Fishers members urge low‑cost accessibility fixes at Event Center, push for checklist adoption

Members of the Fishers Advisory Committee described specific, actionable accessibility improvements identified during a tour of the Fishers Event Center and discussed next steps for rolling out a standardized event checklist.

"We focused on changeable items," said a committee member who toured the venue, noting adjustments such as relocating exterior door activation buttons and increasing door-open timing, moving trash cans that block access to paper towels, lowering dispensers and condiment stations for reach, and adding grab bars and interior handles for accessible restrooms. The group praised the venue for amenities already provided — including a larger accessible restroom with an adult changing table, a sensory room and sensory bags — while calling for clearer signage and communications to event organizers and patrons.

Committee members also discussed closed captioning. Molly Connelly said captions are available for professional teams and can be enabled in coordination with venue operations, but performer-driven displays (such as a jumbotron) can complicate where captions appear and require advance technical planning.

On adult care equipment, Susan Smith noted that staff are not allowed to lift people and recommended the centers consider mechanical Hoyer lifts to make the adult changing table usable. Members said any capital adjustments would be coordinated through venue operations and possibly included in next year’s capital projects.

The committee reported receiving an accessible-event checklist from Bloomington that could be adapted locally; members suggested a Fishers version of the checklist could be distributed to event planners and promoted through tourism partners.

Next steps: follow-up conversations with Mitch List (event center operations) about implementing recommended low-cost changes and a plan to "Fisherize" Bloomington’s checklist for wider adoption across venues.