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| 4 Dec 07, 1:36 PM Degenerate  UK(M), 5 yrs    |
PS I also wanted to say that so far every night I have ever attended has been less disability phobic than most mainstream places and far more willing to make small changes for access if you ask them (eg dungeon masters at club lash will reserve your place in the queue while you sit, allow me to sit/climb/hang off on equipment, etc) although the venue does not have wheelchair access - unless you can make it down the stairs and get back in your chair .... it does have a nice solid free standing metal bannister which i have so far been to shy to try.... but it's hard going up even that way unless you are a super strong muscly type, but it's not so bad on your arse * but it's a relatively long flight of stairs. there are also more stairs to the smoking area. another venue, Nemesis the DM's are so brilliant they noticed I needed seating and just brought me some and asked if I wanted it which blew me away. and its wheelchair accesible anyway so I could have brought my chair. I dont know how open these venues are about such things but that might be a good idea to advertise it. De *(and before anyone asks, yes though we'd rather have a lift if you can put one in, some disabled people DO do these things sometimes if they really wanna go somewhere - I do _ just knowing the bouncers would carry your chair is a reasonable adjustment which would be enough for me on a bad week and i already have this notion in reserve for club lash having done it in the past! I'm in a group which does demonstrations, the things some of us are willing to do to get in somewhere would make most people's toes curl!) Roses are red, bruises are blue, masochists are sweet, and I love you. Edited 4 Dec 07, 2:06 PM by Degenerate | |
| 4 Dec 07, 2:49 PM SirOpenSource UK(E), 6 yrs    |
Some very positive and helpful comments and as Baldrick often says 'I have a cunning plan' I will post my ideas soon. SS The blues is not about feeling good, it's about making others feel miserable and earning money while you're at it (Bleeding Gums Murphy-The Simpsons) | |
| 4 Dec 07, 3:05 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
cheers glad if anything I have said is useful. also I will just note in case anyone's in any doubt. many wheelchair users need the stairs to be gone, or an alternative way in/lifts to get in at all. some others might also not like to go in the way I might do if desperate, on principle. I will go to somewhere recreational for my own interest for example, but I would never perform/work at a venue which some people were excluded from because everything I do in this arena is disability politics/pride related. i think the big thing for venues is to be honest about what access they do or do not have, say so if they are not sure and their willingness talk to disabled people (in various mediums to make is accessible) to make any minor adjustments they CAN make if people ask. - sort of - contact us if you have any questions or access needs you think we might be able to meet/adjust for you - type of thing. ps some more i also know people who can make writen information into British Sign Language video for websites or home. a lot of people don't realise that BSL is not translated english and that lots of Deaf people cannot read much english at all. another big access issue for a lot of deaf people, whether they use BSL or not, is how dark clubs are which makes it hard to communicate. venues with a variety of lighting and having a strong portable lamp handy in the dungeon could fix a lot of that for visually impaired and deaf people. PPS many adjustments are worth it even if they cost money... while we can't get in, you aren't getting our money. lots of disabled people who are around in the mainstream are kinky. you jst dont see many of us because so many people can't get in or get out of their houses much or use the public transport the way others do. That's why it's worth clearly advertising your access early on in your information De Roses are red, bruises are blue, masochists are sweet, and I love you. Edited 4 Dec 07, 3:20 PM by Degenerate | |
| 4 Dec 07, 3:27 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
sorry more again it's probably important to note given the things I have been saying that paid staff have a right to have their health and safety considered at all times. carrying wheelchairs under certain circumstances might not meet with those requirements. although in reality carrying a collapsed folding chair down stairs isn't that treacherous as long as you meet the normal safety issues of having a bannister (or two - and btw two bannisters can make the difference access wise for some people as well - one for each hand) , keeping he stairs clean free of grease and random junk which people should be doing anyway.
another nice access thing is to allow a persons PA (personal assistant/attendant) or support worker to come in for free, as for some people to bring paid staff or a friend to help costs them double just to get in the door. and then their pa can carry their chair too if they have one De sorry for flooding this thread Roses are red, bruises are blue, masochists are sweet, and I love you. Edited 4 Dec 07, 3:30 PM by Degenerate | |
| 4 Dec 07, 4:10 PM lovethatkills UK, 5 yrs |
Not at all - everything you've said has been right to the point and valuable. (Personally, I'd never allow anyone to carry me up or down stairs - are they trained to do that, etc.? It's always possible to get in anywhere if you really want to, but getting out on your own if you really have to...?)
"One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other." (Jane Austen) | |
| 4 Dec 07, 4:21 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
sorry didnt understand the last bit  oh defnitely wouldn't advise carrying people down stairs, just collapsed manual chairs if a person is able to walk down, use hand rails to push down stairs or go on their behind - and erm yeah power chairs might not carry so well either they is HEAVY!!!
anyway damn i wish all the buildings could be smashed up and rebuilt so we never even have to consider this and I totally know many would not do what I do.. I just simply would not miss club lash for anything, it's be down the bannister or up on my bum... or well maybe some nice big strong person to carry me... but then thats just nice anyway regardless of stairs... De Roses are red, bruises are blue, masochists are sweet, and I love you. Edited 4 Dec 07, 4:23 PM by Degenerate | |
| 4 Dec 07, 4:25 PM Degenerate UK(M), 5 yrs |
ok now I understand, i think. getting out - well it depends whether the steps are up or down. a lot of places getting in is up and getting out is down.. which is far better. I wouldnt go anywhere I didn't think I could get out of in a fire when everyone else is running screaming and has forgotten me.. in relation to me I am normally in the position of being able to get out on my legs in an emergency Roses are red, bruises are blue, masochists are sweet, and I love you. | |
| 4 Dec 07, 5:21 PM Soul_Alloy UK(PR), 5 yrs |
A friend of mine specialises in web designing disability access on websites, if anyone's interested drop me a memo Better to be a diamond with a flaw then a pebble with none | |
| 4 Dec 07, 5:33 PM SirOpenSource UK(E), 6 yrs |
I will get in touch with you soon. I am just acumulating some information. SS
The blues is not about feeling good, it's about making others feel miserable and earning money while you're at it (Bleeding Gums Murphy-The Simpsons) |
!