Creating an Inclusive Experience for Visually Impaired Festival Goers.

Every music festival entity strives to provide an inclusive event that caters for all festival-goers and many organisers include comprehensive guidance regarding accessibility for their events. Provisions for accessibility can cover a multitude of factors but what are the specific actions that organisers can take to prepare for visually impaired festival-goers.

Visually impaired festival-goers usually include people with any vision loss, whether they are completely blind or have partial vision and make up approximately 8% of the general population. Ensuring an inclusive experience for the visually impaired will enhance a festival’s reputation and accessibility should form a key part of the organiser's planning processes. 

Legal and Ethical Requirements. 
There are legal frameworks that relate to dealing with visually impaired festival-goers which are covered by the following: Equality Act 2010 (UK), Americans with Disabilities Act (USA) and the European Accessibility Act (EU). Every jurisdiction issues accessibility standards and guidance which includes events like music festivals. There is an underlying requirement for all festival organisers to operate their events in an ethical manner which includes accessibility as a core principle. This can include anything from the ticketing and booking process to the provision of on-site facilities for example. Festival organisers are also encouraged to seek the advice from accessibility experts to ensure that all measures taken meet the needs of visually impaired festival-goers. 

Practical On-sit Accessibility Measures. 
Organisers should plan their festival sites with accessibility in mind and most will provide dedicated accessibility zones. Reserved areas close to stages can be constructed with guide rails, controlled lighting and textured tactile paths for festival-goers to easily move between stages and toilet facilities. Providing dedicated teams of volunteers and staff specifically trained in helping and guiding visually impaired Individuals are common initiatives too. Most organisers will provide accessible parking and camping zones located close together to negate the need for unnecessary movement around a festival site. This also helps to avoid crowds and other challenging situations that may be encountered on a typical festival site. 

Ticketing and Concessions. 
Most visually impaired festival-goers will be attending with a companion or guide and many organisers provide either free or heavily discounted tickets for companions. The ticket booking process can be challenging for the visually impaired and organisers should ensure that any online process includes an allowance for the visually impaired who often prefer to book by phone directly with an individual rather than an automated process. Organisers should offer priority parking and camping zones without additional charges as part of their fair accessibility policies. 

Technology Assistance. 
There continues to be great advances in technology assistance for the visually impaired which are especially relevant for attending a music festival. This can include Bluetooth-enabled beacons connected to a mobile app which give auditory directions for navigating the festival site. Organisers can consider an event App that supports screen readers to access detailed schedules, navigation assistance and event updates for example. New technology is emerging for the visually impaired that include smart glasses that can describe the environment or performances to the wearer. All festival specific printed material and signage should also be available in multiple formats like braille, large print and audio to help the visually impaired festival-goer. 

For festival organisers planning their next events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering. 

Image by Gustavo Fring via Pexels

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