9. Reasonable adjustments
By Rapinder Newton (RCVS)
Very few people want to deliberately exclude people from attending their events, but often, little or no priority is given to accessibility. In the RCVS Disability and Chronic Illness in Veterinary Work and Education survey, 87% of respondents with a disability or chronic condition reported having more than one condition, demonstrating the importance of considering inclusion in the context of disability.
About reasonable adjustments
In Great Britain, the Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against individuals with protected characteristics, including disabilities, in order to safeguard them from unfair treatment.
The Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public life and broader society, including employment, education and access to services. In Northern Ireland, this protection is provided under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Under this Act, organisations are required to make reasonable adjustments. These are reasonable steps that must be made to prevent a person’s disability putting them at a disadvantage compared to others. This means when planning an event or congress, it’s important to think about how attendees with mental or physical challenges or disabilities might be affected (either as a delegate or speaker). The Act states that these reasonable adjustments must be anticipated in advance of the event.
Pre-event communication
It’s important for attendees with disabilities or chronic illnesses to know about accessibility and any adjustments available at your event. Provide as much clear and accessible information as possible in promotion materials and in the lead up to the event.
You must also allow attendees to inform you about what accessibility requirements they may require. Ensure this is done lawfully, respectfully and in compliance with data protection law (UK GDPR) (see also section 4 on designing for neurodivergent attendees and speakers).
For example:
- Don’t ask “do you have a disability” or “what is your medical condition”?
- Do ask “do you have any access requirements we should be aware of” or “please let us know if you require any adjustments to attend this event”.
When requesting this information, state why you are doing so (in order to make reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010).
Ensure that this is a standard question for all attendees. As not everyone can use online forms, offer other alternatives too, such as email, telephone or relay services.