Worldcon San Jose - Disability
Jul. 30th, 2018 03:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
morgandawn I was so excited when I heard Worldcon (World SciFi Convention) would be here in San Jose. Sadly I cannot go. They do not have enough demands for mobility devices to warrant on site rentals,* so the only way to get one delivered is to have it delivered to the hotel or your home. We cannot afford a hotel within "walking"** distance (especially at Worldcon rates) so hotel delivery is out. However, to transport one of these chairs/scooters requires a special van lift so home delivery is out.
Which means no ability for local disabled people to attend unless they own their own equipment.
Edited: And frankly at the cost of the ticket ($250 per person) and the lack of programming info (it was only up for a day or two and has not returned so I have no ideas which days I want to go and which days I must rent a powerchair) means I've reached a tipping point in cost and complexity.
EDITED
*They have on site rentals of manual chairs and scooters but not for powerchairs. And the "what to do with the chair/scooter at the end of the day if you don't have a hotel room and what to do if you are not there every day" still is unclear. I have emailed questions.
**The hotel actually needs to be very close to the convention center because the electric power chairs and scooters burn huge amounts of energy on city streets. You could find yourself stranded if the battery runs out because the hotel is too far away
EDITED: Single Day Memberships should be available.
Which means no ability for local disabled people to attend unless they own their own equipment.
Edited: And frankly at the cost of the ticket ($250 per person) and the lack of programming info (it was only up for a day or two and has not returned so I have no ideas which days I want to go and which days I must rent a powerchair) means I've reached a tipping point in cost and complexity.
EDITED
*They have on site rentals of manual chairs and scooters but not for powerchairs. And the "what to do with the chair/scooter at the end of the day if you don't have a hotel room and what to do if you are not there every day" still is unclear. I have emailed questions.
**The hotel actually needs to be very close to the convention center because the electric power chairs and scooters burn huge amounts of energy on city streets. You could find yourself stranded if the battery runs out because the hotel is too far away
EDITED: Single Day Memberships should be available.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-30 11:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 12:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-30 11:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 12:25 am (UTC)Also, wish they'd sell day passes. Or post a schedule....I;ve been checking for the past month. We want to go for only 1-2 days and I was trying to figure out which days to reserve the powerchair.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 01:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 01:49 am (UTC)I'm a regular on File770, and I could ask if someone who's staying at the Hilton or the Marriott can be your accommodation address. I really hope we can get together!
(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 03:28 am (UTC)The cost plus lack of programming info at this late date means we most likely won;t be attending. But we do plan to see friends (possibly go to a restaurant). PM me at morgandawn @ gmail.com so we can chat and set up something? I will also be meeting with the head of the Texas A&M University Special Collections - they are one of the bigger fanzine collections and are the ones spearheading the digital fanzine project.
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Date: 2018-08-01 02:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 03:35 am (UTC)I hope
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Date: 2018-08-02 01:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-08-02 04:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 12:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 08:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-07-31 09:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-08-01 02:44 pm (UTC)