[Access] Immobility at the Auction

[Cindy Pitcairn]

Mary Otten wrote:
>  I wonder if Brian's events committee is going to be involved with events outside church or also
> those at church, such as the music thing in future years. That would be
> another avenue for education regarding possible alternative
> configurations. 
In talking to Brian at the CC, I found out his committee sees its 
primary function as the development of a policy manual based on the one 
used by the Corvallis church. Thus my enthusiasm for doing one tailored 
to our church would duplicate their efforts and most likely not be used. 
However, I imagine they are open to including accessibility items in 
their manual.

This raises another question which David mentioned in an e-mail to me 
and which I quote without his permission: 
>  We usually think of accessibility as something for people with 
> disabilities -- such as wheelchair users like yourself. But I felt as 
> though the too small space for all the people, exhibits, and 
> activities presented accessibility problems for many people: 
> circulation problems, difficulties in obtaining food and finding some 
> place where one could comfortably eat it, difficulties in seeing 
> auction items on the window-sides of tables or against the windows, 
> and in having sign-up sheets readily at hand, for example. 
Back to Mary:
> But I do wonder how the heck you could configure a
> place such that all the people who can stand and talk or browse will do
> so and yet there will still be room for people who use wheelchairs or
> walkers to get through and see items. 
>   
This can be done, but it does call for more space to be feasible. At the 
PNWD AGM there were some buffets and they presented no accessibility 
problems. When they anticipated not enough space for breakfast seating, 
they asked everyone to find  "breakfast buddies" and reach an agreement 
that one would arrive early (7-8 am) and the other later (8-9 am). This 
worked very well. At the most crowded event--the banquet at which 
Rebecca Parker spoke--they announced in advance that it would be crowded 
and urged people to come early, but also had usher/greeters at the door 
to help people find a seat. It was crowded but orderly and everyone was 
treated with respect, There was a room with vendors where people were 
browsing and just gathering and chatting and I had no difficulty getting 
around. It was a large round room, however.

I think with limited space, perhaps the different activities involved in 
an event need to be timed separately. Thus, if the music soiree had 
refreshments after the show instead of during it, there would still be 
an impassable crowd for me in the social hall after the talent show. 
However,  there would be more space for seating for everyone in the 
sanctuary without tables set up for eating and I would at least be able 
to take in the show. We can't expect an event to serve several different 
functions in one time and place when large numbers of people are involved.

Them's my thoughts for the moment.

Cindy