Creating inclusive and accessible events
Events, whether big or small, online or in person – are powerful spaces where people come together to learn, share, support others and make connections. This is especially important in the rare disease community, where connections and collaboration are key to advocate for the condition you represent and spark meaningful change.
However, events often aren’t as open and accessible as they could be. Barriers, whether physical, sensory, cultural, or practical, can stop people from attending or fully participating.
Did you know?
In the UK, one in four people lives with a disability.
In a room of 100 attendees, around 25 will have an accessibility need. At rare disease events, that number is often even higher, as most attendees will have their unique journey and personal preferences.
For patient groups already juggling tight budgets and limited resources, making events inclusive is daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. Accessibility isn’t about perfection; it’s about intention. Don’t let the fear of not being able to do it all stop you from doing something. Every small step makes a difference, and trying – even if it’s not perfect – is usually better than doing nothing.
In this guide, we will walk you through practical, realistic, and affordable steps to make your events more inclusive without breaking the bank.
A note on accessibility at Beacon
At Beacon, we don’t claim to be experts in accessibility. Like the patient groups we support, we work with limited resources and do the best we can with what we have. We’re always learning, improving, and listening to our community to better accommodate their needs. We don’t always get it 100% right, but we’re committed to trying.
This guide has been put together thanks to contributions from our community and our own experiences running events. We hope it helps you take practical steps towards making your events more inclusive, even if you can’t do everything at once.
If you have comments, suggestions or feedback to share with us on accessibility please get in touch by emailing projects@rarebeacon.org
With thanks to the Funders of The Empowerment Programme 2025
Resource type
Course
Skill level
Beginner
Duration
Est. 1-2 hours
Last updated
March 2025
Resource type
Course
Skill level
Beginner
Duration
Est. 1-2 hours
Last updated
March 2025
What will you learn?
- Common accessibility barriers to events
- How to address different accessibility needs
- What to consider when planning an accessible event
- Budget friendly ideas for inclusive events
- Case studies from lived experience
Who is this course for?
This guide is designed for anyone involved in planning accessible events – but particularly those with limited resources such as patient groups and small charities.
Whether you’re organising a national conference, a local meetup, a virtual webinar, or a hybrid community day, this resource will offer you practical tools, tips and case studies to help you make your event more inclusive and impactful at an affordable price.
You don’t need a big budget or a large team to make a difference. If you’re committed to making thoughtful, community-led decisions and open to learning as you go, this guide is for you!
You may also be interested in…
If you’re looking to run events for your community, you may find these resources helpful.