a lens of inclusion from the very start. Otherwise, accessibility is an add-on, and that’s not inclusion.

RAA’s executive director, Anita O’Brien, was part of 585 Magazine interview earlier this year, along with other eclipse planners. Check out how these community members PLANNED for inclusion!

And if YOU want help with your upcoming events, reach out to us today and Make Inclusion Happen!