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''Main page: [[Accessibility]]''
==='''Access for people with vision impairments'''===
 
   
 
=== Access for people with vision impairments ===
   
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'''Screen reader accessible material'''
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==== Screen reader accessible material ====
 
Ideally all printed materials should be available in electronic form. This makes them accessible for people who use screen reader technology (used by some sight impaired people).
 
Ideally all printed materials should be available in electronic form. This makes them accessible for people who use screen reader technology (used by some sight impaired people).
   
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'''Tactile art tour'''
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==== Tactile art tour ====
 
One very popular event added to the [http://www.arisia.org Arisia convention] is a tactile tour of the art show, which was developed by Kestrell and Fabrisse.
 
One very popular event added to the [http://www.arisia.org Arisia convention] is a tactile tour of the art show, which was developed by Kestrell and Fabrisse.
   
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We have added a second tour to cover the Masquerade (costume contest). Costumers had an opportunity to sign up to participate in the tour as part of their registration process, and the tour took place during the "halftime show" while the judges were deliberating (this can take more than an hour). Response from both costumers and people on the tour was postitive, and we will be doing this again next year!
 
We have added a second tour to cover the Masquerade (costume contest). Costumers had an opportunity to sign up to participate in the tour as part of their registration process, and the tour took place during the "halftime show" while the judges were deliberating (this can take more than an hour). Response from both costumers and people on the tour was postitive, and we will be doing this again next year!
   
==='''Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing access'''===
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===Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing access===
   
'''Microphones, CART''', '''ASL'''
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==== Microphones, CART, ASL ====
   
 
Speakers should use microphones so that hard of hearing people have a better chance of understanding their talks. Speakers in panels and at talks should be reminded not to cover their mouths while talking, which prevents lipreaders from understanding. At WisCon 35 "Use the mic" hand-held signs were provided, which made it much less onerous for audience members having difficulty hearing a panelist. Microphones for the audience are also useful; or panel moderators or speakers should repeat back audience questions clearly into their own microphone.
 
Speakers should use microphones so that hard of hearing people have a better chance of understanding their talks. Speakers in panels and at talks should be reminded not to cover their mouths while talking, which prevents lipreaders from understanding. At WisCon 35 "Use the mic" hand-held signs were provided, which made it much less onerous for audience members having difficulty hearing a panelist. Microphones for the audience are also useful; or panel moderators or speakers should repeat back audience questions clearly into their own microphone.
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Here is an article on designing space for deaf and hard-of-hearing people: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode50deafspace
 
Here is an article on designing space for deaf and hard-of-hearing people: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode50deafspace
   
=='''Access for cane, crutch, and walker users'''==
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==Access for cane, crutch, and walker users==
   
 
It is often helpful for people who use canes, crutches, or walkers (as well as wheelchair users) to have advance information about the distances and routes between points. Maps are very useful, with information about stairs, ramps, and elevators. Major elevation changes or events that happen on a hillside should warn of the elevation change and what kind of pathways exist.
 
It is often helpful for people who use canes, crutches, or walkers (as well as wheelchair users) to have advance information about the distances and routes between points. Maps are very useful, with information about stairs, ramps, and elevators. Major elevation changes or events that happen on a hillside should warn of the elevation change and what kind of pathways exist.
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=='''Access for wheelchair and scooter users'''==
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==Access for wheelchair and scooter users==
   
 
===Ramps and Doors===
 
===Ramps and Doors===
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* http://colororacle.org/ Resource for design for color blindness
 
* http://colororacle.org/ Resource for design for color blindness
 
* http://kairos.technorhetoric.net/praxis/tiki-index.php?page=Suggested_Practices_for_Syllabus_Accessibility_Statements Academia: suggested syllabus access statements
 
* http://kairos.technorhetoric.net/praxis/tiki-index.php?page=Suggested_Practices_for_Syllabus_Accessibility_Statements Academia: suggested syllabus access statements
 
 
[[Category:Accessibility]]
 
[[Category:Accessibility]]

Revision as of 06:25, 18 March 2015

Main page: Accessibility

Access for people with vision impairments

Screen reader accessible material

Ideally all printed materials should be available in electronic form. This makes them accessible for people who use screen reader technology (used by some sight impaired people).

