Welcome to the accessibility resource page for local businesses in Umatilla and Morrow County. We’re excited you’re interested in learning more about welcoming customers with disabilities!
We understand that our region faces several key challenges to being disability-friendly. This includes:
- Low awareness of how to interact with people with disabilities (sometimes called ‘disability etiquette’)
- Providing accurate and detailed accessibility information (people use this to decide what is accessible for their needs!)
- Physical barriers at locations and low awareness of simple alternatives/fixes
We’ve organized the resources below according to these key challenges. (To expand each section, click the bolded header.)
Please reach out to Catie with any questions:
- via email: moc.nogeronretsaetisiv@rotanidrooc
- via phone/text: 541-805-2443.
To EOVA, accessibility is about removing barriers so that everyone can experience the world to the fullest extent possible (and in ways that work for each of our minds and bodies).
EOVA’s work focuses on celebrating what locations are already doing well and supporting them to do the best with what they already have. There’s always room for improvement!
Our focus is on people with disabilities, but accessibility can also refer to addressing language, technology, and economic barriers.
Disability etiquette is learning how to interact respectfully and appropriately with someone with a disability. Although there are some general best practices, please note that preferences can vary from person to person. Having good disability etiquette goes a long way in making someone feel welcome and comfortable in your space!
- Watch this quick and humorous introduction to interacting with people with disabilities: LINK
- This hand-out covers appropriate (and inappropriate!) terms: LINK
- This hand-out specifically talks about interacting with someone who is blind: LINK. Courtesy of Central Oregon Disability Network
- The book “Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally” by Emily Ladau is a friendly crash course! You can find more information here: LINK.
There are so many different types of disabilities, and each person has their own unique set of needs. What works for one person may not be best for another. Learning about different disabilities and accommodations can help you understand these nuances and help you feel prepared to offer alternatives.
- Many organizations exist that serve people with specific disabilities. They often have great informational resources. One example is the Autism Society of Oregon (LINK).
- This website is a great resource for invisible disabilities, which are not always immediately obvious: LINK
Imagine you’re really excited to try a new restaurant a few hours away. You’ve planned a whole trip with your friends and family. But when you get there, the restaurant closed early. You can still smell the yummy food, but you’re incredibly disappointed.
Although it is a silly scenario, this echoes the reality that many travelers with disabilities face. Finding accessibility information can be difficult: it may not exist or be inaccurate, and sometimes employees aren’t sure what to say. Here are a few ways to help address this:
- Provide an accessibility statement on your website. Here is a great resource that walks you through it: LINK. For an example in Eastern Oregon, take a look at https://crossroads-arts.org/visit/visit-us.
- Get your business listed on BluePath! Learn more: LINK.
- If you’ve connected with Hannah, she is providing this service at no cost to you. You can reach her at moc.liamg@hannahhtiwhcaertuo.
- You can also collect the information and populate the listing yourself.
EOVA is working to offer these additional resources:
- Quarterly topical calls for accessibility: a virtual drop-in space for learning and networking with other partners interested in accessibility
- A page on eova.com dedicated to accessibility resources
This accessibility outreach effort is part of a larger, five-county program called Expanding Accessible Spaces in Eastern Oregon. Learn more about the program here: LINK.
The project is in collaboration with Umatilla County Tourism and Morrow County Tourism, and was funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.
Special thanks to Hannah Payne for her hard work with outreach!
