Access, ability, health: this week’s round

[mrissa]

After the debacle that has been several years of World Fantasy Con, Mary Robinette Kowal has posted a convention accessibility pledge. It’s worth a look; it’s worth thinking and talking about. I specifically want to highlight something that I know Mary and the other people who have been talking about this pledge agree with: that the ADA (Americans

Comments

[sheff_dogs]

I'd go further on other peoples's health 'Don't suggest 'cures' when you have no medical background and have been told that it is a chronic condition with no cure'. I suggest this because so many people want to show their care for you by making you better, when accepting that that is not possible would actually be far more caring.

I could go into a very long rant on that, but I'll refrain.

Hissy fit completely understandable.

[lydy]

I can tell disability and access are an important issue by the extremely vehement way in which I wish to shy away from the topic. I am currently in the process of trying to sit with my discomfort, in hopes of waiting out my personal hissy fit, so that I can do some useful thinking on the topic.

In several ways, I think this is actually a more complicated issue than the harassment issues that I've spent my time neck deep in. It's considerably more multifactorial, and logistically more complex.

[mrissa]

I think that asking, "Are you looking for suggestions?" is reasonable in all circumstances. Even if you ARE a medical professional. And if the person says no, DON'T GIVE THEM.

Even if you're pretty sure it's curable.

Even if you're pretty sure you have the cure in your pocket, right this minute, and you can be the hero, right now.

[sheff_dogs]

True.

I know I am feeling a little sensitive on the subject. The partner of one of my brothers waded in last week, I like her, but don't know her well as they don't live locally and we all had just a day together. I did not want to spend time having my health dissected, I am very much a science person so alternative medicine suggestions are not my thing and I didn't know how to say 'leave it' without offending. I know how to disagree with my brother about things, I don't yet know how to disagree with her about things.

[klwilliams]

I'm so tired of "You should just...." I also never wanted to become That Person, the one who notices and points out the problems, like the problem of getting to a panel on the second floor when there is no elevator, or that no one is getting up to give the very old woman on the train a seat, or that the disabled bathroom stalls are being used by people changing their clothes. But I have become That Person, because it all impacts my life.

[mrissa]

That Person is sometimes a public service.

[thanate]

My MC just fell off a climbing rope (because there was a glowing possibly-celestial being yelling at her) and sprained her ankle. Presumably that's temporary, though.

Reminders of this sort: often helpful. Thanks.