Accessibility at SF cons, specifically DisCon III

[firecat]

Over the years I've been attending SF cons, many have improved their disability access. But there's still a long way to go. Pass it on, because the more attention this issue gets, the more likely that additional improvements will be made.

"Are we really doing this again? Discon III, accessibility, and genre cons" by Mari Ness (https://marikness.wordpress.com/2021/12/21/are-we-really-doing-this-again-discon-iii-accessibility-and-genre-cons/)

(I had a virtual membership to DisCon III, and I watched/listened to some of the virtual panels.)

Comments

[fauxklore]

You might also see https://studio1009.dreamwidth.org/6366.html

In another context, a friend of mine was on a disability-related panel at AwesomeCon (the DC version of ComiCon) and had quite a fight re: getting a ramp to get to the raised stage for it.

[firecat]

Thank you!

[hitchhiker]

yeah, that was just sad all around :(

[jesse_the_k]

This was heartbreaking and infuriating.

Accessibility requires constant monitoring -- nondisabled people can't seem to remember the issues from year to year.

I'm glad to have contributed to Wiscon's rep in this area, and witnessing backsliding means I won't be going back.

[kalmn]

Backsliding at WisCon?

[jesse_the_k]

Indeed. But my 2019 experience included:

• initially no signage urging those who can to use the stairs, nor the secret passageway/transporter room on the stair doors
• when elevator signage did go up it was apologetic
• no warnings re scented soap in the Dealer's Room or nail polish in the Gathering
• Final straw: A 20+ year member, to whom the con’s always supplied large print materials, asked for them while I was doing a short reg desk shift. I had to explain that they hadn’t been created. That ripped my heart out.

[kalmn]

You know that flames shooting out the side of my face gif? Yeah. May I take this to this year’s committee, with no name?

[jesse_the_k]

Sure.

Good luck

[firecat]

"Constant monitoring" — absolutely. Well put.

Wiscon made big efforts that helped me — quiet room, spots set aside for chairs and scooters in panels, seats set aside for people who need help hearing, badgering panelists to use microphones, the option not to stand in line for meals, constant reminders about elevator access for people who needed it, walk/stand lanes in the corridors, and other stuff. And it still managed to fail me, the year I actually wanted to attend the awards ceremony and couldn't stay because my scooter wouldn't fit between the tables/chairs and my partner had to sit up front to hear/read the captions.

Yes I could have asked for a path to be cleared, but it wasn't compatible with my discomfort being trapped somewhere in my scooter....wow, it occurs to me that if Wiscon had had to content with social distancing at the awards ceremony, there would have been sufficient room for me. But far fewer people could attend in person.

Sad about the backsliding.

[silveradept]

The large metropolitan area convention center for large cons that I've been going to is not very well laid-out at all for accessibility concerns, as it expects ambulatory people taking escalators, for the most part, and then tucks the elevators away in places fairly far away from the action for people to go. And while abled persons can cross through the main dealer's show halls to go between buildings, I didn't see an obvious space where wheelchair or elevator users could cross buildings without having to exit the building and cross the street, which is additional hassle of going back and forth through security operations in both buildings. There were ramps for panelists where needed, and enough microphones and people using them, which is good - no captions or captioners that I could see, past the automated materials that could be turned on for PowerPoint or similar things that panelists did for themselves. And trouble with people getting their +1s and interpreters into the convention without having to purchase an entire separate ticket for them.

Until it becomes financially disastrous for a con not to be accessible, I don't think they're going to pay nearly enough attention to it.

[firecat]

I've been to a number of events at the Santa Clara Event Center, and I've been fairly impressed by the accessibility, for scooters at least. Elevators not hidden as much as at some such venues. But it's probably too expensive for most SF cons.