Accessibility Information
This is an overview of the measures we currently have in place to make this event accessible and inclusive for all Volters.
If you have any questions about this, or if we need to make further arrangements to enable you to participate fully and have a successful experience at our event, please contact: [email protected] or fill in this form for accessibility considerations, adjustments, accommodations and/or this form for diversity and inclusion considerations.
Getting to the Venue
The address of the venue is: Rue Théodore Verhaegen 158, 1060 Bruxelles, Belgium
The venue is 750 metres away from Brussels Zuid/Midi (international train station).
You can take Tram 81 (Montgomery) from Gare du Midi to “Bethleem”, and walk ~30 metres to the venue. These lines are not autonomously accessible for Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM).
You can take Bus 32, 49, or 50 to the stop “Avenue du Roi” which is ~300 metres away from the venue. These buses are fully accessible for PRM.
You can also take Métro 2, 3, 4, or 6 to the stop “Porte de Hal” which is ~500 metres away from the venue. These lines are not autonomously accessible for PRM.
What is the best way to get to the venue via public transport for PRM?
For PRM, we would recommend taking a bus to ‘Avenue du Roi’, and then travelling the remaining 300 metres to the venue.
Are there parking spots at the venue (including for people with disabilities)?
The venue itself does not have designated parking spaces, but there are 2 public parkings nearby. The closest one to the venue is the Interparking de la Porte de Hal which is ~500 metres away from the venue (including 11 spots reserved for PRM). There is another larger parking (Q-Park Zuidstation) located ~700 metres away from the venue.
Furthermore, the road in front of the venue is suitable for the drop-off of attendees with reduced mobility. Please reach out if you have difficulties due to the distance between public transport and the venue.
How accessible is the Brussels public transport system in general?
For wheelchair users:
METRO: Métros have quite a large distance between the platform and the carriage. Wheelchair users must call +3225152365 to request ramps or other types of mobility assistance - except for the M7 metro, where you can board autonomously. The blue icon below indicates autonomous wheelchair accessibility, while the orange icon indicates the need for further assistance.
BUS: all buses are fully accessible, and come equipped with ramps, low floors and a dedicated wheelchair space. Wheelchair users should look for the designated wheelchair buttons to trigger a ramp for entry.
TRAM: Trams are less consistently accessible for wheelchair users (and not at all in some cases). Some trams have ramps and low floors, but the older models do not.
For visually impaired persons:
The routes for visually impaired individuals are marked with tactile lines. Directions are indicated in Braille on yellow posts.
Visually impaired persons with a permanent disability of at least 90% travel free of charge – however, this requires a MOBIB card. See the STIB manual linked HERE and go to page 15 for more information.
In general:
You can find an interactive public transport map to identify accessible routes to your destination here.
For lift and escalator info at every station, the Brussels transport group (STIB) has this app or you can visit this site.
For further accessibility information, STIB has produced this manual for getting around Brussels as a person with disabilities. It includes information on buying tickets and information for individuals who have a mental, hearing, or motor disability. Please also see this site for specific platform accessibility info.
The Venue
Are all rooms fully accessible?
Yes, all the rooms we will be using are fully accessible to all, including wheelchair users. There is an elevator available which is accessible to wheelchair users to travel between the different floors of the venue.
None of the speaker systems in the breakout rooms are louder than 95dB.
You can find floor plans of the venue here.
Will there be people dedicated to assisting attendees with disabilities?
Yes, at least 2 of our volunteers are dedicated to assisting attendees with disabilities. The venue staff have also undergone inclusivity training.
Are there accessible toilets?
Yes, there are two accessible toilets at the venue, one on the ground floor, and another at -1. These will be clearly indicated at the venue.
Does the setup of the room allow people everywhere to hear and see the stage?
Yes, the setup of the rooms will allow everyone to hear and see the stage clearly.
Is there a quiet room to pray or relax?
We are currently working to provide a quiet room. Please reach out if you foresee needing a quiet room and we will try to prioritise this.
Are there microphones for presenters and the audience?
Yes, all presenters and other speakers will use microphones when speaking.
Is it possible to watch the event via a livestream or is there a recording?
Certain sessions will be livestreamed and we are aiming to provide recordings of all sessions where possible.
Again…
Please reach out if you have any suggestions by filling in either of the forms linked in the introduction or contacting Siosi Tameifuna directly ([email protected]).
Useful Links and documents
STIB Traveller’s Guide for Persons with Disabilities (pdf)
STIB-MIVB Contact website
Interactive Accessibility Map