do you have any good tips for people with disabilites who are new to DragonCon?

[cheriedcds]

We are looking to add a page to our wiki with helpful tips for people with disabilities coming to DragonCon.  If you are one of our more experienced consumers, could you let us know a few things you do to prepare for the crowds, the hill, the heat, etc.  I am really looking for help, not just "the elevators are terrible" type comments.  So how do

Comments

[kkatowll]

For those who have mobility impairments but are not using a wheelchair/scooter: my wife very successfully navigated her first DragonCon by using the escalators in the hotels to "climb" the hill, and walking across hotels using the habitrails. While this requires a very good map or helpful people, I gave her directions by text and got her from place to place while staying indoors as much as possible and never walking the hill.
This becomes much harder late at night when the mall closes because you can't walk between the Hyatt and the Marriott through the mall, so keep that in mind. Perhaps someone could write out the basic directions for this wiki? I'd do it but I skipped DC last year and I'm afraid I might forget a step or two and get someone terribly lost.

[cheriedcds]

see if this helps: http://dragonconds.wikia.com/wiki/The_Secret_Ninja_Way;_Navigating_the_Con

[glasscannon]

I used Disability Services for the first time last year, but I've been on a sliding scale of disability for several years now, and have been seriously chronically ill for almost a decade. My number one piece of advice is: use Disability Services. It's intimidating the first time, especially if you've spent any amount of time with unsympathetic doctors or people who find invisible disabilities difficult to grasp, but if you're at the point of having to choose between your health concerns and being able to enjoy the con, Disability Services is the place for you. And the people who volunteer for DS are exceptionally nice. Go there first thing, they can help you get your badge if need be.

I've talked with a few other spoonies (people with invisible chronic illnesses, especially those for whom fatigue is a major issue) about attending DragonCon, and for that sort of disability/illness, I think that staying in a host hotel is really crucial, especially one with minimal elevator wait. I've stayed in the Hyatt Radius Tower every year I'

[bonnie_halfelvn]

Thank you all for your comments. Although personally, my health issues are not a major problem at this point, this is useful for future reference and for looking out for my friends.

[werewulf]

If there's something you KNOW you're dying to do, but it's gonna take it out of you. Use your brains. I love walking in the parade on Saturday mornings, but I have issues with heat and mobility. If I'm tired, it all gets worse. Fridays I take it easy. No matter what I want to do on Fridays, I balance it against how much I want to be in that parade. If something comes along that's more important, I can adjust accordingly, but it helps a lot to do fewer things so that I'm rested for the stuff I really want to do

fondue

[cheriedcds]

WHERE IS IT?! I wants the fondue!!!! sorry. I will try to regain control... Could you please let me know where the fondue place you go to is?

[irishbuddha]

I work next to the Con. The only place I can think of is 754 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta 30308. It's a short walk from the North Avenue MARTA station.

[werewulf]

Argh,

So I went to look up the restaurant to tell you about it and it looks like it is closing down after 43 years in business. It'll be closed before Dragoncon. This breaks my heart.

If you live in the Atlanta area and can get there before July 31, I HIGHLY recommend Dantes Down the Hatch. Best fondue in the country and it will be missed.

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/covereddish/2013/04/10/dantes-down-the-hatch-to-close-july-31

[irishbuddha]

#1 - Use Disability Services if you need it. I've seen too many people at too many Cons say "I wish I knew about this earlier