A short intro to access work
Nov. 4th, 2010 06:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sasha_featherThis is something I wrote up for people joining the Access Team for WisCon35 (edited a bit); I thought some of you might be interested in reading it. I don't think any of it is private information, so I am posting it publicly, but please somebody ping me if I am wrong! To me, a big part of doing access work is spreading information and trying to get others on board with it.
Some things to start you off if you are so inclined:
I try to read over the WisCon website every so often, particularly our section: http://wiscon.info/access.php
This is great info to try and absorb. If you see any errors, or things that need adding, etc, please point them out. (I sent in info about accessible parking to the web mistress, but it's not up yet). Things that might need to be changed: we no longer have balloons at the Gathering, and we have Dr Bronners scent-free soap in the large public bathrooms. (Also to be added: info about the pool area.)
I also read disability blogs and I co-moderate Access-Fandom on Dreamwidth. Jesse and I started an access wiki to try and disseminate our knowledge: http://access.jinjurly.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
It's definitely a work in progress, but there is some good info there.
Recent initiatives we've been working on: (1) getting more microphones into programming rooms and getting people to actually use them. (2) getting CART services (real-time captioning) at the Guest of Honor event.
Overall, the big pieces of Access are:
1) attitude! Having an attitude about making the world more accessible is the most important piece. We strive for universal design. Some people will need accommodation on top of "universal" design.
2) Doing work at the con, such as laying down blue tape, moving chairs, hanging signs. These tasks can sometimes be delegated to other volunteers.
3) Public Relations and activism: Talking to people, advocating to the ConCom, and sitting on panels if you want to.
4) Monitor the convention for barriers to access. Try to reduce those barriers.
5) Address individual requests for accommodation from members. Members should come to us, not to anyone else, for such requests. We should be advocates and mediators between persons with disabilities and the ConCom. (We generally do not liaise between the hotel and PWD; talk to the hotel liaison if something comes up.)
Some things to start you off if you are so inclined:
I try to read over the WisCon website every so often, particularly our section: http://wiscon.info/access.php
This is great info to try and absorb. If you see any errors, or things that need adding, etc, please point them out. (I sent in info about accessible parking to the web mistress, but it's not up yet). Things that might need to be changed: we no longer have balloons at the Gathering, and we have Dr Bronners scent-free soap in the large public bathrooms. (Also to be added: info about the pool area.)
I also read disability blogs and I co-moderate Access-Fandom on Dreamwidth. Jesse and I started an access wiki to try and disseminate our knowledge: http://access.jinjurly.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
It's definitely a work in progress, but there is some good info there.
Recent initiatives we've been working on: (1) getting more microphones into programming rooms and getting people to actually use them. (2) getting CART services (real-time captioning) at the Guest of Honor event.
Overall, the big pieces of Access are:
1) attitude! Having an attitude about making the world more accessible is the most important piece. We strive for universal design. Some people will need accommodation on top of "universal" design.
2) Doing work at the con, such as laying down blue tape, moving chairs, hanging signs. These tasks can sometimes be delegated to other volunteers.
3) Public Relations and activism: Talking to people, advocating to the ConCom, and sitting on panels if you want to.
4) Monitor the convention for barriers to access. Try to reduce those barriers.
5) Address individual requests for accommodation from members. Members should come to us, not to anyone else, for such requests. We should be advocates and mediators between persons with disabilities and the ConCom. (We generally do not liaise between the hotel and PWD; talk to the hotel liaison if something comes up.)
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Date: 2010-11-05 09:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-05 10:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-05 10:42 pm (UTC)