Centering Access: Planning Accessible Events with Stephen Pannuto

Event Description

When we plan events, whose access is prioritized? Whose needs are assumed? Who is explicitly invited, welcomed, and supported to participate fully? This practical session invites organizers, communicators, and facilitators to rethink accessibility as a core element of event design. 

Together, we'll explore how access shapes experiences of belonging, connection, and participation, and consider simple but impactful ways to make events more inclusive from the start. Participants will leave with practical strategies for centering access in three key areas: communicating access clearly and proactively in event promotion, delivering presentations and content in accessible ways, and creating accessible opportunities for participation, networking, and connection. Whether you're organizing a meeting, workshop, conference, or community event, you'll gain actionable tools to help more people show up, engage, and feel they belong.

This presentation will be 60 minutes long, followed by an open discussion with attendees.

Accessibility Information:

Presentation material will be provided in advance. Zoom captions will be enabled. The presentation will be recorded and available for asynchronous viewing.

Speaker Bio

Stephen Pannuto is a co-author of UBC’s new Accessible and Inclusive Event Planning Guide and a Workplace Accessibility Specialist at the Centre for Workplace Accessibility. Before coming to UBC, Stephen built a community for disability at the University of Chicago by hosting over 30 disability-centered events each year, including a high-profile lecture series and a cross-campus, city-wide disability studies conference.