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
  1. ADA Seating Dispersion Workshop
  2. GA Seating Best Practices
  3. 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.

Nanette Odell / Phoenix Suns, Disability Service Manager -A big thanks to Nanette Odell for providing so much insight on the fine details and importance of accessibility. The 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act arrives on July 26th.

Podcast

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

Articles

Dr. Odell is featured in the following articles

Arizon News – Arizona disability advocates celebrate ADA’s 29th anniversary
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