View source for Events/Accessibility

== Newcomer inclusion ==
* Regularly encourage participants to find a person that they have not met, and to introduce themselves.  Create specific times during the program when "meet someone that you don't know" is the official activity.  Give everyone practical tips on networking, such as sitting in the chair next to someone else, instead of staying an arm's length away.
* Provide name tags, and encourage everyone to wear them.  If your event occurs regularly, consider special ribbons or badges, or a different name tag to identify people who are attending your event for the first time.
* Can you get newcomers involved before the event?  Consider using social media or e-mail to help them talk to other attendees beforehand.
* During meetings or sessions, make sure that newcomers are given an opportunity to participate.  It can be intimidating for a new person to speak up in a conversation dominated by veterans, especially if the veterans are talking about an old issue without explaining the background for the benefit of people who didn't attend last year's event.
* For longer events, hold a session early in the program for the specific purpose of gathering newcomers, introducing them to a few "old timers", and giving them useful information about the event.  
** If it's a multi-track conference, help the newcomers figure out what sessions they want to attend.
** Help them find out how to connect with any informal social events.  For example, if the official schedule does not include evening activities, then invite them to join you and your friends on the first evening.  The veteran attendees may already know that everyone meets in the lobby to make dinner plans or that the garden is the best place to meet other people, but the newcomers need to be told.
** Consider a follow-up group session at the end of the first day, to find out what they still need.  This would also be a good time to remind them about any evening activities.
* Ask several experienced attendees to look for newcomers and other people who might be feeling isolated throughout the event.  If you have enough veteran participants, try matching each newcomer with a specific veteran host or mentor.  Encourage each pairs to exchange mobile phone numbers or other contact information, and to talk frequently about what sessions to attend, where to eat, and how the newcomer feels about the event overall.
* After the event, send a special e-mail message or survey to newcomers and hosts.  Seek ideas about how to improve their experiences (and post them here!).