New accessibility and disability policy

[mariness]

Some conventions – the 2014 World Fantasy Convention in DC, for instance – have worked to ensure that disabled members have full access to the convention.

Others have not.

Thanks to far too many examples of the latter, I have decided not to attend conventions that do not offer an accessibility statement on the convention website, and/or a written statement to me guaranteeing disability access, and offering specifics about that disability access.

I will also no longer be attending conventions that do not provide access ramps to stages.

I am, granted, only a very small voice in fandom, but I'm a very small voice that can no longer use my money and time to support conventions that cannot take the time to ensure that I can fully participate in the con.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

One small voice can be amplified!

Scalzi comes to mind; his last-but-one book, LOCK IN, demonstrated that he really understands the issues of universal design, accommodation, pride and community acceptance. He's also been willing to say 'nope' to cons without harassment policies.

[mariness]

Scalzi retweeted Mary Robinette Kowal's tweet on the subject. I suspect, however, that this is going to get lost in the discussions about changing the World Fantasy Award statue, since that's apparently generated quite a bit of discussion.

[kate_nepveu]

Nor should you. I'm sorry it was so terrible.

(The next con I'm planning to attend is Arisia and I'm completely blanking on their room arrangements for panels, so I shot them a quick email asking about it and noting that either way, saying something about it on their page about access would be useful.)

(In a stunningly speedy response, they say no stages for panels, only the masquerade, and they're working on it.)

[mariness]

I wasn't planning on attending Arisia in any case, but good to know.

[kate_nepveu]

Sorry--failure to be clear--this was a "hey, you prompted me to do this, fyi, also not everything sucks if that helps?" rather than a "this particular information would be directly relevant to you."

[mariness]

Oh, no, I got that. I'm interested in what conventions in general are doing.

[mariness]

Also I'm exhausted so probably not expressing myself clearly in any case.

[kate_nepveu]

No worries--get some rest /Count Rugen--we are in complete agreement.

[untonuggan]

I am pretty sure the Katsucon people are very receptive to accessibility type things. I was going to volunteer and there was talk of getting me a room in the reserved block that was close to the rooms where I was volunteering, the type of chair I needed, etc. Not sure about stage ramps, but I think they would be receptive.

would take part in some sort of petition or online thing if one was around. if we wanted to add voices together. not that you have to organize that bc omg spoons.

[mariness]

I was thinking about creating some sort of petition, but the entire lack of ramp situation appears to have vanished beneath the discussion of the World Fantasy Award statue.

If you missed it, the previous award was a statue of H.P. Lovecraft; the board announced that they are switching the statue to a different image. One previous winner is returning his statues as a result, a decision that's generating a lot more discussion than "please can I have a ramp?"