Canada has made it a priority to make the entire country barrier-free and accessible for everyone by 2040. Accessibility at events and construction sites for people with disabilities is just as important as it is in other workplaces or areas of public life. While it may require some planning, increasing accessibility is an achievable and rewarding goal.
How can you improve the accessibility at events as an organizer or at construction sites? Let’s take a look at why accessibility matters and some steps you can take to improve it with a little help from FenceLine Rentals Ltd.
What Is Event Accessibility?
Improving accessibility at events is about making sure those events are open and inclusive to every single person, including those who have physical, cognitive, and other challenges. It’s about removing the barriers that make it difficult for them to attend events.
Even in the earliest stages of planning, think about how to improve accessibility at your event in any and all areas.
- If you’re hosting a concert where the crowd will be standing, is there an area you could set up so that people in wheelchairs can see the stage?
- Can you use temporary fencing for crowd control as people enter and exit your event to make it safer for those with mobility challenges?
- Are your portable toilets big enough to accommodate those who may find it difficult to go to the washroom?
Those are just a few examples. Whenever there’s a barrier, consider how you can remove it to enhance accessibility at events.
What Makes a Venue Accessible?
The fewer barriers there are, the more accessible an event venue will be. If that sounds like an oversimplification, it’s really not. Everything from having ramps instead of stairs, adequate washroom facilities, or quiet areas for those who can find crowds challenging can make a venue more accessible.
There are a few big picture things that apply to almost all venues and improving accessibility at events, though:
- Accessible parking: Are there easy-to-access accessible parking spots available for people who would find it challenging to park far from the venue and walk?
- Transportation: Public transportation is great for accessibility at events, as it makes it much easier for people who can’t drive to attend. Having clearly marked pickup and drop-off locations is also important.
- Easy entry: Having separate gates for entry and exit can be a great way to improve accessibility at events for those with mobility issues.
- Washrooms: Ensure that you have accessible washrooms that ideally have space for a wheelchair or a walker. Grab bars are very helpful, too, and make sure it’s easy to reach soap, water, and paper towels.
How Do I Make My Event Accessible?
Gates
Especially for people with mobility challenges, having gates that provide access both in and out of your venue, as well as to designated areas where they can safely avoid crowds, can significantly improve accessibility at events.
Waiting in long lines to enter your venue can be difficult for many people, so consider providing gates that are specifically designated for their use. FenceLine Rentals Ltd. offers gates specifically designed for pedestrian access.
Modular Fencing
Temporary fencing can provide a safe and secure perimeter for your event, while also serving as a useful tool for crowd control and creating enclosed areas that enhance accessibility at events. These areas can provide safe spaces to eat, relax, and enjoy the event for people who find crowds challenging for any number of reasons.
Ramps
Ensuring that people in wheelchairs or those with mobility issues can access areas where others use stairs is a key part of improving accessibility at events. While you can install temporary ramps, you’ll want to make sure they are stable and made of a material that allows wheelchairs to get up and down safely.
Accessible Toilets
Your event needs toilets, and making sure they can be safely and comfortably used by everyone is incredibly important. Whether you have toilets that are designated to be used only by people with disabilities or you make sure all of your toilets can accommodate everybody’s challenges, FenceLine Rentals Ltd. has accessible portable toilets meant to improve accessibility at events.
Clear Signage
Whether it’s to direct people to areas designed for individuals with disabilities or wayfinding signs to guide traffic, having clear and easy-to-understand signage will enhance accessibility at your event. Good signage also helps with crowd control.
What Is Construction Site Accessibility?
It can be uniquely challenging to make construction sites more accessible, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. The focus just needs to be on removing barriers for people with disabilities on a job site.
That might mean including ramps and gate access, providing accessible portable toilets, or being careful with the use of temporary fencing to create areas where everybody is safe to work.
How Do I Make My Construction Sites Accessible?
Entrances & Pathways
Providing pathways for people to travel from one area of a construction site to another is a great way to improve accessibility. Keeping those areas clear of debris, waste, and equipment will remove barriers that make it significantly more challenging for people with mobility issues to move around.
Using temporary fencing to emphasize where those pathways are located helps separate them.
Ramps
In addition to entrances and pathways, having ramps helps people with mobility issues move around safely. Temporary ramps are a great solution that improves accessibility on construction sites, but make sure they are stable and safe for everyone to get up and down without slipping.
Accessible Toilets
Much like accessibility at events, providing accessible toilets is a key way of making construction sites more accessible. FenceLine Rentals Ltd. provides accessible toilets that have more room for people with mobility challenges.
Parking & Loading Zones
Ensure there are parking spots close to the construction site so that people with disabilities or mobility challenges can get to the site easily. This can be challenging in dense urban areas, but having loading zones where people can be dropped off safely also makes it much easier for them to arrive and leave construction sites.
Accessible Break Areas
Providing break areas with accessibility in mind means having seats and tables designed to accommodate people with disabilities and including handrails and enough space for people in wheelchairs to move around comfortably.
Improve Accessibility at Events & Construction Sites with a Dedicated Provider
Improving accessibility is a top priority for Canadians and a challenge that event organizers and the construction industry are committed to addressing. Removing barriers for people with disabilities doesn’t even have to be hard, either, and temporary fencing and accessible toilets can be an important step and part of the solution as you seek to improve accessibility at events or on construction sites.
At FenceLine Rentals Ltd., we have the equipment you need to make your event more accessible. For more information about how we can help, contact us online or call us at (782) 825-5737.