How to Help People with Disabilities Access a Stage

When the curtain rises—or the mic is turned on—everyone deserves their moment in the spotlight, regardless of their level of mobility. Yet for millions of Americans who use wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches, stages can become barriers rather than platforms for inclusion.

True accessibility isn’t just about code compliance. It’s about ensuring every speaker, performer, student, or honoree can participate with dignity and independence. From school auditoriums and community centers to concert halls, worship spaces, and event venues, stage accessibility is an important consideration. Today, vertical platform lifts (VPLs) have emerged as a gold standard for making raised platforms accessible. They offer safe and dignified access without compromising the structural integrity or functionality that architects, builders, and venue operators need.

Let’s take a peek behind the scenes at common solutions for stage access, and how VPLs are changing the experience of stages for everyone.

Other Stage Accessibility Solutions

Behind every great event—whether it’s a graduation, a community choir performance, or an awards ceremony—lies a practical design challenge. How do we create stages that are functional, accessible, and attractive?

Traditional stages are built to elevate voices and visibility. But stairs, while efficient, create immediate barriers for wheelchair users, those with mobility devices, and anyone who can’t safely navigate steps. 

Ramps can be a viable solution, but they come with trade-offs. ADA-compliant ramps require one foot of length for every inch of rise. That means a 30-inch stage would need a 30-foot ramp—space that many venues can’t afford to give up. In compact settings like schools, historic venues, or multipurpose event halls, long ramps can take the place of valuable seating, reduce stage visibility, or interfere with foot traffic.

This presents a challenge: how to provide true accessibility without sacrificing form or function. Enter the Vertical Platform Lift.

What is a Vertical Platform Lift?

Modern VPLs come equipped with safety features such as pressure-sensitive edges, emergency stop buttons, gate systems, and backup power. Simple user controls enable independent use, empowering everyone to access the stage without needing assistance. That’s a powerful statement of inclusion.

And because they take up far less space than a ramp, a wheelchair lift for stage applications can preserve seating, maintain sightlines, and fit seamlessly into new or existing stage designs.

Platform Lifts: The Star Solution for Stage Access

Whether it’s a keynote speech, a school play, a choir concert, or a public award ceremony, a vertical platform lift ensures accessibility challenges don’t steal the spotlight. These lifts are the preferred solution for venues of all sizes, thanks to several key advantages:

Space-efficient design

Platform lifts deliver vertical access in a compact package. A typical unit requires only a modest footprint—far less than a full-length ramp. This spatial efficiency allows for thoughtful integration into venues without disrupting layout or design.

Safety and compliance

Modern wheelchair lifts meet ADA standards and local building codes. With features like guardrails, gates, non-slip surfaces, and emergency controls, VPLs provide reliable, safe access for users and peace of mind for venue staff.

Simple operation

Designed for intuitive use, VPLs offer easy controls and smooth operation.  There are options for automated doors and gates to further improve ease of use.

Aesthetically adaptable

Whether installed in a historic church or a modern auditorium, platform lifts can be customized to match the venue’s look and feel. Available in a range of finishes and configurations, they blend into their surroundings without distracting from the event.

Strategic Placement of Your Platform Lift

Placement is key to functionality and aesthetics. The location of your wheelchair lift should be based on how your space is used and who needs access.

Backstage placement

For schools, theaters, performance halls, and everywhere in between, placing a lift backstage allows participants with mobility needs to make entrances and exits like everyone else. This placement keeps the lift discreet and maintains clean sightlines from the audience.

Front-of-stage access

The beauty of modern VPL design lies in its adaptability to your specific venue configuration. Working with accessibility experts early in the design process ensures that the platform lift placement will complement, rather than compromise, your space’s functionality and appearance.

Create Inclusive Stage Access with a Platform Lift

Stages aren’t just for performers—they’re for everyone with something to share. Whether someone is delivering a speech, receiving an award, leading a service, or performing in a play or concert, they should be able to do so with dignity and independence.

Vertical platform lifts offer a space-conscious, code-compliant, and visually pleasing way to make sure stages are open to all. Discreetly placed backstage, positioned at the side of a sanctuary stage, or connecting multiple levels in a school, providing a wheelchair lift for stage access sends a strong message: everyone belongs.

At Arrow Lift®, we understand that no two stages are alike. Our experts work with you from design to installation to maintenance, ensuring your platform lift serves your space and your mission.

Don’t let stairs stand between someone and their big moment. Let us help make your stage a platform for connection, recognition, and inclusion.