On September 13, 2018 I released my book 'Maak je event toegankelijk voor iedereen'. Since then I have been asked many times whether my book was also available in English. I am delighted and proud to be able to answer 'YES' to this question. As of today, the book 'Make Your Event ACCESSIBLE for Everyone' can be ordered worldwide via Amazon in the English language.
The book gives examples, helpful tips and tricks, and simple and practical ways to make your event or venue more accessible for people with disabilities. You will be astonished at how much you can accomplish with little-to-no budget. My vision is: accessibility starts with hospitality.
Accessibility is not yet in order in many places in the world. Many people want to change this. My book helps these people to make their event or venue more accessible. After all, if it is indicated that the location is accessible, then there is often only a wheelchair-accessible toilet. Nobody comes just because there is a (wheelchair-accessible) toilet. When people go out, they want to follow the experience. This applies to events, festivals, theatre performances, museums and other leisure activities.
How it started with the first accessible festival.
The knowledge of accessibility stems from the moment that I unknowingly made the first festival in the Netherlands accessible in 2008. I wanted to go to a festival that was organised on a hill with her 'healthy-looking' friends. Climbing a steep hill is a challenge due to her disability. She found a listening ear with the organisation and so she unknowingly made the first festival in the Netherlands accessible to people with a disability.
My knowledge has now grown, partly due to her graduation research from 2011: 'How can festivals become more accessible and offer more experience to people with disabilities', and her book from 2018: 'Make your Event Accessible to Everyone'. The book contains many practical tips about accessibility from a hospitality point of view. I published the book to put accessibility at events (venues) more on the agenda. Due to the emerging international assignments, the book was published in English in 2023.
The fact that accessibility has been placed more on the agenda is evidenced by the following events:
The successful lobby for an accessible Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in 2021. This was one of the first events in the world that was accessible to people with all types of disabilities, both in terms of broadcasting and live events.
The development of the Roadmap for Accessible Festivals in 2020, of which Marianne was the initiator.
The national King's Day celebration in Rotterdam in 2023 was the first fully accessible outdoor event in the Netherlands with, among other things, viewing platforms, audio description, writing interpreters and a sensory-friendly room.
I am convinced that with my book you will deliver better hospitality and bring in more customers.
