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A few notes that I thought I would post
Oct. 13th, 2013 09:35 pmSomeone wrote to me looking for a nuts-and-bolts job description for Access work for conventions. They had already looked at WisCon's website and the Access Fandom Wiki at Geek Feminism.
Here is what I wrote back:
Here is the text from our "Big Book of Jobs" for the Access position at WisCon:
Access: works with all departments to ensure that all members and their limitations are accommodated. Includes designating areas in each program room for wheelchair seating, designating chairs reserved for lip readers, coordinating with publications to provide large-print publication material for vision-impaired individuals, maintaining clear pathways in all hallways and program rooms, working with hotel liaisons to limit use of scented products by the hotel, working with con suite/dessert salon to post menu/ingredients for those sensitive or allergic to certain food items, and many other things. The theme is to identify barriers to access and try to lower them. This is an advocacy and educational position.
more info:
If members want an accessible hotel room, advise them to contact the hotel. (A walk through before the convention can be super helpful.)
If members wish to rent a wheelchair or scooter, tell them to contact [Home Health United in Madison]. This company will drop off and pick up mobility aides at the hotel.
The Access Coordinator hires a CART (captionist) provider for the Guest of Honor speeches. In the past we've hired [Ginny D and Sarah F]. Provide this person with a list of common names and phrases that might come up during the speeches. If possible, provide them with the speeches themselves. Coordinate with the stage manager also.
The Access Coordinator coordinates the hiring of ASL interpreters if necessary. We used Purple Scheduling in 2012 (our first year of doing this). Bette Mentz Powell at Wisconsin DHS offered us a grant and helped us coordinate this service. Our interpreter's name was Rae. (In 2013 we expanded to 4 interpreters.)
If members need to store medicines, they can do so in the Green Room fridge. Make sure they are properly labeled and tightly sealed.
Try to make sure all stages are ramped. This has been an ongoing issue for WisCon and other conventions. Work with the hotel/event center to make sure this happens.
Have language on your website about etiquette and attitudes, and about barriers that remain. Announcements at opening ceremonies can also be helpful.
Large print program: Programming takes care of this and I'm not really involved, honestly. I think we make about 6 for our 1000-person convention. Documents are also available digitally.
In the last couple of years we have worked on getting people to use their microphones. This is part of moderator training and we have signs and announcements reminding them to do so.
The "traffic lanes"-- blue tape laid down to divide a hallway into a walking lane and a social lane-- are one of our most popular and visible features.
----
We do a lot at WisCon-- but we've built this up over several years and have some institutional momentum. Also, a lot happens before the convention, which makes things easier for me. The things that happen at the convention are mostly laying down blue tape, hanging up signs, and fielding any last-minute requests or crises that come up. In 2013, I did most of the before-con work and one of the other volunteers (antarcticlust) did most of the at-con work. It's easy to train other volunteers to lay down blue tape, and some committed volunteers have returned to do this for us several years running.
I am personally invested in and enjoy the work, and find it helpful to read blogs, talk to people, and keep learning. We seek feedback from members about how to improve. Members are the best ones to know about how to improve their experience. It's also extremely helpful that the concom is on board with these initiatives.
Here is what I wrote back:
Here is the text from our "Big Book of Jobs" for the Access position at WisCon:
Access: works with all departments to ensure that all members and their limitations are accommodated. Includes designating areas in each program room for wheelchair seating, designating chairs reserved for lip readers, coordinating with publications to provide large-print publication material for vision-impaired individuals, maintaining clear pathways in all hallways and program rooms, working with hotel liaisons to limit use of scented products by the hotel, working with con suite/dessert salon to post menu/ingredients for those sensitive or allergic to certain food items, and many other things. The theme is to identify barriers to access and try to lower them. This is an advocacy and educational position.
more info:
If members want an accessible hotel room, advise them to contact the hotel. (A walk through before the convention can be super helpful.)
If members wish to rent a wheelchair or scooter, tell them to contact [Home Health United in Madison]. This company will drop off and pick up mobility aides at the hotel.
The Access Coordinator hires a CART (captionist) provider for the Guest of Honor speeches. In the past we've hired [Ginny D and Sarah F]. Provide this person with a list of common names and phrases that might come up during the speeches. If possible, provide them with the speeches themselves. Coordinate with the stage manager also.
The Access Coordinator coordinates the hiring of ASL interpreters if necessary. We used Purple Scheduling in 2012 (our first year of doing this). Bette Mentz Powell at Wisconsin DHS offered us a grant and helped us coordinate this service. Our interpreter's name was Rae. (In 2013 we expanded to 4 interpreters.)
If members need to store medicines, they can do so in the Green Room fridge. Make sure they are properly labeled and tightly sealed.
Try to make sure all stages are ramped. This has been an ongoing issue for WisCon and other conventions. Work with the hotel/event center to make sure this happens.
Have language on your website about etiquette and attitudes, and about barriers that remain. Announcements at opening ceremonies can also be helpful.
Large print program: Programming takes care of this and I'm not really involved, honestly. I think we make about 6 for our 1000-person convention. Documents are also available digitally.
In the last couple of years we have worked on getting people to use their microphones. This is part of moderator training and we have signs and announcements reminding them to do so.
The "traffic lanes"-- blue tape laid down to divide a hallway into a walking lane and a social lane-- are one of our most popular and visible features.
----
We do a lot at WisCon-- but we've built this up over several years and have some institutional momentum. Also, a lot happens before the convention, which makes things easier for me. The things that happen at the convention are mostly laying down blue tape, hanging up signs, and fielding any last-minute requests or crises that come up. In 2013, I did most of the before-con work and one of the other volunteers (antarcticlust) did most of the at-con work. It's easy to train other volunteers to lay down blue tape, and some committed volunteers have returned to do this for us several years running.
I am personally invested in and enjoy the work, and find it helpful to read blogs, talk to people, and keep learning. We seek feedback from members about how to improve. Members are the best ones to know about how to improve their experience. It's also extremely helpful that the concom is on board with these initiatives.
