Access: FM receivers and accessible art at Arisia 2010

[kestrell]

1. The New England Folk Festival has offered Arisia the loan of two hearing-
assistance transmitter/receiver sets, which will be made available to attendees on a first come, first served basis.
However, if people have their own FM receivers, they can bring those and they'll be
able to pick up the transmission.
We are working on a list of panels and GOH events at which these transmitters might be of the most use, but if attendees have specific requests, please feel free to send them to access@arisia.org and we will do our best to make it happen.
Note: the transmitters can only be set up in rooms with augmented sound (microphones, amplification, etc.).

2. We are also working on offering an accessible tour of the art show, including providing description and the ability to touch the art. Arisia will be providing cotton gloves for anyone attending this event, and we'll have more details closer to con. If possible, it would be great to get an approximation of how many people would be interested in attending this tour so that we can provide enough gloves. You can e-mail us at access@arisia.org .

Also, I wanted to thank all the artists who graciously agreed to participate in this event: thank you!

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

w000t!

Does NEFF own the FM systems? I'm eager to hear how they work out.

stunned silence: cotton gloves! Oh! Of course.

[kestrell]

Yes, those FM transmitters/receivers (there are 2 pairs) belong to the NE Folk Festival, and I am also really interested in finding out how this will work out. Also, someone who reads the Arisia LJ offered the loan of a receiver which she owns. My biggest worry at this point is making sure the equipment gets returned, especially as I won't be at the con on Monday to make a point of remembering that detail. I may have my Number One do that and also try to get comments (I figure we can make up a sighup sheet so we have names and room for comments). I feel kind of bad giving her another job, but she is a disability services person in RL so she's keen to know more also.
Cotton gloves: yes! it was actually one of our tech people who mentioned seeing this before. And the head of the art show did all the organizing in asking artists to participate. As I say, I feel my job is mostly asking questions like "Is this possible?" and someone figures out how to make it happen. We talk a lot about community but its still somewhat startling to see it work. This is probably why we are so loathe to wander far from fandom.