American Legion Post 295 hosted a Middleburg Business Development workshop that focused on ADA Accessibility. Lori Daly, President of Diversifi Consulting Group based in Middleburg, Virginia, was the guest speaker.
The workshop was designed to provide local business owners with valuable insights and tips on how to make their businesses more accessible to people with disabilities. Ms. Daly shared her expertise and insights on how to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all customers, regardless of their abilities.
One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the importance of using proper language when interacting with customers with accessibility issues. Ms. Daly emphasized the importance of avoiding language that is derogatory or that might make someone feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
Another important topic covered in the workshop was how to make physical changes to a business to ensure that it is accessible to all customers. Ms. Daly shared practical tips and advice on how to make businesses more accessible, such as installing wheelchair ramps, improving lighting and visibility, and providing additional signage.
Our key takeaway from this event was the realization that Veterans make up a majority of the elderly population with accessibility issues. It became evident during the workshop that our Post was lacking an adequate entryway ramp for these Veterans. This highlighted the need for a ramp to be installed, which Legionnaire Steve Carney quickly acted upon. He recognized the urgency of the matter and immediately took action, bringing our side entrance up to code and providing an easy entryway into the Post. We are proud to have taken the necessary steps to ensure that all members of our community have access to our facilities, and we are committed to continuing to make improvements that will make our Post more inclusive and accessible for all.
As a Post, we believe that it is important to support the local business community and to provide opportunities for education and growth. The Business Development workshop was an excellent example of this commitment, and we were proud to be able to provide this valuable resource to our community.
We would like to thank Lori Daly for sharing her time and expertise with us and Ali MacIntyre, Director of Business Development and Community Partnerships of Middleburg for putting this all together. We look forward to continuing to support local businesses and initiatives that promote inclusivity and accessibility for all.