Editorial Guidelines
These guidelines explain what gets listed on Access Events, how our editorial team operates, and how sponsored placements work. They apply to all content on the site.
What we list
In-person and hybrid events
In-person and hybrid events are our core focus. If a disability community event is happening in a city we cover (a chapter meeting, an accessible athletic program, a workshop, an advocacy action, etc.), it belongs here.
Virtual events
We list virtual events only when they have a clear local anchor: the organizing group is based in a city we cover, or the event is specifically intended for a local community. Broadly national or international online events without a local connection are out of scope, even if they are open to anyone.
In practice, this means a local chapter hosting a virtual meeting gets listed. A national webinar hosted by an organization with no local presence does not.
National events held in a covered city
Sometimes a national organization holds their annual convention in one of our cities. That's worth listing. A major blindness consumer group holding their national convention in Boston is a real event that local people can attend. It goes on the Boston page.
The virtual stream of that same convention does not belong on any other city's page. The in-person event is local to Boston. The livestream isn't local to anywhere. Similarly, if a national org holds a closed board retreat at a hotel in Boston, that's an internal meeting that happens to be in town, not a community event.
Geographic scope
Every event must be assigned to one of our covered cities. For in-person and hybrid events, that is typically the city where the event takes place. For virtual events, it is the city where the organizing group is based. If an event does not fit a covered city, it will not be listed.
What is not listed
- Events with no connection to a city we cover
- National or international online events lacking a local host or audience
- Purely commercial promotions or product launches
- Events that are not relevant to the disability community
Editors
Access Events is maintained by a small editorial team with authority over the calendar.
Sponsored listings
Access Events accepts paid sponsorships to fund site operations. Sponsored listings appear as event or announcement cards and may run at the top of a city page or mixed in with regular listings.
Disclosure
Every sponsored listing is clearly labeled Sponsored. Sponsored content is visually distinguished from editorial listings throughout the site. We do not disguise paid placements as organic results.
Sponsorship does not affect editorial decisions
Paying for a sponsored listing does not affect how a submitted event is reviewed, approved, or rejected. An event that would not qualify under these guidelines cannot be listed by purchasing a sponsorship. Sponsorships are a separate commercial arrangement from the editorial calendar.
What can be sponsored
Eligible sponsors include disability-focused organizations, accessibility-related businesses, and other entities whose work is relevant to the communities we serve. We reserve the right to decline sponsorships that conflict with our values or that would not serve our users.
To inquire about sponsorship, email sponsors@accessevents.org.
See also
For step-by-step guides on submitting events and using the site, see the help pages.