Universal accessibility: our partnership to transform the Conference Centre experience

Accessibility is an integral part of our understanding of social sustainability. We want everyone to be able to attend, work at or take part in an event independently, safely and with confidence, and to achieve this we have taken a further step by signing three partnership agreements with AVAPACE, Fundación Asindown and Fundació Mira’m.

This partnership brings together a joint effort that will enable us to review the Conference Centre from different perspectives and move towards a specific goal: achieving universal accessibility by December 2029. To carry out the planned activities, we will allocate 45,000 euros, with 15,000 euros going to each of the three organisations.

Accessibility in all its dimensions

When we talk about accessibility, the challenge goes far beyond simply removing architectural barriers. A truly accessible experience must take into account how we move through a space, how we receive and understand information, how we communicate, and how certain stimuli can influence our participation.

The project therefore focuses on four complementary areas: physical, sensory, cognitive and communicative accessibility.

In recent months, representatives from the three organisations have carried out technical visits to the Conference Centre to assess our facilities from this comprehensive perspective. This process is also being carried out in collaboration with the Municipal Accessibility Office of Valencia City Council. The various assessments, audits and evaluations will subsequently be consolidated into a single technical document which will guide the actions to be taken.

As Paula Llobet, Chair of the Conference Centre’s Board of Directors and Councillor for Tourism, Innovation and Investment, explains, we want to move towards “a building free of both visible and invisible barriers” and, by the end of 2029, make the Conference Centre a benchmark for accessibility within the MICE sector.

Three organisations, three complementary perspectives

One of the key aspects of the project is working directly with organisations that understand people’s needs through their experience and expertise.

With AVAPACE, we will focus primarily on improving motor and communication accessibility. Its initiatives include training the Conference Centre staff to assist and communicate effectively with people with mobility or speech impairments, and the creation of an augmentative and alternative communication kit.

Fundación Asindown will focus primarily on cognitive accessibility and inclusion in the workplace. One of the projects will involve drawing up a map of inclusive roles, which will help to identify which roles can be carried out by people with intellectual disabilities, what support they may need, and what the most appropriate support structure is.

For its part, Fundación Mira’m will address cognitive and sensory accessibility. Among the planned measures is the creation of a sensory regulation room, or Quiet Room, during events. This space is intended for people with autism and other attendees with sensory hypersensitivity, and will be equipped with a dedicated support kit.

Designing events with everyone in mind

The work will also have a direct impact on the organisation of events. The three organisations will be involved in drawing up a future Guide to Inclusive Events, translating the knowledge gained into criteria and tools that can be incorporated into our operations.

Furthermore, AVAPACE, Asindown and Mira’m will maintain a permanent presence on our Accessibility Committee, where they will provide technical input and monitor the measures put in place.

This approach is based on an idea that we consider fundamental: accessibility must be considered at the design stage, and must be incorporated into spaces, services, information and customer care before any barriers arise.

Social sustainability that enhances the Conference Centre and the destination

This partnership is part of our social sustainability strategy and builds on other initiatives we have developed in collaboration with social organisations over recent years. We are now taking this a step further, extending this collaboration to a structural process of transforming the building and the way we organise and host events.

The target for 2029 has been set. We want accessibility to be a feature of every tour and every interaction, enhancing the experience for everyone who visits the Conference Centre.

Moving in this direction also helps to strengthen València as an inclusive, responsible MICE destination that is accessible to everyone. A very tangible way to continue building, within our sphere of action, a city where connecting becomes increasingly easier for everyone.