[Access] Immobility at the Auction

[d. maria]

Cindy, you speak my mind... and thnx for the "sitting", but could you 
get that foot rest out of my right rib???    Whew, that's better.  
Those foot rests are a nuisance!  dm

On Mar 10, 2008, at 9:21 AM, Cindy Pitcairn wrote:

> 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
>
>
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