Whether you’re hosting a lively mass celebration or an intimate gathering, it’s important to ensure that everyone—regardless of ability—can join in the fun. An inclusive New Year’s event ensures that everyone can enjoy the gathering in comfort without feeling unvalued or not catered for.
If creating a thoughtful New Year’s celebration—or any other celebration, for that matter—is important to you, then here are some practical ideas you can use to organise something truly accessible and inclusive.
An Accessible Location Is A Must
The foundation of any inclusive event is the choice of venue. While it might be impossible to accommodate everyone’s comfort, it’s important to at least choose a venue that everyone can navigate comfortably.
For live, highly social events, make sure that your potential venue has ramps and elevators, especially if the location is elevated anywhere above ground level. Accessible restrooms—preferably nearby and with assistive devices installed—are also a big plus.
Beyond that, ensure that the doorways are wide enough for wheelchairs and that there’s adequate seating for those who may not be able to stand for long periods.
However, if your celebration is at home, you could consider moving your furniture around to create wider pathways for your friends and family with disabilities.
For virtual gatherings, use online platforms with features like closed captioning and screen reader compatibility to accommodate participants with visual impairments.
Create An Accessible Way To RSVP
When inviting guests, provide information in multiple formats. If you’re using digital invitations, ensure they are screen-reader friendly. Include details about the venue’s accessibility features, such as parking, entrance ramps, and restroom locations. For virtual events, share instructions on how to access captions or other assistive tools.
Of course, it might be best not to assume what your guests need, so be proactive and ask if they have specific needs that you may be able to accommodate.
Keep Dietary Restrictions In Mind
Dietary restrictions can sometimes be tied to disabilities or medical conditions, so offering a variety of food options is key, such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. If your budget is an issue, a safe bet would be to have select dishes that can circumvent a wide variety of health concerns.
Meanwhile, if your New Year’s event is far too large or inconvenient for you to explain each dish yourself, you could label each dish clearly to note allergens and ingredients. For guests who might have difficulty holding plates or utensils, consider finger foods that are easy to manage.
Explore Inclusive Forms Of Entertainment
If your event features music, games, or performances, think about how everyone can participate. Provide seating close to the action for those who may have difficulty standing. If you’re using a microphone, make sure it’s at a height accessible to wheelchair users. For games, choose ones that don’t rely solely on physical ability—trivia or collaborative puzzles can be fun and inclusive for everyone.
Does your New Year’s event involve showing videos? If so, enable captions or provide a transcript for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Have A “Break” Space
Some of your guests may be very happy to take a break from the liveliness of your event. After all, not everyone’s social batteries are equal. So if possible, you could set up a designated space for relaxation, preferably quiet and with comfortable seating as well as low lighting. That way, your guests could take the time to recharge before rejoining the fun, instead of feeling overwhelmed enough to leave the party early.
Of course, all this extra planning may make organising your New Year’s party much more involved and draining. But if the comfort of your friends and family is crucial to you, then these extra steps will go a long way to ensure everyone feels like they belong at your party—regardless of what their disability may be.
References
Lisa Jobson (2024) How To Organise An Inclusive Office Party – Ten Tips [Accessed 20 December 2024] Available at: https://theewgroup.com/blog/how-to-organise-an-inclusive-office-party/
PowerToFly (2024) 11 ways to throw a more inclusive holiday party [Accessed 20 December 2024] Available at: https://powertofly.com/up/11-ways-to-throw-a-more-inclusive-holiday-party
Bhagya Singh (2024) How To Celebrate New Year: An All-Inclusive Handbook [Accessed 20 December 2024] Available at: https://srichants.in/how-to-celebrate-new-year-an-all-inclusive-handbook/