About Access Declared

I've spent years working in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) and accessibility, and one thing stands out to me: although reasonable adjustments are required by law, there's little pressure on organisations to consider accessibility before an event begins, or to communicate it before the event goes live. The advice most often given to people with access needs is simply "ask the organiser" with almost no pressure on organisers themselves to answer first.

My dad has a severe allergy. He's never had to phone or email a restaurant to find out if he can safely eat there, that information is already online, before he books. I don't see why anyone with access needs should be expected to always ask first to find out basic information.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time struggling with processes that are naturally built around neurotypical experiences, and most of that time was spent masking and doing anything rather than admit I was struggling with the setting or environment I was in. We talk about neurodiversity, disability, impairments and accessibility more openly now, and it can feel like disclosing a need should be simple, even welcomed. It isn't always that straight forward. For someone who's been called "awkward" or "difficult" for needing something different, disclosing isn't something you can just do and expect understanding in return.

That back-and-forth isn't a small inconvenience. For some people, it's the difference between attending and not. And even when a reply does come, having had to ask at all (sending a message into the unknown and hoping someone replies) creates uncertainty long before the event even starts.

I can't promise that any organisation using this tool will remove that need to ask entirely. But it should reduce it, and help organisers think about what to consider in advance, creating more transparency, and progress, for people with access needs. Even when the answer isn't "yes" to everything, honest information lets people decide for themselves whether an event is right for them, instead of guessing.

This is about transparency, and that means sometimes an organisation will publish a statement that honestly shows they don't have everything in place yet. That's the point, not a failure. Access needs aren't simple, and I don't have all the answers either, but starting somewhere, honestly, is better than waiting until everything is perfect. I know organisations often struggle with limited resource, capacity, or simply not knowing what they're supposed to say or do. This is meant to be that starting point: no shame, no commitment, no cost. Just support, guidance, and a way to be honest from day one.

In practice, that means a simple, free way for organisations to think about accessibility before an event goes live, and share that openly (whether the event is online, in person, or hybrid) without needing leadership approval, funding, or a long credentialing process to get started.

Accessibility information should be as normal as publishing a venue address or a start time, not something that only appears once someone's had to ask.

Access Declared is free, independently built and maintained in my own time, and isn't affiliated with any employer. It sits alongside a wider history of disabled-led and accessibility-focused work already pushing for clearer access information before events, this is one contribution to that effort, focused specifically on making the process consistent across online, in-person, and hybrid events.

— Caris Graham (she/her)