The College of LSA strives for events that are inclusive, welcoming, and accessible. Accessibility is best achieved when it is considered at every stage: from event ideation through to post-event evaluation. The following guidance and resources aim to support LSA event planners with delivery of accessible events.

Tip: Use the bookmarked links in the table of contents below to directly navigate to a section of this webpage.

Event Planning Resources

• Guides, Checklists and Contacts
• Standard Accommodations Language for LSA Event Materials
• Event Accessibility Consultation

Event Accessibility Services Support

Both the U-M Disability Equity Office (DEO) and the LSA Disability Navigators have resources available to support event accessibility. Carefully review information below to ensure you make requests to the correct office.

• ASL Interpretation and Live Caption (CART) Support
• All Other Support Requests
• LSA Event Accessibility Funding and Eligibility Criteria

Standard Accommodations Language for LSA Event Materials

As best practice, LSA departments planning events should identify a point person to receive accommodation requests and include the following statement in all event materials (promotional flyers and emails, registration forms, etc.):

“The University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) greatly values inclusion and access for all. We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to enable your full participation in this event. Please contact [Point Person for Accommodations] at [U-M Email Address or Phone Number] if you would like to request disability accommodations or have any questions or concerns. We ask that you provide advance notice to ensure sufficient time to meet requested accommodations.”

If the point person requires assistance with implementing accommodations at events, they may contact the Disability Navigators for help.

ASL Interpretation and Live Caption (CART) Support

The U-M Disability Equity Office (DEO) has American Sign Language interpreters on their team who can be requested to assist with interpretation at events, pending availability, in addition to limited CART funding for events that meet their eligibility criteria. Learn more about the Disability Equity Office’s ASL & CART Services.

Please submit event ASL interpretation and CART funding requests to DEO first. Requests can be submitted up to 6 months prior to an event and should be submitted as early as possible within this timeframe to allow adequate time for review. If your request is determined not to meet the DEO criteria or interpreter coverage isn't available, then review LSA’s event eligibility criteria (below) to determine if you can apply to the LSA Event Accessibility Services Fund.

CART captioning services for LSA courses and events are provided through the diligent work of our Sight and Sound Operations team; LSA Technology Services played a critical role in developing and delivering these services early on. Learn more about how this team's efforts has enriched the academic experience of LSA classroom spaces specifically.

LSA Event Accessibility Funding and Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

LSA departments* may be eligible to receive funding from the college for accessibility services at events if the event is meets one or more of the following criteria:

• The event is large in scale (inviting or anticipating at least 50 participants) and does not have a fee to attend.
• The event is open to members of the public and does not have a fee to attend.
• Event organizers have received a disability accommodation request from an attendee or presenter.
• The event will share critical information applicable to the broad college community and will be open to any member of LSA (e.g., college-wide policy updates or responses to incidents that impact a sizable portion of the college community).

*At this time, we are not able to provide accessibility services funding for student organization events, even if an LSA employee is their advisor.

Note: If you are hosting an event with a registration fee—such as a conference—the cost of proactive accessibility services like captioning should be factored into your budget and registration fees. You can still request funding support if you receive accommodation requests from disabled conference registrants that will not be fulfilled by the services for which you budgeted. Please request an event accessibility consultation if you need assistance determining which services to budget for and typical costs.

How to Request Funding

LSA units who are hosting events should have an event organizer complete the LSA Event Accessibility Services Funding Application. The Disability Navigators will review submissions and follow up within 10 business days.

Note: Event accessibility services and accommodations are distinct from academic accommodations for students or workplace accommodations for employees. Employee requests for accommodations at recurring work-related events (such as department, team, or supervisory meetings) should be submitted through the individualized accommodations process. Student requests for academic accommodations should be addressed to Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).