The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) marked Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 16) with a series of new collaborations and initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility, inclusivity, and overall event experience.
These efforts, part of the venue’s Positive Impact Guide, come in response to growing demands for more welcoming and inclusive events. The recent Australian Disability Network IMPACT Conference further underscored MCEC’s commitment to inclusivity, showcasing their efforts in creating an engaging and inviting environment for all participants.
The event featured accessible technology, Auslan interpreters, sensory rooms and accommodations for assistance animals, ensuring an inclusive experience for all participants. The catering options included tray service as well as table service, with a wide range of menu selections available at every station. For presenters with mobility needs, ramps leading up to the stages equipped with handles on each side allowed easy access.
Travellers Aid, a recent addition to MCEC’s Positive Impact Guide, operated a buggy service for attendees with mobility needs, ensuring everyone could easily travel to and from the conference.
MCEC also recently hosted the International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting secured by the Melbourne Convention Bureau. At the event, one in 10 conference attendees identified as autistic.
To reduce sensory overload, stage lighting for keynote speakers was adjusted, meeting rooms were furnished with all black chairs, and hand dryers in the bathrooms have been switched off to minimise noise. There is also enough room for attendees to stand and walk at the back of the rooms without disrupting the session. A low sensory space was also available, offering a quiet and comfortable environment for attendees to take a break . A designated networking space for autistic researchers was also provided, allowing for more comfortable and inclusive interactions.
Prior to the event, MCEC team members also participated in an education workshop to understand how they can best support autistic attendees and ensure a positive experience for all.
Moving forward, MCEC is collaborating with Travellers Aid at the upcoming Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference, hosted by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council in August 2024, to provide a buggy service, motorised wheelchairs and personal care support for attendees.