Make your convention documents downloadable from your website. This way, people can put them on their own laptop or personal device.


Tactile art tour

One very popular event added to the Arisia convention is a tactile tour of the art show, which was developed by Kestrell and Fabrisse.

Preference is given to blind fans and fans with low vision, but not all of the attendees had apparent disabilities.

When 3D artists register for the art show, there is a space for them on the form to indicate if they would like their art included in the tour. The docent for the tour reviews the offered art, and makes some selections to be included in the tour. She usually chooses one or two works of art from each artist that has agreed to be included. We provide participants with cotton archivist's gloves (http://archivalgloves.com/). Each piece of art is handed around the group, while the techniques and materials are described by the docent or the artist. Both the fans who have attended and the artists included have really enjoyed the opportunity to include fans with disabilities and give fans an opportunity to experience their art in a different way. This year, the Artist Guest of Honor (Josh Simpson) included his art in the tour.

I would heartily encourage other conventions to include a tour like this with their art show.

We have added a second tour to cover the Masquerade (costume contest). Costumers had an opportunity to sign up to participate in the tour as part of their registration process, and the tour took place during the "halftime show" while the judges were deliberating (this can take more than an hour). Response from both costumers and people on the tour was postitive, and we will be doing this again next year!

Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing access

Microphones, CART, ASL

Speakers should use microphones so that hard of hearing people have a better chance of understanding their talks. Speakers in panels and at talks should be reminded not to cover their mouths while talking, which prevents lipreaders from understanding. At WisCon 35 "Use the mic" hand-held signs were provided, which made it much less onerous for audience members having difficulty hearing a panelist. Microphones for the audience are also useful; or panel moderators or speakers should repeat back audience questions clearly into their own microphone.

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is real time captioning for talks and can be displayed on overhead screens, for online audiences, and on videos of events. Captioning allows people to read along. It can also benefit people with attention disorders and people who have difficulties with English. If you book a CART provider, make sure to have them arrive a little early, and help them prepare by going over your presentations, including the correct pronounciation of the names of people involved, and key terms (like TARDIS, for example).

(Need more info here on ASL interpretation )

Contact your local Department of Health and Human Services or an ASL Scheduling agency for information about ASL interpretation. Interpretation is expensive so you may need to apply for a grant. This service needs to be arranged in advance of the event and with the individual's needs in mind.  Interpreters are highly skilled professionals and need to be paid for their time.  Paying for professionals is much preferred to using volunteers because this fits into the social justice model of disability vs. the charity model.    

SF/F conventions use jargon and specialized words, so it is a good idea to provide a list of such words to interpreters and captionists in advance if possible.

It can also be useful to mark off some chairs in the front of the room for hard of hearing, deaf, and Deaf people. These chairs should be front and center for lip readers. Also leave some unmarked spots so the lip readers can sit by their friends.

How to caption vids: http://laurashapiro.dreamwidth.org/274724.html

Here is an article on designing space for deaf and hard-of-hearing people: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode50deafspace

Access for cane, crutch, and walker users

It is often helpful for people who use canes, crutches, or walkers (as well as wheelchair users) to have advance information about the distances and routes between points. Maps are very useful, with information about stairs, ramps, and elevators. Major elevation changes or events that happen on a hillside should warn of the elevation change and what kind of pathways exist.

It is also useful to provide information about seating, so that people who use these types of mobility aids know that they will have a place to sit and won't be stuck for long periods of time standing.


