Venue Access Academy

Venue Access Academy logo that includes entertainment images to the left and sports images to the right. Venue Access Academy logo that includes entertainment images to the left and sports images to the right.

The Venue Access Academy offers tools to become optimally effective in providing an accessible and inclusive experience to venue guests. It was developed in response to the growing recognition that people with disabilities make up the fastest growing minority population in the world and greater access for them equals greater equity and inclusion for all.

As part of the Academy, venue professionals have access to at least fifteen weekly 90-minute live online training classes that act as dual credit toward their ADA Coordinator Certification through the Great Plains ADA Center.  Classes listed with an * are required for the Certification though all additional ones act as electives towards it.

  • 1 *2010 Standards for Accessible Design – Part 1
  • 2 *2010 Standards for Accessible Design – Part 2
  • 3 *Role of the ADA Coordinator (Venue Specific)
  • 4 *ADA Self-Evaluations
  • 5 *ADA Transition Plans
  • 6 *Effective Communication in a Venue Environment
  • 1 Service Animals: Policies & Best Practices
  • 2 Security Response to Guests with Disabilities
  • 3 ADA Seating Holds, Relocations and Ticketing Promotion Equity
  • 4 Best Practices in Game Day Staff Training
  • 5 Game-Day Staff Accommodations: Balancing Staff & Guest Needs
  • 6 Sensory Disabilities and Effective Communication
  • 7 Mobility Disabilities, Devices and Accommodations
  • 8 Behavioral Related Disabilities
  • ADA Seating Dispersion Workshop
  • GA Seating Best Practices
  • Interpreter Placement

Each venue professional needs to complete 15 courses to gain their Venue Access Academy Certificate.

For those also working towards their ADA Coordinator Certification, completed classes are reported so dual-credit can be provided.

To Sign Up for the Venue Access Academy or For More Information, Click Here

INCLUSIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING FOR EVENT-DAY STAFF

Life Quest’s Inclusive Customer Service online training course is tailored for venues committed to excellence in accessibility and customer care. It is designed to empower your staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure a welcoming environment for all guests.

  • Expert-Designed Curriculum: Developed by leaders in ADA compliance & customer service training
  • Flexible Learning: Complete the course at your own pace, with access from any device, anytime
  • Practical Application: Real-world scenarios and follow-up quizzes help ensure active learning

This course can be started anytime and is especially helpful for those who have not had disability awareness training, prior to sports seasons, for all new employees and even contracted agencies.

  • 1 Basic Introduction to Disability
  • 2 Mobility Disabilities
  • 3 Sensory Disabilities
  • 4 Cognitive Disabilities
  • 5 Effective Communication
  • 6 Service Animals
  • 7 Challenges & Learning Opportunities
  • 8 Course Summary
To Sign Up for the Inclusive Customer Service Training or For More Information, Click Here

Podcasts

Click below to hear Dr. Odell on the Event Safety Alliance podcast

Accessibility at Public Accommodations Accessibility at Live Events

Articles

Dr. Odell is featured in the following articles

Phoenix Stadiums and Equal Access AZ Diamondbacks ADA’s 29th anniversary

Gallery

Wheelchair accessible seating for a concert at Chase Field Close up of two employees doing a disability inclusion activity. U-Shaped classroom of students in Disability Inclusion class. Dr. Nanette Odell leading a presentation Dr. Nanette Odell leading a presentation Dr. Nanette Odell leading a presentation at the National ADA Symposium Raised platform, with stairs and a lift, for Arena football ADA seating in the end zone. People playing wheelchair basketball at the Phoenix Suns arena People wearing blindfolds walking side-by-side with people not wearing blindfolds Training class with employees doing activities at multiple tables. Wheelchair accessible seating at Chase Field Wheelchair accessible seating at Chase Field Disability Summit event that includes several booths and individuals with various disabilities chatting Dr. Nanette Odell leading a presentation for a small group of people at ISM Raceway

Testimonials

James Terry

CEO at Evan Terry Associates, COO at Corada

I’ve been consulting on architectural accessibility requirements in large assembly facilities for over 25 years. Nanette is undoubtedly one of the most creative and effective problem-solvers in the industry. The assembly area access training program that she presented at the ADA National Symposium with Josh Stein was the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve attended every one I could find for decades. I refer clients to her every year, particularly for her operational and training solutions.

Steven Adelman, Adelman Law Group

Vice President, Event Safety Alliance; Deputy Chair, Global Crowd Management Alliance

Nanette Odell is my go-to ADA expert. If I need to know if someone’s professed comfort animal is permissible, I ask Nanette. When can an event patron legitimately avoid wearing a face covering? I ask Nanette. She is smart, hilarious, and passionate about her subject. She sweats the details, and she understands the operational implications of the application of ADA regulations. I have toured venues with Nanette looking for accessibility issues, I have spoken on panels with Nanette, and she has always been unfailingly brilliant and cheerful. Nanette rocks!

Russ Amaral

Arizona Diamondbacks

Nanette has supported the Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns organizations with the training of full and part-time staff members, assistance, research and recommendations with many facility renovations, support of hundreds (if not more) events staged in our facilities, and handled many guest-facing issues revolving around ADA and the many issues that can revolve around it.Nanette is passionate about her role in our organizations, and she shows it on a daily basis. She is very knowledgeable, works diligently at staying current with governmental goings on, and does a great job in making sure we are properly briefed on topics being discussed that may have an affect on how we conduct our business in sports and entertainment.

Bryan White

Arizona Diamondbacks

I have known Nanette for over nine years and was her direct Manager when she worked as the Arizona Diamondbacks ADA Manager. During that time, I learned a lot from Nanette and I can truly say that she is an expert in the ADA field. Her knowledge regarding everything ADA is second to none and her training skills are some of the best that I have seen.

Daren Mitch

VP of Ticket Operations, Phoenix Suns

As VP of Ticket Operations, during Nanette’s tenure as Disabilities Manager with the Talking Stick Resort Arena, I’ve had the pleasure of working with her closely on a regular basis.During her time at the Arena, Nanette was able to handle a multitude of challenging situations simultaneously in an ever-changing, fast paced environment. Nanette treats coworkers and guests with a high-level of compassion and professionalism while holding a talent to make sensitive judgement calls when necessary. Presented with challenges, Nanette accepts them readily and does not shy away from uncomfortable situations.Nanette is the kind of team member who strives to deliver a nothing less than an ideal product and takes pride in everything she delivers. When called upon for assistance, Nanette is engaging and eager to help with consistency. Nanette is extremely knowledgeable and used her knowledge to help make our venue easily accessible for individuals with disabilities from the moment they purchased their ticket until the end of the event.

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