Access Fandom

“Dateful” Simplifies Timing Online Events

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 22:07:07 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

My cognitive impairments mean I always mess up time zones. I’ve participated in many events in the past five years. Only one managed to sense my current time zone and adjust all the info on their site to match. (And of course I can't remember which one it was.)

Which is why I love https://dateful.com. It’s an excellent tool when you’re communicating across time zones. It’s free. It features:

Time Zone Converter: convert between major world cities and timezones instantly as you type
World Clock: up to 20 clocks to see how the rest of the world can participate in your event
Time Calculator: adds and subtracts times, dates, and durations

And best of all:

Eventlink: create a link that converts an event’s time to the user’s current time zone and day. You can add an event title, description, and URL (meeting link or a web page), and you can offer an “add to my calendar” which works with Apple, Google, and Outlook.

All that info in a single link. You don’t need an account, but if you create one, you can go back and edit your Eventlinks.

I’m able to do these things with the keyboard; I welcome insights from readers using adaptive technology.

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We're part of a movement: The Electrical Eggs

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:18:28 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

When I started working on WisCon access in 2007, some kind soul (name lost) gave me a black teeshirt printed in tactile gold--with both Latin letters and braille. It sang the praises of ELECTRICAL EGGS, who advocated for handicap accessibility in the 1970s and 1980s. I loved the shirt but didn't know their history.

So I was thrilled when the September 2025 Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, volume 14 number 2, starts off with Eric Vero's article:

Oral History of The Electrical Eggs: Science Fiction, Disability Activism, and Fan Conventions

https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/view/1262

The journal offers PDF, HTML, and "simplified HTML" versions of each article; all are open access, peer-reviewed, and Creative Commons licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

ABSTRACT

Before the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990, American science fiction fans in southern states organized, collaborated, and practiced accessibility at conventions. This grassroots movement began with the work of Samanda B. Jeude and a coalition of other science fiction fans who fought for visibility and access to convention spaces. In this oral history of their organization, “The Electrical Eggs,” I interview two key members decades after their participation in making conventions accessible. I complement these oral sources with brief histories of the role of eugenics and ableism in science fiction and the rise of disability activism in America. Although, the science fiction fandom still faces historical forces like ableism that have been present since its beginnings, the work of the Eggs is a testament to the power of collective action to provide accessibility in fan communities.

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WisCon Disability Audit for Members from Any Year

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 19:18:57 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

from the WisCon Planning Year newsletter:

WisCon is conducting a Disability Justice Audit. We would like to know about everyone’s experiences regarding accessibility, disability, and justice at WisCon. If you’ve ever attended WisCon, in any capacity, please fill out this survey by July 31. If you’re short on spoons or time, we ask that you focus on the five questions marked with an asterisk (*). Your answers will help us determine the direction of future programming and accommodations at WisCon.

The Disability Justice Audit committee is not requesting any personally identifying information in this survey. We will anonymize info or quotes from survey results if presenting them in our audit conclusions.

Fill out the Disability Justice Audit as a Google Form: https://forms.gle/9XmZbKxRH8DU53KBA

Privacy note: If you log in with Google, you will be able to save your progress and fill out the form over time. You don't need a Google log in if you can finish the form in one go.

Visit wiscon.net for more details on the Planning Year, newsletter subscription, and the WisCon discord server.

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WisCon Needs In-Person Access Volunteers NOW

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 14:42:58 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

WisCon will happen in-person and online during U.S. Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin

I'm proud of how WisCon helped push/guide other SF cons into making fandom more accessible. I was sad to read this in a WisCon mailing:

We need to let you all know that we are having a volunteer emergency in terms of pre-con volunteer positions. We're still missing some significant roles with only eight weeks left until the con.

We're at the point now where if we don't get volunteers ASAP, we'll have to make cuts to what WisCon can offer in terms of accessibility, food, and events.

Access Lead (1-2 people, attending in person)

major tasks include

Coordinate our efforts on Signage, Blue Tape, ASL/CART

Set up Transport Plan to/from Thursday night reception at Madison Public Library (Central Branch)

Ensure the Quiet Place & Introvert Corner have space & supplies

Ensure Restroom basket supplies are ordered/purchased before con & restocked throughout the con

Organize and staff the Access table at the Gathering

More volunteering details: contact personnel@sf3.org

We've documented why and what and how we do, and volunteering is a great way to turn theory into practice!

