putting the 'open' in open source events

All Things OpenOctober 23-24, 2017

D Ruth Hollowayhttps://hiruthie.me

Twitter: @GeekRuthie

Putting the 'Open' In Open Source Events

(or, how to avoid your event being called“The Parade of Butts”)




Introductions Are In Order

● Thirty years as a software developer, system administrator, network admin, and more

● 10 years contributing to open source communities

● A lifetime living with disabilities




A Bit of DisclaimerA bit of disclaimer




Checking In




Session Goals

● Learn about the difference between “ADA Compliant” and “Accessible”

● Get examples of accessibility problems you might not have thought of

● Learn how event organizers and attendees can help accessibility for people with disabilities




Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990 /ADA Amendments Act, 2008 (42 USC 126)

● Five sections– employment

– public entities and public transportation

– public accommodations and commercial facilities

– telecommunications

– “miscellaneous provisions.”

● ADAAA added new definitions of disability, including many more people




Great, right? No.

● None of ADA's provisions apply fully to religious organizations—they lobbied for exemptions, and got them.

● Chock full of compromises between actual accessibility and what businesses willing to pay for.

● None of Title III applies to “private clubs” or religious organizations, including churches.

● Other than requiring compliance, no benefit to victim of Title III discrimination.

● Attorney General must investigate and decide if a case can be brought.● 86% of EEOC cases brought via ADA Title I dismissed, in first 8 years

of enforcement.




§ 12208. Transvestites

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "disabled" or "disability" shall not apply to an individual solely because that individual is a

transvestite.




H.R. 620 – ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017

● Removes proactive requirements for entities in Title III to comply.

● Enforcement, requires written notice, and six months to fix the problem. Subjective “substantial progress” can stretch process.

This puts the burden on people with disabilities to seek removal of barriers!

Has been voted in committee, and passed.




True Accessibility

If a resource, activity, or event can be utilized by a person with a given disability in the same

way as with a person without that disability, then it is accessible to the person with that disability.

...but it might not be, to a person with a different disability.




The Most Annoying Words Ever

“Fully Accessible”




Examples?

● Elevators not visible from escalators● “Bar height” tables● Aisles as seating zone● Buffets● “Close to the door” seating for wheelchairs● Side-door side-trips through the kitchen or other

non-public space




How about some more?

● Pinch-points in crowds, doorways● Barricades/tables too close together● Heavy, un-automated doors● Too much furniture● Long hikes/no chargers● Raised stage with no wheelchair access for

keynoter in a wheelchair




Conference Hotels




Confusing/missing signage

● Restroom signage: “No boys allowed”/”No girls allowed”, without Braille, raised characters, or internationally-accepted figures. Clever, but no.

● Assumption that “family” restroom is wheelchair-accessible.

● No signage at all indicating accessible pathways through/around architectural obstacles. There are always obstacles.




Restrooms

● Only one (unsigned) accessible stall. At the far end, with no room to turn around in aisle. And occupied by someone with a child, or who has a suitcase, or someone who just wants more room, or...

● “Accessible” sinks often are not.● Baby-changing station in accessible stall. No.

No. No!




Additional Problems

● Having to be an “unpaid disability consultant”● Consent violations from “helpful” people● Fixers● Having to explain medical information that isn't

anyone's business




What can organizers do?

● Information● Planning● Action● Reaction● Evaluation




Information

● Scout your location, thinking about nothing else. Make a dedicated scouting trip for accessibility. Rent a wheelchair or power scooter. Consider sight-lines.

● Ask conference-organizing peers and vendors for help.

● Get information from registrants!




Planning

● Establish policy that accessibility is important. If you don't have buy-in from all organizers, cancel the event.

● Do what you can that's cheap-or-free, without being asked to.

● Engage your vendors vigorously to increase accessibility. Every increment counts.

● Anything you've been notified about for a registrant, DO IT.




Need some help?

http://wiscon.net/policies/accessibility/

http://wiscon.net/policies/accessibility/




Buy a lot of this stuff

Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported




Free-movement lanes

Flickr user sandphin,CC BY-NC-SA 2.0




Don't let attendees rearrange the furnishings, please!

Photo by me,CC BY-NC-SA 4.0




Ideas for other disabilities?

● Advising attendees of spaces where they might be allergen-unsafe (including smoking areas)

● Reserved seating for vision/hearing impaired

● Sign language interpreters

● Quiet spaces

● Ensuring microphones in program spaces

● Consulting with speakers about high-contrast & large-print materials.




Action

● Don't implement things you've planned at the last minute.

● Get a team together.● Keep eyes open during registration, and make

sure registration staff know how to get in touch with the team.

● Make sure that all staff and volunteers know the plans and policies.




Reaction

● Have one, or a few, people ready to help solve any problems or unplanned issues.

● Empower them to move heaven and earth, if necessary.

● Make sure everyone knows where to find them!● Watch social media, and react instantly if

someone reports issues.




Evaluation

● Get feedback from attendees, volunteers, and staff.

● Give feedback to vendors and venue!● Make sure that lessons-learned get passed on.

Don't make the same mistakes twice.




What about regular attendees?

● Know the published policies, especially for marked lanes, reserved seating, etc. Keep your eyes open!

● If the conference has no-parking zones, politely help enforce them. Remind colleagues to not stand in doorways or aisles.

● Offer help politely—if you get told no thanks, that's the end of it.

● If you can use stairs, use them.● Stay out of the accessible restroom stall, unless you

truly need it.




Make accessibilityeveryone's

concern!




Thank you for your time today.

putting the 'open' in open source events

Technology