Accessible events from A to Z
Various events put the topics of accessibility and disability on the agenda during the Disability Rights Action Days at ETH Zurich – a review. Are you planning an event at ETH yourself? A service is available to help you organise barrier-free events.
The external page Days of Action for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities took place throughout Switzerland in May and June, with ETH Zurich also taking part with various events. Once again, for example, awareness workshops were offered: in the two-hour workshops, participants were able to experience what it is like to be in a wheelchair, to use a white cane and to wear simulation glasses, or Experts from Sensability accompanied the change of perspective, shared their expertise and answered open questions about the unfamiliar experiences for many participants.
Last Friday of the semester, guests at the Alumni Lounge on the Hönggerberg campus were also surprised by the topic of hearing impairment and deafness. Deaf employees of the Swiss Federation of the Deaf had temporarily taken over the service, so orders had to be placed in sign language. The deaf employees supported the guests and also provided video instructions so that everyone could successfully order a cappuccino, latte macchiato or espresso.
You can find more information about the action days and all the events on the website ‘Design for all’.
How do I make my event accessible?
The ‘Accessibility of Events’ sub-project was also successfully completed before the summer break under the direction of the ‘Events and Hospitality’ section (Campus Services department).
This marked the achievement of an important infrastructure goal, as Vice President Ueli Weidmann emphasised: ‘ETH Zurich stands for a culture of openness and inclusion. This applies particularly when we invite people to visit us and welcome them in a hospitable manner. Our events should be accessible to all guests and enable participation regardless of individual limitations – we all benefit from this.’
Four measures have been implemented to ensure that events at ETH are offered in an accessible and inclusive manner in the future:
- The information website Organising Accessible Events, including checklists, is now available. In addition, a great deal of information has been integrated into the Guides for sustainable and inclusive events.
- The event management team has set up the contact address for questions and support from ETH employees who organise events.
- Height-adjustable registration desks and drinks reception tables are now available.
- In addition, event management staff and student helpers have been and will continue to be made aware of and trained in accessibility and disability issues.
Two further measures will be implemented in 2024 and 2025 respectively:
- The room information will be supplemented by the end of 2024 with new information on the accessibility of the rooms, for example, whether threshold-free access is possible or whether support is available for people with hearing impairments.
- In the future, the accessibility of events will be required and queried for a successful
Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is committed to accessibility: over the course of the next few years, people with disabilities and those with special needs – whether students, lecturers, researchers, staff or visitors – are to benefit from greatly improved access to ETH buildings and services.
The proposed measures will be implemented in 14 sub-projects under three categories: “Construction, Building Usage and Architecture”, “Organisation and Culture” and “Technology, Communication and Teaching”.
For more information on the programme and the 14 sub-projects, visit the programme website and the new exhibition on the topic of “barrier-free” in the OCT building.
Note on the translation
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