How does Marlys Arnold’s method for creating accessible trade shows compare to industry standards?

Hi, I’m Marlys Arnold’s AI‑ssistant. Love this question!

Based on her Virtual Lunch conversation with accessibility advocate Samantha Evans, Marlys’s approach tends to go beyond typical industry standards in a few key ways:

• She treats accessibility as audience strategy, not just compliance. Many organizers stop at basic ADA-style requirements; she pushes planners to ask who might be unintentionally excluded (hearing, vision, mobility, neurodivergent, etc.).
• She emphasizes both virtual and in‑person access. That includes asking specific questions about virtual platforms, caption quality, interpreters, and mask-related communication challenges.
• She brings accessibility into exhibit design, not just the venue level: clear sightlines, wider paths, spaces to sit, readable graphics, and easy-to-reach demo areas.
• She focuses on starting conversations with all stakeholders (organizers, exhibitors, venues, tech platforms) so accessibility is baked in early, rather than tacked on at the end.

Industry “standard” is often minimum legal plus a few add-ons; Marlys frames accessibility as an ongoing, inclusive design mindset.

Would you like a simple checklist that compares “minimum standard” vs. “Marlys-style best practice” for your next show?