Access for wheelchair and scooter users

Ramps and Doors

Just because a venue says it is accessible doesn't mean it is. Do a walk-through of your venue (or a roll-through) to check for stairs and narrow doorways. 36 inches in the minimum allowed for passageways: carry a yardstick or tape measure with you and check. All stages should be ramped at all times (universal design). If you know there are limitations to your venue, let your members know about it. Note if there is carpet vs. hardwood floor or tile. Check all areas that the convention members will be using including restrooms, the pool, etc., and provide this information. Check how early room reservations need to happen for those who need accessible rooms.

Blue Tape

Blue painter's tape (available inexpensively at hardware stores) can be used to mark off passageways and seating. It leaves behind no residue and is safe to use on walls and floors. At WisCon we use blue tape as a signature for Access and it has many uses. For wheelchair-specific seating, we remove 4 chairs (in a square) from the seating area and tape off a "blue square" for wheelchair/scooter users. There should be at least one such space in every program room; in large rooms there should be about 1 for every 100 attendees.

We also use blue tape to divide the corridor on the party floor: half the hallway is for walking, half is for standing around and talking. This is emphasized with signs also. This venture has been very successful and aids in traffic flow. Other high-traffic areas can also be marked off in such away, reminding people to keep aisles clear.

Bathrooms

Most hotels and convention spaces should have accessible restrooms. In your publications, note if there are any limitations to this, and where there are accessible family restrooms (with baby-changing stations) and gender-neutral restrooms available. Single bathrooms such as those in con suites or party rooms can easily be marked as gender-neutral.

Because people often use the large, accessible stalls for changing clothes, especially at conventions with cos-players, it is a good idea to create a changing station: a room with curtains or stalls for people to change outfits. This frees up the bathroom stalls for people with mobility needs who actually need to use them. (Hat tip to Socchan for this idea.)

Breathing

We ask members to limit their use of scented products unless doing so interferes with their own health. We successfully negotiated with our venue to provide scent-free soap in the bathrooms.

Monitor your event for things such as latex balloons, which can give some people severe allergic reactions, and provide information for your members about where they will be used.

Stress

Conventions and conferences can be crowded, stressful environments. Note places and strategies that members can go to seek quiet, such as a quiet reading or sitting room or a nearby park. WisCon provides a "quiet room" for people to sit and relax during the convention. Not all members will have a hotel room.

Food

Any time you have an event at which food is served, you are automatically excluding some people due to food allergies and sensitivities. This does not mean you should not serve food: it just means that you should be thoughtful about it.

Peanuts, nuts, wheat, dairy, many kind of seafood and fruit, and other foods can cause some people to have severe and sometimes life-threatening reactions. This can happen even with very small amounts of cross-contamination, such as traces of wheat in spices that aren't certified to be gluten-free, or with a nut-free food prepared on the same cutting board as a food containing nuts.

Provide ingredient lists if at all possible, in as much detail as you can get about the food's source and preparation. That way people can make informed decisions about what to eat. Any information is good!

Also, asking people to keep their food covered while in hallways and elevators not only prevents spills and other miphaps, but also reduces airborne allergens.

Miscellaneous Information

If your event is being held simultaenously at two more venues, provide shuttle service between the venues. Remember that not everyone can walk long distances.

Waiting in line: Provide chairs or enable line-jumping for anyone that needs to sit down, rather than have them stand in line for long time periods.

Provide alcohol-based hand gel. Good sanitation is part of access for those of us with compromised immune status.

"Stand to be recognized" is language that should not be used: it excludes those of us who cannot stand. At WisCon 35 members participated in making "wands" out of thin dowels, ribbon, glitter, and paint. These wands could be raised in lieu of standing to be recognized. They were also useful in place of raising one's hand or applauding, which again is something that not everyone can do.

Listen to your members! They know best what their needs are, and if they know you are listening, they will tell you. Don't say "no" to ideas you think are impossible due to money or other barriers: just think about them first and see if you can make it happen. Remember that access is first an attitude!

Other accessibility checklists and resources