Swancon Saturday
Apr. 23rd, 2011 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emma_in_dreamOur experience of entering and exiting the building was much better today! I parked in the insanely expensive underground car park ($30 for the day!) but you could take two escalators out of the car park. We did try to take a lift down to it but, no, the lift inside the building goes to parking for guests only so after we walked around down there for a while we exited (via a car ramp) and re-entered the hotel (via another car ramp).
Nonetheless, I feel much calmer because:
1, I am not alone! The con was filled with people sympathising and bitching about the mad, stair-obsessed architecture.
2, We resolved on a course of action.
Indeed, there was a Gynaecon panel discussing accessibility, food and health at Swancon. I had to leave before the end because Pearl was getting bored but I made the following notes:
* We are to bring our concerns to the committee. Not in a bad committee! no biscuit! way but in a way where we'd like them to go to the Hyatt about this issue. Action: All to approach committee.
* We are to suggest that future committees consider accessibility (with specific reference to the disability access list created by WorldCon). Action: I am happy to take this to WASFF.
* We are to find out who to complain to about the Hyatt's accessibility. It meets minimum standards, but the standards are obviously very very low. Action: I will find out whether the agency in charge is the Disability Services Commission, City of Perth or whoever.
Plus I got to go to a panel! Well, I was on a panel. And we found our way to the children's room. All in all, a much better day than yesterday!
Nonetheless, I feel much calmer because:
1, I am not alone! The con was filled with people sympathising and bitching about the mad, stair-obsessed architecture.
2, We resolved on a course of action.
Indeed, there was a Gynaecon panel discussing accessibility, food and health at Swancon. I had to leave before the end because Pearl was getting bored but I made the following notes:
* We are to bring our concerns to the committee. Not in a bad committee! no biscuit! way but in a way where we'd like them to go to the Hyatt about this issue. Action: All to approach committee.
* We are to suggest that future committees consider accessibility (with specific reference to the disability access list created by WorldCon). Action: I am happy to take this to WASFF.
* We are to find out who to complain to about the Hyatt's accessibility. It meets minimum standards, but the standards are obviously very very low. Action: I will find out whether the agency in charge is the Disability Services Commission, City of Perth or whoever.
Plus I got to go to a panel! Well, I was on a panel. And we found our way to the children's room. All in all, a much better day than yesterday!
no subject
Date: 2011-04-23 04:44 pm (UTC)It's been pretty clear that the Hyatt is inadequate in that perspective, however.
As a note, the CSC (WASFF subcommittee) is setting up a group to deal with ongoing hotel negotiation, and this issue would be best raised with them, IMO. I'd suggest approaching Rohan (CSC Chair) regarding this.
If Kitty (2012 convenor) is across this too, she can ensure it gets looked at for next year.
Prk
no subject
Date: 2011-04-25 11:37 am (UTC)In the case of the Hyatt the answer is 'you can get dropped off at the top of the ramp and then with great difficulty get around inside the building'. Or 'you can park on the street and go up a vehicle only ramp'. Or 'you can park in the visitor's bay, fail to find the unsigned lift, and get wedged in a escalator'.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 07:17 am (UTC)And there I was actually considering coming to this con, a few months back before a bigger crash. Glad I didn't now!
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 01:45 pm (UTC)As it was explained to me, apparantly the Hyatt Hotel is located within the Hyatt Entertainment Complex, and they are separate (but linked) entities.
Thus the Hyatt Hotel was 'technically' able to tick off everything based on accessibility within the hotel itself, ignoring the Hyatt Entertainment Complex...
Pretty damn poor, IMO, and this year's concom weren't happy with it either.
Prk
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 11:44 pm (UTC)So, technically, there is access. But only of the least signed, most roundabout, least accessible kind.
What surprises me is that they think this is cool. Surely it must put customers off.
I heard, too, that there is a difference between the free enterprise area outside and the Hyatt itself and the Hyatt only needs to provide access to its own buildings - hence having basically one way in to that massive complex that covers the whole of that end of the blcok.