Inclusive exhibiting

Open to Everyone

Accessibility at trade show booths: what the law requires, what good design looks like, and why inclusion is always better practice.

A trade show booth is an invitation. It says: come in, talk to us, see what we do. But for millions of people, wheelchair users, those with mobility impairments, visitors using walking aids, that invitation is blocked the moment they encounter a raised platform with no ramp, a narrow corridor, or a counter height designed only for standing adults. Accessibility isn't a box to tick. It's the difference between a booth that works for everyone and one that quietly turns people away.

Legislation

The Legal Framework

Two landmark pieces of legislation set the standard on either side of the Atlantic.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Requires that exhibition spaces and temporary structures be accessible to people with disabilities. For trade show booths, this means ramps with a maximum slope of 1:12 for any raised flooring, a minimum aisle width of 914mm (36 inches) to allow wheelchair passage, and accessible counters no higher than 864mm (34 inches) at least in part. These are not suggestions — they are enforceable requirements at events held in the United States.

European Accessibility Act (EAA) — in full effect June 2025

Takes a broader approach, embedding accessibility requirements across built environments and public-facing services. For exhibitors at European events, the EAA reinforces existing national standards and pushes organisers and exhibitors alike toward universal design — spaces that work for the widest possible range of users from the outset, rather than as an afterthought.

In practice

What This Means in Practice

Raised flooring is one of the most common accessibility failures at trade shows. It creates a visual statement but immediately excludes anyone who cannot step up. Where raised floors are used, ramps must be provided; correctly graded, clearly signposted, and wide enough to be genuinely usable. A token ramp tucked around the back of a booth does not constitute accessible design.

Common failure points to address

→Corridor widths — internal layouts should allow wheelchair users to move freely, not squeeze past furniture or wait for other visitors to clear the way

→Meeting furniture — product displays and interactive screens should factor in seated eye lines and reach distances, not just the experience of a standing adult

→Ramp placement — must be front-facing, clearly signed, and correctly graded, not an afterthought at the back of the booth

Design principle

Inclusion as Design Principle

The most forward-thinking exhibitors don't treat accessibility as a compliance challenge, they treat it as a design brief. A booth that welcomes every visitor is better designed, full stop.

Track Your Booth's Social Score

Accessibility feeds directly into your Social score in tim. See how your booth measures up and where you can improve.