Planning an event can be time-consuming and challenging. With so many different things to book, emails to send and expenses to account for, it can be easy to overlook accessibility in your arrangements.
It’s important to remember that accessibility to all isn’t a nice-to-have or even an ethical consideration. It’s a legal requirement.
This article explains when BSL interpreters are required, what the law says, and why planning an accessible event can often benefit you, as the organiser, as well as your attendees.
Why Accessibility Matters at Events
Deaf people have a right to access information and discussions at conferences, webinars, training sessions and meetings in the same way as everyone else. So, it’s vitally important to consider their needs and necessary adjustments early in your event planning process, so that they become an integral part of the project, rather than an afterthought.
Early consideration ensures that you have time to find and secure qualified BSL interpreters, with skills to match the position, and gives you space to budget appropriately for the accessibility measures your event needs.
What does the law say?
The Equality Act 2010 places a responsibility on service providers (including event organisers) to make reasonable adjustments for Deaf attendees at their events. Failure to comply can amount to discrimination.
What counts as a reasonable adjustment will depend on several factors, including the size and type of event, the audience’s needs and the practicalities and costs involved.
In many cases, the simplest, most impactful and cost-effective solution is to hire a BSL interpreter to cover the event.
It’s important to note that while subtitles or written translations may be sufficient in some cases, these can sometimes be difficult to keep up with and may create stress for the reader.
Proactive vs reactive provision
One clear difficulty in providing these reasonable adjustments is that you may not know the requirements of your attendees in advance. Understandably, you may be reluctant to spend money on providing interpretation services you might not use.
If you’re not sure of your attendees’ requirements, it may be possible to just ask during the sign-up phase, or to provide a clear, frictionless way to get in touch with them to ask for their requirements. You’ll then be able to organise your event based on input about the needs of those attending.
However, there are also arguments for investing upfront, regardless of what you know about your audience.
Early planning can help you secure the best interpreters. It also allows you to promote your event’s accessibility provisions early on.
Potential attendees who may have been put off booking by having to contact the organisers for individual provisions may feel more comfortable attending an event at which they know their communication needs will be met. It can help Deaf individuals feel more accepted and valued in their attendance, rather than feeling like an inconvenience.
Other simple adjustments you can make include making sure the event is well-lit, both for interpreters and for anyone relying on lip reading.
You should also consider BSL interpreters for filmed or online events, where the interpreters should be clearly visible and preferably facing the camera. Showing captions alongside BSL interpretation can also help.
Not providing appropriate support and reasonable adjustments means you’re breaking the law. You leave yourself and your organisation vulnerable to legal challenges and reputational damage.
You also risk excluding part of your audience and reducing engagement with your event, as well as missing opportunities to demonstrate your commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
How Sign Solutions Can Support Your Event
Sign Solutions is dedicated to helping you confidently plan an accessible event that works for everyone involved. With access to a nationwide network of NRCPD-registered BSL interpreters, across a whole range of expertise and specialisms, we can help you source high-quality, professional interpreters for your event. We can support in-person events across the UK, as well as remote interpretation for online or recorded events.
If you’re still unsure of your legal obligations or the best types of support to put in place, we can also help by offering advice on the kinds of adjustments you can, and should, be making at your event.
Providing a BSL interpreter is often both a legal requirement and a best-practice decision. It’s always beneficial to organisers and attendees to host accessible events. Early planning helps to ensure that everything is thoroughly covered. Seeking early advice also helps to give you peace of mind that your event will go off without a hitch.
If you’d like to speak to one of our team about delivering an inclusive, accessible event, or to source a qualified BSL interpreter, get in touch today to discover how we can help you.
