ESPA’s Webinars – Virtual Education for Convention & Event Services Professionals
Continuing education opportunities all year
Each month, ESPA hosts a live Webinar featuring members and industry leaders delivering virtual education. Don’t let your ESPA education stop at the conclusion of the Annual Conference. From your own desk or conference room, schedule an hour to log in and learn – do it over lunch! Most of our programs offer 1 hour of approved continuing education credit.
Our Upcoming Webinar:
Serving Neurodiverse Attendees: A Guide for Event Professionals
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 1:00pm ET
ESPC Approved: 1 Hour
CMP Domain: G. Meeting or Event Design
With 1 in 5 people identifying as neurodivergent, event professionals have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to create experiences that are truly inclusive. Neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences, may encounter barriers in traditional event settings, from overwhelming sensory environments to rigid communication expectations.
This session will equip event service professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to better support neurodiverse attendees. We will explore practical, low-cost strategies for enhancing accessibility, such as sensory-friendly spaces, communication and wayfinding adjustments, and staff training to foster inclusivity. By rethinking event design through a neuroinclusive lens, we can ensure that conferences, meetings, and gatherings are welcoming to all participants, leading to more engaging, comfortable, and successful events.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the diverse needs of neurodivergent attendees and the common challenges they face in event settings.
- Learn how to incorporate simple but effective accommodations, such as sensory-friendly spaces, clear communication methods, and flexible programming.
- Gain insights into how event service professionals can train staff and work with stakeholders to foster a culture of inclusion.
- Walk away with actionable strategies to immediately implement in venues, hotels, and convention centers to enhance accessibility for all attendees.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify key characteristics of neurodivergent conditions (e.g., ADHD, autism, dyslexia) and understand how they may impact an individual’s event experience.
- Recognize barriers that neurodivergent attendees often face in event environments and how these barriers can affect participation and engagement.
- Implement sensory-friendly strategies to make event spaces more comfortable, including quiet zones, lighting and sound modifications, and flexible seating.
- Enhance communication and wayfinding by incorporating clear signage, visual schedules, and alternative communication methods to support diverse needs.
- Train event staff and stakeholders to foster a more inclusive atmosphere through awareness, empathy, and best practices in guest interactions.
- Apply accessibility principles to event planning to ensure that neurodiverse attendees feel welcomed, respected, and accommodated from registration to departure.
This session will provide attendees with practical, ready-to-use tools to create more inclusive events, ensuring that all guests—regardless of neurodiversity—can fully participate and thrive
Speaker:
Dr. Davi Kallman is an expert in accessibility, universal design, and event inclusivity, bringing experience from higher education, disability services, and venue accessibility assessments. As the ADA/504 Coordinator and Dean of Student Engagement Services at Pierce College, she works to remove barriers and create equitable spaces. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, she provides event professionals with practical strategies to ensure conferences, venues, and public spaces are welcoming to all attendees.
Fee: Webinars are available to members for $50 per webinar. The non-member registration fee is $60.
Attention Members:
Attend multiple webinars at a discount!
ESPA is pleased to offer a Continuing Education Package that allows you to sign up for multiple Webinars at a discounted cost. Take advantage of this valuable year-long educational benefit of membership and earn ESPC and CMP credit!
• 10 Webinars (a full year of programs) for $400 – saving you $100
• 5 Webinars (a half year of programming) for $200 – saving you $50
• Pick 3 (buy 2 Webinars, get 1 free) for $100 – saving you $50
2025 Webinar Packages are available to ESPA members in our online store!
The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) is a CMP Preferred Provider. All LIVE webinar attendees will receive CE credit. Webinars identified with the CMP Preferred Provider logo meet the requirements to receive continuing education credit for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential. The use of the CMP Preferred Provider Course logo is not an endorsement by the Events Industry Council of the quality of the session.
How do I receive CE credits?
Your attendance will be uploaded to EIC (after EIC pre-approves the webinar) with the email tied to your webinar registration. If your email does not match, you must contact EIC directly. Note: This process can take up to 6-8 weeks after the live webinar date for it to appear on your EIC profile. If you can’t wait, you can always self-report at any time using your registration confirmation email.
For more information about the CMP credential or CMP Preferred Provider Program, please visit www.EventsCouncil.org
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CMP Domain: B. Project Management
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CMP Domain: G. Meeting or Event Design
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CMP Domain: G. Meeting or Event Design
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CMP Domain: A. Strategic Planning
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: A. Strategic Planning
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: G. Meeting or Event Design
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
September 21: Emerging Conversations with Jason E. Dunn. Sr., Executive Director of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals
CMP Domain: A. Strategic Planning
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
August 16: Emerging Technology Trends: Changing the Way of Servicing
CMP Domain: A. Strategic Planning
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
July 20: Q&A with the Meeting Planners
CMP Domain: B: Project Management
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
May 25: Crucial Challenges in the Hospitality Industry: Legislative Dilemmas, Homelessness, and Human Trafficking
CMP Domain: A. Strategic Planning
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
April 27: Give Your Clients What They Want! Let’s Talk Gifts, Amenities & More
CMP Domain: I: Marketing
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: F: Stakeholder Management
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
March 6: Continuing the Conversation – Making the DEI Connection, with ESPA Keynote Elliott Ferguson
CMP Domain: E. Human Resources
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
November: Stand out to Specialized Groups: What They Need From You
CMP Domain: F: Stakeholder Management
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: G: Meeting or Event Design
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: E. Human Resources
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: F: Stakeholder Management
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CMP Domain: B: Project Management
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: C. Risk Management
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: A. Strategic Planning
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: G: Meeting or Event Design
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
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CMP Domain: C. Risk Management
ESPC Credit Hours: 1
February: Fresh & Creative Thinking: Planning Sites, Promotional Trips and Pre-Conference Meetings
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Want to take advantage of our Webinar package pricing?
Follow these simple steps:
1. Log in to the My ESPA Portal with your email address and password.
2. Click on the Online Store link in the left-hand menu.
3. Purchase either the “Full Year of Webinar Programming, “Half Year of Webinar Programming” or “Pick 3” package.
4. Once you have paid for your purchase, a discount code and receipt will be sent to you via email.
5. This code can then be used in lieu of payment for Webinar programs you choose to attend during the year.
*Please note ESPA’s policy regarding Continuing Education Credit:
All registered participants will earn a Continuing Education hour for this webinar. Continuing Education credits may be extended to up to 2 additional participants from a registered member’s location. For members inviting non-members to participate, please make sure they are aware that they must individually register with ESPA in order to receive Continuing Education credit.
