Just submitted a panel for BABSCon... ADA and Pony Cons.

[LineMonkey 52]

ADA and Pony Cons, if approved, will feature your very own Line Monkey (that's me!) discussing ADA challenges, and the changes that several MLP:FiM fan conventions have made, over the years, to improve accessibility for everyone!

 

I will also be covering some improvements that can still be made, as well as asking you (yes, you!) what ideas you have that could help make conventions more accessible!

 

Do you have an idea?

 

Maybe you've encountered something that makes it difficult for you to fully experience an event?

 

Let me know, and I'll see that it gets covered!

Edited October 8, 2014 by LineMonkey

[Bolt the Super-Pony 62]

They could start by fixing the "traffic light" in the hotel at BABSCon. While a neat little feature, it certainly didn't work.

 

I would imagine that it would also help if the hotel didn't have carpet (of all things) on its handicap ramp.

[LineMonkey 52]

They could start by fixing the "traffic light" in the hotel at BABSCon. While a neat little feature, it certainly didn't work.

 

I would imagine that it would also help if the hotel didn't have carpet (of all things) on its handicap ramp.

I would love to see that light thingie work. That's a fantastic idea!

 

The carpet thing, though... actually provides a safety measure. While it's more difficult to get up the ramp, going down can be problematic. The carpet actually helps slow the wheelchair down and prevents someone going freely into a wall or corner.

 

It's an issue of the blind turns that the ramp makes.

 

Maybe we can discuss another way to get folks up and down that short stair area?

Edited October 8, 2014 by LineMonkey

[Duster Dawnhorse 248]

Covering service, ESA, and therapy dog etiquette would be helpful. I've seen them at quite a few cons and it's just awkward to watch people pet, grab, or try to play with someone else's service animal. Apparently it's just not that obvious you're not supposed to mess with working dogs.

[Bolt the Super-Pony 62]

Covering service, ESA, and therapy dog etiquette would be helpful. I've seen them at quite a few cons and it's just awkward to watch people pet, grab, or try to play with someone else's service animal. Apparently it's just not that obvious you're not supposed to mess with working dogs.

 

For the record I always ask first. The answer is usually yes.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Bolt the Super-Pony

[LineMonkey 52]

Covering service, ESA, and therapy dog etiquette would be helpful. I've seen them at quite a few cons and it's just awkward to watch people pet, grab, or try to play with someone else's service animal. Apparently it's just not that obvious you're not supposed to mess with working dogs.

 

While it would be fantastic to cover those things, the panel is focused more on the staff side of things than it is on attendees. IE: How can the convention itself become more open and accessible to folks with accessibility needs.

 

I do plan on addressing staff training, for those issues, though! Thank you!

 

For the record I always ask first. The answer is usually yes.

 

The etiquite, for any service animal, is "Do NOT ask." Those animals are working. If they are wearing a "Friendly, Ask to Pet" vest, then feel free to ask if you can pet them.

 

But a working animal is not to be disturbed. They are focused on doing their job, and a distraction can lead to injury or serious health problems for their handlers.

 

While most handlers understand that there's a real lack of education for the general populace, and have become used to being asked about their animal, it's really not something you should be doing.

 

Service animals are not pets. They are expected to be focused on their handlers. Most people ask "Can I pet your (insert animal)?" while they are already reaching to touch the animal. This causes a distraction to the animal, and can be detrimental to the handler's health and safety!

 

Please. Please. Please! Do not get into the space of a working animal. They are there for a reason, and need to be able to do their job the entire time.

[Bolt the Super-Pony 62]

While it would be fantastic to cover those things, the panel is focused more on the staff side of things than it is on attendees. IE: How can the convention itself become more open and accessible to folks with accessibility needs.

 

I do plan on addressing staff training, for those issues, though! Thank you!

 

 

The etiquite, for any service animal, is "Do NOT ask." Those animals are working. If they are wearing a "Friendly, Ask to Pet" vest, then feel free to ask if you can pet them.

 

But a working animal is not to be disturbed. They are focused on doing their job, and a distraction can lead to injury or serious health problems for their handlers.

 

While most handlers understand that there's a real lack of education for the general populace, and have become used to being asked about their animal, it's really not something you should be doing.

 

Service animals are not pets. They are expected to be focused on their handlers. Most people ask "Can I pet your (insert animal)?" while they are already reaching to touch the animal. This causes a distraction to the animal, and can be detrimental to the handler's health and safety!

 

Please. Please. Please! Do not get into the space of a working animal. They are there for a reason, and need to be able to do their job the entire time.

 

I didn't know that. My grandmother's friend owns a licensed therapy dog without a special vest of any kind (too expensive maybe?) and anyone is allowed to pet her even though her vest doesn't specify that (though everyone asks first anyway), which is partly where I got the "it's ok to pet, as long as you ASK FIRST AND the owner says YES" knowledge from. Just to clarify, by first I did mean that I ask before I try to pet the animal.

[LineMonkey 52]

I didn't know that. My grandmother's friend owns a licensed therapy dog without a special vest of any kind (too expensive maybe?) and anyone is allowed to pet her even though her vest doesn't specify that (though everyone asks first anyway), which is partly where I got the "it's ok to pet, as long as you ASK FIRST AND the owner says YES" knowledge from. Just to clarify, by first I did mean that I ask before I try to pet the animal.

Therapy Animals differ from Service Animals in a few key areas.

 

Therapy Animal are screened and trained to be docile, allowing intrusions into their personal space that most animals will not allow. Therapy Animals are used in many different ways; comforting trauma victims, being a support to people testifying in trials, and visiting hospitals, are all some of the ways that Therapy Animals are used.

 

Service Animals are specifically trained to assist their Handlers. They are usually highly intelligent, and are trained to perform specific duties. A Mobility Service Animal may assist their Handler with transfering from a wheelchair or bed, open doors, flip light switches, steady their Handler's gait (ability to walk), and other tasks that may be difficult for their Handler to do on their own. A Hearing Service Animal is trained to alert their handler to sounds, which can be anything from traffic signals to doorbells. A Seeing Eye Dog is yet another type of Service Animal. They are trained to guide their Handler through a world that they can't see.

 

There are also Service Animals that are trained to alert their Handler to impending medical emergencies. Some are trianed for diabetics, others are trained for narcoleptics or epileptics. There are even Service Animals who are trained to recognise PTSD attacks.

 

All of these Service Animals provide assistance that enable their handlers to function in spaces that aren't designed for them.

 

Distracting a Service Animal could cause them to fail to perform their function. A Mobility Service Animal may shift their stance, causing their Handler to fall. A Hearing Animal could fail to alert their Handler to an oncoming vehicle. A Sight Animal could mistake the clearance in a hallway, causing their Handler to stumble and injure themselves.

 

Vest or not, obviously working or not... It's best to ignore the Service Animal entirely. Think of them as an extention of the person. If you wouldn't ask to stroke someone's bare leg... it's probably not appropriate to ask to pet their Service Animal.

 

...

 

Sorry for the long post, but good information is always important.