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

[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.