We are committed to making this as accessible a convention as we can. There are questions on the membership form to enable you to inform us of your needs.
Although the entire venue is long, we anticipate that the programme will be concentrated at one end of the convention centre. Should this change, we will inform members.
The venue is suitable for scooters and wheelchairs, with step free access in all areas, between the convention centre and the hotels and the convention centre and the town centre. The park has step free routes and there are wheelchair accessible activities in the chlldren’s playground.
Scooters will be provided free by the convention, thanks to sponsorship by Dublin 2014.
There will be dedicated accessible seating at the front of programme items, and space for wheelchairs/scooters.
We will provide a map and signage at the venue to aid navigation.
We recognise that not all conditions are visible and trust our attendees to make their needs known without having to disclose medical information or ‘proof’. This means that we will not use a visible badge or sticker to indicate access needs; however, we are happy to provide a card that allows this to be communicated without verbal explanation. You can also use the cards from last years Eastercon. Use of this card is entirely optional. Attendees may choose to use the sunflower lanyard as an alternative.
In person panel / Talks / Programme rooms
On site
- We will have at least one wheelchair / scooter space marked in each programme room and for the layout to have space for a mobility scooter to manoeuvre.
- We will have seating in any area where there is likely to be queueing and a volunteer to ensure that those who need to sit while queueing are still able to access the activity/panel.
- We will mark some seats as reserved for those who need to sit or to be in a specific area (close to the front for sight or hearing, and close to the back or sides for anxiety or other needs).
- If we use staging or platforms we will ensure ramped access.
- We will use microphones for speeches, readings and panels.
- Hearing access is currently being rethought as new assistive technology suggests that needs and capacity in 2024 will look very different.
- If you require BSL please do prebook via the registration form or by emailing the access team.
Virtual
- We will ensure that the virtual programme is captioned and that the platform is selected to support the access policy.
Hotels
For details of hotels, distances and accessibility, please see the Telford Access Audit. We are planning to have some activities in the Holiday Inn Hotel.
Publications format
- Publications, particularly programme information, will be available online in a variety of formats.
- Large print or Braille will be available on request. Please let us know if you would like this,via the registration form or by emailing the access team.
In person social spaces
- We aim to have seats in all social spaces and space for mobility scooters to manoeuvre.
- We hope to provide two quiet spaces, one for quiet activities (such as reading, jigsaws etc) and one as a space for complete silence.
- We intend to have space dedicated for the use of children.
- There will be a visible way of indicating that you do not like being approached and that you do not wish to be engaged in conversation by people you don’t know.
- We will provide pronoun stickers; these are optional.
Toilets
- We do not police who uses which toilets and we expect our attendees not to do so either. We expect people to use the toilet that makes them comfortable and respect others’ need for privacy.
- We aim to have at least one toilet that is designated gender neutral(in addition to accessible toilets), but this is dependent on the venue allowing this.
- We also understand that young children or others who need assistance will need to be in the same facility as the person assisting them.
Allergies & food
- We are working with the conference centre on food provision. This is likely to be through a hot buffet arrangement.
- We are committed supporting vegetarians and vegans, and will ensure gluten free food is available.
- The conference centre is minutes away from the town centre and provision in town ranges from sit down meals to branches of Greggs, Costa etc and a large ASDA.
- Please do not bring nuts into programme spaces. You may eat them in thewell ventilated dining areas.
- We ask all of our attendees to refrain from applying scented products while in the convention spaces, including in the toilets. (It is fine to wear scented products, but please apply them in your own hotel room or outside.)
Childcare
- We understand that childcare is an access issue and will provide crèche facilities for those who need this. This will need to be prebooked via the registration form or by emailing the access team.
- We will have a child/family friendly programme stream.
- We recognise that breast-feeding a baby is a normal activity and does not need to be hidden away. However, because we are using convention centre we will also ensure a quiet space on site for those who prefer.
Alcohol
- We will ask organisers that any time alcohol or food is available there should be a soft drink option as well.
- This will apply to parties and launches.
Finances
- We will have a bursary for people who would struggle with the financial cost of attending, as well as a low-income membership rate.
General
If you need anything else that we have not mentioned here, please do contact us and let us know. access@eastercon2024.co.uk
Do you have feedback?
If you have any feedback on the policy, email access@eastercon2024.co.uk