Doing it Wrong

[affreca]

Failing disability accommodation by a con. Naka's not the best, but I hope our ConCom isn't this stupid about it.

Comments

[queza7.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thanks for posting that link.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

It's a set of issues we need to make sure we take into account. Aide access and wheelchair/scooter seating are all easy to do. I'm not sure about trigger warnings.

Should I link to this in the Naka staff forum?

[queza7.livejournal.com]

Yep, it'd be a good idea. Especially point out the cosplay ramifications, if I remember correctly we didn't have a wheelchair ramp up to the stage again.

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

Quite honestly, there should be enough people on Cosplay staff to lift a chair up the stairs. A ramp is unfeasible, because a ramp is not safe if it has a grade more than 12 degrees. For a stage that's 2' tall, like ours, that's an almost 12' ramp. We can ask if the hotel has one, but I doubt it. Most don't.

[verminiusrex.livejournal.com]

I have all confidence in the Naka staff to at least word things better, and to know it doesn't take more than a few minutes to mark off space for special seating.

Entrance for aids and translators, that's one I'd need to take to committee and see how other cons deal with it.

[queza7.livejournal.com]

12' ramp? Sounds great to me. That's a good place to line people up.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

A powered chair is 150+ lbs + the person in it. Getting it up stairs is not easy. Nor is it terribly dignified for the person in it. I don't find a 12' ramp unreasonable on a stage as large as ours.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

Having not been to many panels the last several years, I'm not sure what our policy is. I remember a discussion of it early on, but I don't remember seeing any spaces marked off.

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

That is true. I wonder if the "no ramps" people have changed their minds since they wrote the rule in the early 80's, now that power chairs are a lot more common than non-power.

Either way, it's up to you and Harmonie to make it happen.

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

I think that, in order to do it right, someone would have to step up and be a staff member in charge of it. Otherwise people will assume "someone else" is checking on it.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

I'm trying not to be the staffer on it. I did post it to the Naka staff forums hoping action will happen. Ha. I just know I don't enough to do it right.