Access Fandom

That Crazy Crippled Chick spazgirl11 encountered frustration upon frustration at the Long Island Dr Who con held 8-10 November 2013. Wheelchair access promised but not delivered on the shuttle, leaving a paid-up member in the street; narrow corridors; heavy doors preventing travel; jam-packed panel rooms; and total indifference from con staff.

She wrote an outstanding complaint letter, posted in full here:

http://thatcrazycrippledchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/an-open-letter-to-staff-of-long-island.html

quoting from the rousing finish:

begin quote The Doctor says that he’s never met anyone who wasn’t important. But your convention and apathy towards accessibility made me feel like my fellow disabled Whovians and I were not important enough to be worth considering. I am saddened and disgusted that a convention representing such a diverse fandom failed to include people with disabilities. quote ends

I loved this letter because it was specific, forceful, yet not furious. From personal experience, I know how being furious makes me incoherent. When I can turn off the snark and fire, I can organize my complaint as thoroughly and clearly as spazgirl11 has. Non-disabled people generally need all the detail we can stand to give to make their cons accessible.

(I'm trying not to make the "tone argument", but may have failed.)