March 19, 2019

On March 7, 2019, the ENABLE Project partnered with the Venture Cafe Miami to host a training called "Planning an Accessible Event". The Enable Project is a coalition that brings together non-profit and social justice organizations and their staff to create channels for integration of people with disabilities within their organizations and movements.

"Planning an Accessible Event" is a workshop designed to guide organizations on how to integrate and include people with disabilities in ongoing civic engagement and social justice efforts, as doing so can empower people with disabilities to take advantage of their rights and participate in social justice and political movements. As a society, we all benefit when everyone is able to participate and contribute.

South Florida is home to a large disability community, and events like this will ensure accessibility and integration for all people. Unfortunately, the disability community often finds itself unable to participate in social justice and civic engagement efforts due to a lack of understanding by progressive organizations of how to create welcoming and accessible environments in their organizing spaces. The Enable Project seeks to change that.

The training included a wide range of things organizations can do to create not only accessible environments for people with disabilities, but also simple things we all can do when we write an email, newsletter, blogpost, or create a flyer. For instance, the choice of size and color of a particular font can make a text much easier to read for people with visual impairments. Also, clean, clear fonts are more accessible to people with learning disabilities (dyslexia), ASD, as well as physical and intellectual disabilities.

Other subjects covered by the workshop included:

• How to alt-tag images on flyers, emails, newsletters, and other outreach and communication resources so that they can be read by screen readers
• How to make arrangements to ensure the venue is ADA compliant
• How to ask the right questions to make special arrangements in advance
• ...and many other details often overlooked.

The good news for those who were unable to participate is that we have the materials available to anyone interested in creating more welcoming, accessible and integrated environments. Email us ([email protected]) and we’ll be glad to share the workshop’s handout and other available resources.

Lastly, we would like to invite you to the next Enable Project’s workshop, "SSDI Training for Providers", which will focus on the Social Security Disability application process and appeals process. It is perfect for direct services providers.

Please see and share the flyer below, and use this link to register. We hope to see you there!