Are your events truly built for everyone?

In this episode, Felicia Asiedu is joined by Julia Santiago, Managing Director at the CSUN Center on Disabilities, and Stephen Cutchins, Senior Manager of Accessibility at Cvent. Together, they discuss what it takes to make accessibility a baseline, not a bonus. You’ll hear what inclusive event design looks like, how new laws are raising the bar, and why creating events for everyone is good for both your brand and your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to make accessibility a starting point: Learn why building inclusion into early planning makes events better for everyone.
2. Why accessibility laws are tightening: Understand the impact of the European Accessibility Act and updates to the ADA.
3. What questions planners should be asking: Get practical advice on accommodations, technology, and attendee communication.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Julia Santiago and Stephen Cutchins

(02:24) The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference

(06:24) What’s driving the urgency for accessibility

(09:28) Accessibility laws in the US and the EU

(16:06) Designing for functionality, not disability

(24:08) Web content accessibility 

(30:43) How to show your event is inclusive 

(31:50) Accessibility for all as the standard

Resources:

The Big Book of Event Accessibility: https://community.cvent.com/education/learning-centers/topic/accessibility