Because everyone deserves a spot on the starting line.
When you think of accessibility, indoor cart racing probably isn’t the first activity that comes to mind. The engines are loud. The environment is fast-paced and sensory-heavy. Safety instructions are often rattled off quickly—usually over a mic in a cavernous space. It’s the kind of event that’s fun for most—but for D/deaf and hard of hearing participants, it can come with barriers that make full inclusion difficult.
At our Empower Retreat—a gathering of D/deaf and hard of hearing advocates from across the country—we set out to change that.
The goal of the retreat was simple but powerful: to connect, reflect, and reimagine what inclusion can look like. And that didn’t stop at hotel accommodations or dinner parties. Our team wanted to be intentional about designing every part of the experience with accessibility in mind—including social outings. So when we took the group indoor cart racing, we saw it as an opportunity not just for fun, but to put inclusive design into practice.
Some things worked well. Others? We realized after the fact that we could’ve done better. Here are five key takeaways from our experience—what we’re proud of, what we learned, and what we’ll do differently next time to ensure the track is truly accessible for all.
If there’s one thing we can say for sure about indoor cart racing: it’s loud. Between the hum of engines, overlapping conversations, and echoing announcements, important instructions are easily lost. For DHH participants, this can lead to confusion before the race even begins.
Key factors to consider:
Our experience:
We spoke with the staff ahead of time and arranged for a separate safety and instructional briefing in a side room. This quieter space gave everyone the chance to focus, ask questions, and process information without competing with background noise. It set the tone for a more inclusive—and less stressful—start to the activity.
Leighton’s experience:
Group instructions have always been a challenge for me with hearing loss. I would often find myself moving to the front—or quite literally right next to the speaker—to ensure I was as close to the sound source as possible. I also utilize lipreading, but if the speaker turns their face in another direction, it becomes harder to follow. Occasionally, I’ll turn to a peer and ask what was said. It’s important for me to understand what’s going on so I can feel confident. Having a quieter room and being closer to the speaker made a big difference.
In fast-paced group settings, even a quieter room doesn’t guarantee full access to spoken information. Captioning tools help bridge the gap, especially when multiple people are speaking or instructions are delivered quickly.
Key factors to consider:
Our experience:
We used a live captioning app during the briefing, and it made a noticeable difference. With so much information shared at once, having real-time text to refer to helped participants stay engaged and feel empowered to ask for clarification. It’s a small addition that goes a long way.
Leighton’s experience:
When we were brought into an enclosed private room with captions displayed on a large screen, I felt an immediate sense of relief. I didn’t have to adapt to the environment—it was already accessible. That allowed me to relax and focus on being present, rather than constantly trying to keep up.
One of the most accessibility-friendly features of cart racing? It already relies heavily on visual signals—colored flags, light systems, and signage. But these cues are only useful if racers fully understand what they mean and can see them clearly.
Key factors to consider:
Our experience:
We were given a brief rundown of the flag system—green to go, yellow to slow, red to stop. But in hindsight, we realized we would’ve benefited from requesting a printed reference card and walking the track in advance. Those small additions would’ve helped us feel more grounded going into the race. Next time, they’re on our must-have list.
Leighton’s experience:
Visual cues are a great complement to spoken language. But they don’t just happen on their own—it takes intentional communication beforehand to make sure they’re used and understood.
Racing is fast. The lead-up to it is even faster. Between helmet fittings, last-minute instructions, and lining up in the pit area, information can easily be missed—especially when verbal communication is limited.
Key factors to consider:
Our experience:
Looking back, we wish we’d implemented a buddy system from the start. Even with the prep we had in place, things moved quickly once we suited up—and having a go-to person nearby would’ve made a big difference. It’s a simple fix we’ll absolutely use next time.
Leighton’s experience:
With a busy day, sometimes it’s hard to stick with one person. I went out to the track on my own to find my cart but quickly felt disoriented. With the helmet on, it was difficult to see and hear, and I couldn’t understand which cart the staff member was directing me to. I let them know I was confused, and they responded by walking me directly to my cart—which was much more helpful than just pointing in the general direction.
After the adrenaline rush of racing, sensory overload can set in—especially for those who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants. A designated quiet space gives racers a chance to decompress and regroup.
Key factors to consider:
Our experience:
This was another moment of learning for us. After the first race, several participants felt overwhelmed by the noise and stimulation. We found a quieter area in the lobby to take a quick break—and it made a huge difference. Even a few minutes of quiet helped everyone feel recharged and ready to jump back in.
Leighton’s experience:
After a long, stimulation-heavy day, I sometimes feel myself start to wind down. It doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, I tend to be quiet and not actively engage in conversation—I’m just simply recharging.
At the Empower Retreat, we were reminded that true access shouldn’t be limited to hotel rooms, structured sessions, or formal accommodations. When we intentionally design even moments of play, celebration, and connection with accessibility in mind, we create opportunities for deeper belonging and fuller participation.
Indoor cart racing might not be the first place you expect to see inclusive design at work—but it absolutely can be. With a little creativity, collaboration, and commitment to access, high-speed fun can be for everyone.
InnoCaption provides real-time captioning technology making phone calls easy and accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Offered at no cost to individuals with hearing loss because we are certified by the FCC. InnoCaption is the only mobile app that offers real-time captioning of phone calls through live stenographers and automated speech recognition software. The choice is yours.
InnoCaption proporciona tecnología de subtitulado en tiempo real que hace que las llamadas telefónicas sean fáciles y accesibles para la comunidad de personas sordas y con problemas de audición. Se ofrece sin coste alguno para las personas con pérdida auditiva porque estamos certificados por la FCC. InnoCaption es la única aplicación móvil que ofrece subtitulación en tiempo real de llamadas telefónicas mediante taquígrafos en directo y software de reconocimiento automático del habla. Usted elige.
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