Accessible Bar Mitzvah Party Planning Tips

Planning an accessible bar mitzvah party ensures that all of your guests will enjoy this momentous day. Logistics can get tricky, especially for guests with special needs who need to travel long distances to the bar mitzvah (or bat mitzvah) celebration.

The good news is that there are many options to make your special day accessible to all. Whether your bar mitzvah celebration requires adaptations for the host or the guests, rest easy that making this milestone event accessible is easier than you think.

Rent Mobility Devices for Guests Who Need Them

Renting a mobility device is the easiest way to get your out-of-town guests from A to B smoothly and safely. Traveling with a mobility device is cumbersome and puts the device at risk of getting damaged, lost, or delayed in transit.

Mobility device rentals are especially advantageous for events where your regular mobility aid won’t cut it. For example, an all-terrain wheelchair is the perfect option for outdoor events while a smaller and nippier mobility scooter is much better suited to indoor venues where mingling is the order of the day.

Mobility Plus Colorado in Wheat Ridge (Denver) and Superior (Boulder) offers mobility device rentals for disabled or elderly bar mitzvah guests traveling to Denver or Boulder for the event. Their selection of mobility aids includes stairlifts, patient lifts, hospital beds, knee scooters, rollators, mobility scooters, manual and power wheelchairs, and wheelchair ramps. This means there’s an option for all elderly, disabled, or even injured guests who are recovering from surgery.

What’s more, Mobility Plus Colorado will even drop your device off at the hotel or venue and pick it up at the end of your stay. This means even your less mobile guests will enjoy the day surrounded by their family members and close friends while being free to move around, hit the dancefloor, and get a breath of fresh air independently.

Choose an Accessible Venue

Carefully choosing your venue is a must as bar or bat mitzvah celebrations are often large events and include guests with diverse needs. Even if none of your guests require a wheelchair or other mobility aid, it’s likely you’ll need to make extra provisions for your elderly guests.

Check for the following when touring possible venues:

• Entrance and access: Ensure the venue has accessible entrances with ramps or level access. Check for automatic doors or wide doorways for wheelchair users.
• Restrooms: Verify that at least one of the restrooms is wheelchair accessible, with grab bars, wide stalls, and adequate space for maneuvering. Consider portable restroom options if permanent facilities are not accessible.
• Navigation: Your venue should ideally have clear signage and easy navigation for guests with visual impairments or mobility limitations. Avoid steps or uneven surfaces where possible. Provide clear pathways and ensure adequate lighting.
• Seating: Offer a variety of seating options to accommodate different needs, including chairs with backs and armrests for those who require additional support. Ensure there’s space for wheelchair users to sit comfortably with their companions.
• Parking: Ensure there are accessible parking spaces close to the entrance for elderly guests and guests with mobility impairments.

Be Aware of Your Guests’ Dietary Needs

Many Jewish families are no strangers to taking special care with guests’ dietary needs. While it can be difficult to cater to everyone’s specific dietary restrictions and preferences, the best policy is to clearly label all food items to ensure guests’ religious and health needs are met.

If you offer a buffet, ensure the serving area is accessible to wheelchair users, with lowered counters and assistance available if needed. Keep your guests with limited mobility in mind when designing a seating plan and arrange tables for easy movement and access for wheelchair users.

Cater to Invisible Disabilities

Accessibility goes beyond catering to physical disabilities. Rather, a truly accessible bar mitzvah will also consider guests with other needs that aren’t always immediately obvious.

Making neurodivergent, hard-of-hearing, and visually impaired guests feel welcome and included only takes a few minor adjustments. Speak to your guests, their families, or their caregivers to understand what you can do to help them feel comfortable and safe.

Accessibility Tips for Neurodivergent Guests

These tips can go a long way to helping your neurodivergent guests feel at ease:

• Reach out to the guest’s parents or caregivers well in advance. Discuss their child’s specific needs, triggers, and preferences. Ask about communication methods that work best for them. This conversation is crucial for personalized planning.
• Create a social story about the bar mitzvah. This is a visual guide (using photos or drawings) that explains what will happen at the event, including the ceremony, reception, and typical activities. Sharing this in advance can help the guest prepare and reduce anxiety.
• Provide as much information as possible before the event. 2024 research into the importance of accessibility in event planning suggests that sending families links to show what the building and rooms look like, pointing out which facilities are available, and sending an agenda for the day are effective ways to help neurodivergent individuals feel less anxious about the event.
• Provide a designated quiet space where the guest can retreat if they feel overwhelmed. This area should be calm, dimly lit, and free from excessive noise and stimulation.
• Inform staff and volunteers about any guests with special needs and provide them with basic information on how to best support these guests.

Accessibility Tips for Hard-of-Hearing or Visually Impaired Guests

A few easy modifications will make your hard-of-hearing or visually impaired guests enjoy the ceremony as much as all your other guests. Bar mitzvahs are emotional and joyful events that everyone deserves to be a part of.

Consider the following to help all your guests see and hear the ceremony:

• Seating at the ceremony: Reserve accessible seating near the front for guests who may have difficulty seeing or hearing. Ask your venue if adding extra chairs around the front rows fits in with their health and safety policy to make your guests feel welcome while keeping the immediate family in the front rows.
• Audio/visual technology: Many bar mitzvah ceremonies use audio/visual technology to make sure even people at the back enjoy the ceremony. Ensure that the sound system is clear and that any presentations or videos are captioned for guests with hearing impairments.
• Large-print programs: Consider providing large-print programs for guests with visual impairments. Many of your elderly (and also not so elderly!) guests will appreciate this gesture.
• Sign language interpreter: If you know that guests who are deaf or hard of hearing will be attending, consider hiring a sign language interpreter for the ceremony and key parts of the reception.

Not being able to fully participate in a joyful event is upsetting and isolating for many people suffering from a diverse range of disabilities. Indeed, most studies reveal that hearing impairment leads to a higher rate of social isolation and loneliness.

A bar mitzvah is a perfect opportunity to show your guests solidarity, love, and compassion. Making small yet considerate changes will make all your guests feel welcome, seen, and appreciated.

Ensure a Memorable Bar Mitzvah for All

A child’s bar mitzvah is one of the most important Jewish traditions and a special day for the whole family. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that everyone involved is looked after and has a wonderful time.

Inviting guests with diverse needs requires some careful planning to guarantee a smooth and hitch-free day. Your care and preparations will all be worth it as you see all your loved ones celebrating together under one roof.