One of the simplest ways to embed accessibility into everyday choir life is through an
Accessibility Rider a short, practical checklist that ensures consistency and care whether you’re hiring a new rehearsal space or preparing for a performance.
It’s a bit like the detailed documents that travel with a pop star, listing everything they need to perform - from their favourite brand of water to the flowers in their dressing room. Only instead of catering to celebrity whims, yours helps your choir operate in new spaces more smoothly and safely, ensuring that inclusion is built into every logistical decision.
Think of it as your choir’s travel companion: it asks the right questions so you don’t have to start from scratch each time.
My name is Emma Rowland-Elsen and I'm a Specialist Consultant in Choir Inclusion and Mental Health as well as the Founder/Artistic Director at Sing out Strong. In 2026, I will have been conducting for 25 years. I have PTSD and much of my work centres around the relationship between music and mental health.
Part 1: Venue Selection Accessibility Rider
This part is for when you’re
choosing or reviewing rehearsal venues.It helps you evaluate spaces through the lens of inclusion
before contracts are signed.
Why it mattersVenue choice sets the tone for your singers’ experience. Lighting, acoustics, and even parking can affect regulation, energy, and belonging. A consistent checklist keeps access visible and removes the guesswork.
What it coversThe
Venue Selection Accessibility Rider prompts you to record practical details such as where the venue is, who to contact, and when it was visited, but it goes much further than that. It encourages you to notice how people
arrive and move - whether there’s step-free access, safe lighting, clear signage, and a calm entry point.
It then guides you to observe how the space
feels: the width of doorways, the availability of quiet corners, the seating options, and the quality of the air and acoustics. It reminds you to consider how lighting, sound, and temperature affect regulation and focus, and how cultural elements (for example, religious imagery or social expectations) might shape comfort for different singers.
Finally, there’s a space to summarise your findings - celebrating what works well and noting what could be adapted. It’s quick, repeatable, and removes the guesswork when you’re trying to remember which venue “felt right”.
Part 2: Performance Accessibility Rider
This one travels
with your choir to every concert or event. It sits alongside your tech or stage requests and communicates clearly with venue staff about your singers’ needs.
Why it mattersPerformances can be physically demanding and emotionally charged. Planning for comfort, regulation, and inclusion prevents burnout and creates an experience that feels safe as well as exhilarating.
What it coversThe
Performance Accessibility Rider ensures everyone knows who’s responsible for what. It helps you gather essential details like performance times, key contacts, and arrival arrangements, while guiding you to look beyond logistics to the human experience.
It prompts you to check how singers will reach the stage - whether there are steps, ramps, or level routes - and whether there’s a quiet backstage area for grounding before or after a set. It draws your attention to the sensory environment: lighting, sound levels, temperature, and hydration. There’s also a section on audience inclusion, helping you make sure the event is welcoming for every body and every mind in the room.
Finally, it includes reminders for wellbeing, aftercare, and emergency planning, so leaders can respond calmly and consistently if/when something unexpected arises.
Bringing it all Together
The beauty of an
Accessibility Rider is that it’s
alive: it travels, it evolves, and it makes inclusion visible at every step. When you use it regularly, it becomes second nature - part of your choir’s foundation, rather than an add-on.
If you’re already using my checklist for supporting
Neurodivergent Singers, these riders fit beautifully as next-step tools. You can share them with your musical team, include them in your onboarding pack for new leaders, or attach them to booking emails when arranging gigs.
Accessibility isn’t a checklist to get right once; it’s a process to keep returning to. These riders help you complete that process with care, curiosity, and confidence.
Download the full Accessibility Rider here. 
