Nearly a quarter of adults in Central Oregon live with a disability.  (Source: OHSU, 2017).  By ensuring these individuals can attend and participate in your events, you are not only taking an inclusive and inviting approach, but you will also broaden your market share and pool of potential attendees.

City of Bend Event Accessibility Guidelines and Suggestions

The City of Bend has its own Event Accessibility Guidelines [PDF]. These guidelines will help you understand and comply with applicable laws.  

But there are even more simple, easy steps that you can take to foster inclusivity and bring more visitors and customers to your event.  Proactive planning for access and inclusion optimizes the opportunity for a welcoming and accessible event for individuals with disabilities. Some ideas include:

• Point Person. Designate a point person responsible for ensuring accessibility of the event, and for facilitating requests for reasonable accommodations. List their contact information on all promotional materials.

• Registration.  Provide multiple avenues for registration if registration is required, e.g., online, paper, or in person.

• Communication.  Consider proactively providing an ASL Interpreter for the event, and providing closed-captioned on all video, particularly for larger events and live-streamed events. 

• Training Staff. Train staff working event about accommodations, assistive devices, and etiquette for communicating with individuals with disabilities.

• Promotional Materials. 

  • Include language that identifies the Point Person, for example: “If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact ____________.”

  • Consider requesting on the event’s promotional materials that attendees refrain from the use of scents during the event. Attendees with allergies may experience a variety of symptoms from exposure to scents.

  • If developing a post-event survey, consider including a question about the accessibility of the event. 

If you have additional questions about hosting an event that is inclusive and accessible here in Central Oregon, please contact the Bend Accessibility department at 541-693-2198 or email us at accessibility@bendoregon.gov.

Please note, the City of Bend does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or documentation referenced within these pages. Any mention of vendors, products, or services is for informational purposes and meant to serve as examples of businesses and organizations digitally working to provide accessible outcomes. 

There are many statutes, rules, and regulations that require certain disability accommodations, including Federal and Oregon State laws. This webpage is intended to provide resources and information related to such accommodations; it does not constitute legal advice.