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Convention Survival References

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 08:01:52 GMT

Posted by: ysabetwordsmith

I have some posts on convention survival techniques:

* How to Accommodate Special Needs While Attending an Event

* How to Manage Your Energy at Conventions

* Working Around Microphones

After a convention, you might need:

* Coping with Emotional Drop

* Coping Skills: Connecting with Your Environment

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Geek/Art CONfluence Seeks Disability-Themed Submissions

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:06:26 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

It's a hybrid one-day con, both online and in-person March 27, 2022, through the School of Art at Syracuse [New York] University. Free!

Submission deadline is 1 February 2022.

Check www.geekartconfluence.com for last year’s content.

( details and contact info )

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Paid Access Consultant for an Online Psychology Convention

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 17:31:22 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

Put your skills to work!

The Society for Community Research and Action is seeking a consultant with experience in assessing the accessibility of online conferences.

The responsibilities of the position are:

Review the accessibility of the online platforms and make recommendations for improvements.
Review and advise on materials orienting attendees to the online platforms.
Review and advise on other materials and processes as requested.

This contract is for $2,000, begins immediately upon finalization of the contract and runs through June 26th.

Interested individuals should send a resume or vita and cover letter outlining their experience to Susan Wolfe at Susan@susanwolfeandassociates.com by 5:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 21st.

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4th Street Fantasy Swerved to Podcasts with Transcripts

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 15:44:41 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

4th Street Fantasy has been a single-track Minneapolis-based con in June for many years (unable to track down its founding date).

When they canceled this year due to pandemic, they swerved to a super-accessible alternative:

No need to wrangle with expensive video conferencing software -- simple MP3s and transcripts are available http://4thstreetfantasy.com/programming/2020-4th-street-programming-podcast-edition

I was also impressed by the language in their accessibility policy.

http://4thstreetfantasy.com/policies/accessibility-policy/

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Tue, 24 Sep 2019 01:45:17 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Over at cynthia1960 's journal, there is a good discussion going that may be of interest:

Brainstorming online access for Worldcon and other conventions

So, I'm interested in bouncing around ideas that look at how building online accessibility can enhance Worldcon and other conventions. Feel free to toss out ideas here!

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boost: Advocate for Bookshare with Your Favorite Authors' Publishers

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 19:59:04 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

kestrell explains how we can make more books readable.

Bookshare.org provides ebooks to folks who have official status as print-impaired. Unlimited access is free for students and US$50 per year for adults.

Many writers and publishers still don't know about Bookshare, so in my emails I usually include a link to the Bookshare page describing how authors can get their books added to the library
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/partners/authors

Heartening success story: kestrell chatted with his publisher in the Readercon dealer's room and next year Chip Delany's books were on Bookshare

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More Great Essays for Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 23:02:50 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

I know davidgillon posted about this already, but every new essay continues to be outstanding! You can read them all for free:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lynnemthomas/disabled-people-destroy-science-fiction-uncanny-ma/updates
( click for squee )

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Access fail at a young adult lit convention

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 03:47:08 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Danuta Kean at the Guardian:

Young Adult Literature Convention Under Fire Over Disabled Facilities

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/aug/01/young-adult-literature-convention-under-fire-over-disabled-facilities

Authors who appeared at the YALC young adult literature convention over the weekend, including Alex Wheatle and Joanne Harris, have spoken out about what they feel was a lack of disabled facilities at the event. Their complaints centre on the sequestering of one of two disabled toilets for the use of celebrities attending the associated Comicon festival on a lower floor.

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The Learned Fangirl on Fangirling with Chronic Illness

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 14:08:43 GMT

Posted by: jesse_the_k

Keidra Chaney has posted a most excellent essay on her process of coming to terms with progressive vision loss. You may know her as part of The Learned Fangirl. She addresses the barriers fandom erects as well as her own shame and confusion.

But I didn’t anticipate how much my vision disorder would eventually affect my own view of myself, my work, and my life in fandom.

