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

Comments

[swan_tower]

I'll be making my own post about this in a little bit, but the short form is: cosigned. Saying that "I don't need a ramp, therefore it doesn't matter to me" would be kind of like "well I've never been harassed at a con, therefore a harassment policy doesn't matter to me." Either one is b.s.; I need to start paying better attention to these issues.

[mariness]

I do as well. I think by not having this policy, and attending cons anyway and giving them my money/time, I've somewhat contributed to the problem.

Though I did attend Saratoga this year in part because DC was fine last year.

[swan_tower]

Right, it's one of the weirdnesses of WFC: because it's a different con-com in each place, good policy one year is no guarantee of good policy the next. Whereas a local con is more likely to have consistency from year to year.

[cardinalximinez]

*applause*

[mariness]

I expect you're almost as tired of the complaining as I am.

[cardinalximinez]

No, I'm tired of the need for the complaining.

[ravena_kade]

It is a good policy

[mariness]

Thanks. Honestly, though, it's more borne out of exhaustion than anything else.

[ext_3378328]

Co-signed.

I'd love to see this be a formal pledge that other authors sign onto, ala Scalzi's harassment policy. Is it okay if I try to make that happen?

[mariness]

Sure!

[swan_tower]

I've been drafting a post of mine in exactly that vein; I'm just waiting to hear back from a friend so I can determine what measures I'm going to decree are necessary before I'll attend. (Things like ramps up to stages, but not limited to that.) I'll definitely sign onto anything others post.

[mg4h]

Hi, random person here from Scalzi's tweet about this. Could I suggest something along the lines of if the only accessible way to get there is much longer than the non-accessible path, anyone in a manual wheelchair, or otherwise having to propel themselves, will be hurt worse than no accessiblity at all. "Oh you can get into this building - go around the back!" Repeat ad infinitum and you have much pain for folks.

[elisem]

Cosigned.

Also, I agree with those who say it's more than just having a policy. I want cons to have an accessibility policy and implement it promptly and well, just like I want cons to have good codes of conduct with good procedures which they follow well and fairly.

[swan_tower]

Definitely. Having the policy in the first place is just step one.