In pop culture, disability is a trope, especially visual impairment.

http://uncannymagazine.com/article/living-working-fangirling-chronic-illness

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VidCon report

Sat, 16 Jul 2016 02:37:03 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Annie Elainey at Tumblr: Accessibility at VidCon

http://annieelainey.tumblr.com/post/147472735779/accessibility-at-vidcon

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2 Links about Access policies and cons

Tue, 24 Nov 2015 23:21:52 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

io9: Disabled Fans and Creators are Kept out of Way to many Cons. Now They're Not Alone

Andrea Phillips: Van Halen, M&Ms and Accessibility Policies

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catching up on more links

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 03:54:54 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Elsa S. Henry at feminist sonar: Lack of Accessibility isn't just illegal -- it's Gatekeeping

(Nov. 10)

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Accessibility Pledge for conventions

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 21:37:27 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Mary Robinette Kowal:
SFF Convention Accessibility Pledge

Lynne M. Thomas:
A Pledge for SF/F Convention Accessibility

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Links 14 November 2015

Sat, 14 Nov 2015 07:16:26 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Catching up on a few posts

Mari Ness: World Fantasy Convention 2015 -- Disability and Accessibility
https://marikness.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/world-fantasy-convention-2015-disability-and-accessibility/

Mari Ness: New Accessibility and Disability Policy
https://marikness.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/new-accessibility-and-disability-policy/

File 770: Mari Ness posts World Fantasy Report and a New Personal Policy
http://file770.com/?p=25970
(some faily stuff in comments)

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1 link 7 November 2015

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 03:49:35 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Mary Robinette Kowall: Thoughts on Accessibility at Conventions

http://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/thoughts-on-accessibility-at-conventions/

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1 link 10 June 2015

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 02:41:17 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Megan Condis:
WisCon Recap part IV: Conference Organizing

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Social Interaction Badges

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 03:36:38 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

I wrote about social interaction badges at WisCon, over at my Wordpress blog:

Interaction Badges at WisCon: Part 1

Part Two

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Hotel policy: People with disabilities should travel alone

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 17:18:25 GMT

Posted by: elf

I'm at Escapade, which is being held in the LAX Four Points Sheraton, which has a fascinating arrangement for ADA-compliant rooms: they only have them in single-king rooms, not rooms with 2 queen beds. I'm rooming with one person who's currently stuck in a room with two beds; I drove down with another who opted for the single king bed version--and was told she'd have to pay extra for a rollout bed.

Both of these people reserved rooms with two queens, and checked the box on the website requesting a room with disability access. Both of them have mobility problems that mean it's very unsafe to bathe without bars in the tub to hold on to... and this hotel, unlike many of them, has no safety bars in the standard bathrooms.

After asking around, it seems this has become a common hotel policy: they apparently don't want to "waste" the more valuable double-queen rooms by making them accessible and pulling them out of the general-use pool of rooms. People with disabilities are not offered the option of rooms with two beds--AND they're no told this when they reserve the room. They are informed when they reach the front desk that they have a choice between sleep and bathing; they don't get to have comfortable and safe arrangements for both.

Anyone know a good ADA lawyer?

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World Con report

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:45:37 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

DavidG at FlatOut: WorldCon on Wheels

A long report about attending WorldCon from someone who rented a wheelchair.

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AnimeIowa 2014 Accessibility/Teaspooon Report

Sun, 24 Aug 2014 21:47:55 GMT

Posted by: soc_puppet

After many delays and much swearing over internet outages, I finally have my report completely posted. You can find my account of AnimeIowa as the head and lone staffer of the Accessibility Department here: Part 1 and Part 2

Now, an importnat question: Would anyone be interested in regular reports/updates on the running of AI's accessibility department? I feel like it could be a useful resource to anyone attempting to start their own such departments, or who want to help others do so/generate interest in getting one started. I also think it might help me run the department better, if I need to keep outlining my actions, and especially if I can get feedback on them. Any thoughts?

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1 link 17 June 2014

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:24:27 GMT

Posted by: sasha_feather

Quarries and Corridors (Tumblr)
Interaction Badges.

A photo (described in the post) and explanation of color-coded interaction badges used at a convention for and by autistic people (Autscape).

ETA: Social Skills for Autonomous people

More explanations for the history and usage of these badges.

Red/green is not ideal by itself due to color blindness; therefore symbols can be added.

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