I will be visiting Leicester (Oadby Campus) the BiCon 2008 venue on 8th March.
I've found my mirror of the BiCon Special Needs Databank as I couldn't find the original on memevector's websites which have changed considerably - I'll email her about that to find out what is going on. I want to tidy it up something this year and put it on one of the central BiCon websites alongside the Guidelines and stuff.
I've grabbed content from the BSND and chucked into a format that I can print and take with me to the venue. I shall try and write it up coherently and upload it to our website as soon after 8th March as possible.
Is there anything specific that you'd like to know about the venue? Any requests? Any questions you'd like me to ask the venue staff while we're there?
I have just purchased a 3" and a 4" wheelchair access ramp for use at Polyday. These are folding aluminium ramps, and allegedly easy to carry (although I haven't actually got them yet, so I can't be 100% sure of this). After Polyday, they'll be generally available to any event that would like them and can arrange for them to be transported to and from the event. I realise two small ramps isn't going to solve access problems at a stroke, but they may help in a few cases where the venue's mostly accessible, but has a couple of annoying steps (as is the case with Doggetts, where Polyday's being held).
As part of the BiCon2008 team which is in the early stages of venue evaluations I'm in a position of influence BEFORE the venue is chosen. I'd like feedback to ensure I'm considering issues which people consider important.
I'm currently considering: * Geographic location and ease of travel from the nearest railway and bus stations as well as by car.
* Venue compactnesss, with accommodation as close to the rest of the venue space as pssible with noise from entertainments being as low as possible.
* 100% Wheelchair accessibility to all public BiCon space is essential (reception, workshop rooms, plenary room and social daytime and evening space) (have I missed anything?).
* Chill-out space separate from main entertanment and other bar space.
* Well lit venue areas and decent terrain (feedback on terrain would be helpful)...
I'll be going through the Special Needs databank as well....
We are looking for someone to assist a lady attending BiCon 2004 who is in a wheelchair and needs some help with day to day tasks during that time. We are looking for one other (we have one person almost confirmed) person to share this job so that you will have most of your time at BiCon.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSISTANCE Basically, I need assistance with all personal care tasks; including toileting, washing, dressing & undressing, applying make-up etc. I need assistance with getting in & out of bed, but I do transfer myself (I just need someone there to supervise,) so no hoisting is required. I need help with feeding and having the odd beer, too!!! END DESCRIPTION
This lady has no preference regarding the gender of her carer and is happy to explain in more detail what she would require as well as letting you know her needs and what you will need to do to ensure those needs are met. We would need you to be reliable and do the agreed hours at the agreed times as this lady would be relying on you to faciliate her enjoyment of BiCon.
In exchange for doing 50% of this lady's care we would offer you free registration and accommodation for BiCon 2004 and there may be a chance of you getting some payment for your time from this lady herself (if she can get social services to agree to terms and conditions).
If you are interested can you please contact me privately by email at access@bicon2004.org.uk to discuss this further and find out whether you are suitable for this lady's needs.
The deadline for applying for Helping Hand funding for BiCon2004 has passed. We shall now do our best to ensure that we can assist all the people who need it to attend BiCon 2004 next month.
The deadline for booking accommodation on-site for BiCon is 7th Aug 2004, we cannot guarantee any accommodation on-site after this date. There is some accommodation for people with access difficulties and if you need anything specific please contact us as soon as possible by email (access@bicon2004.org.uk) so we can take that into account when sorting out room bookings etc etc.
If you have any access issues or concerns please email me at access@bicon2004.org.uk and I will do my best to assist you in any way I can. The sooner requests are put to me the more likely I am to be able to help.
The helping hand fund closing date is 25th July 2004. Next week. If you need assistance to attend BiCon and think the fund could assist you with registration, accommodation or access costs then please check out the Helping Hand section of our website.
The Helping Hand Fund is a sum of money which is set aside for the team to allocate to BiCon attenders who may not otherwise be able to afford to come to BiCon. If you think you or someone else could benefit from this then you can tick the appropriate box on your registration form or email us at access@bicon2004.org.uk with appropriate details.
If you apply for funding giving us some additional information about why you need it will help us greatly when deciding on the allocation of funds. If you only need partial support for BiCon, please let us know, as this will allow us to use money for someone else.
If you are unable to pay upfront and are applying for the helping hand fund we will accept your booking as provisional and finalise it when funding and payment (if any) have been agreed upon between yourself and the BiCon team, we will try and come to some agreement which is mutually agreeable.
The deadline for applications to the Helping Hand Fund is 25th July 2004. We are sorry that we cannot accept applications to the Fund after this date. Applicants will be contacted regarding the outcome of their application no later than 10th August 2004.
Some examples (which are by no means exhaustive) of situations where people might require funding are:
* People with access needs who require a personal assistant for the duration of their stay or to cover extra costs which going to a BiCon might incur.
* People who are bringing children and need help withthe extra accommodation costs.
* People on low incomes who would otherwise be unable to attend BiCon.
You can register for BiCon 2004 in a number of ways:
PayPal BiCon can be paid for and registered via PayPal. PayPal Payment Page. The PayPal payment service may be unavailable after 23:59 on 30th April for up to 24 hours as the updated pricing scheme is implemented.
By Post BiCon Booking forms are downloadable from the BiCon2004 website.
Print and send the registration form with your payment cheque or postal order (Payable to "BiCon") to: BiCon 2004 BM BiCon London WC1N 3XX United Kingdom
Installments If you are unable to pay for BiCon all in one go we will accept installments paid by doing the following:
1) Write a covering letter stating that you are paying by installments - don't just send us a potentially confusing bunch of cheques.
2) Give us at least one cheque for at least 10 UK pounds cashable immediately.
3) Write post-dated cheques for the remaining installments, ensuring that we have the total cashable by 7th August 2004 (No more than one cheque per month please).
4) Write "Do NOT cash till XXX" on the back of each cheque to avoid confusion.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me by replying to this post or emailling me at access@bicon2004.org.uk.
The BiCon 2004 team of which I am part, (as disability person) is planning on doing a review of the venue in terms of accessibility. I am posting here so anyone who has access needs who wants specific things checked can let me know (either here or by email see below) so I can incorporate that into my measurement/reviewing plan.
I hope to get as MUCH information as I can about the venue, layouts and aproximate dimensions of the BiCon using areas. I feel this is mostly a mobility issue review, so wheelchair/scooter access; how easy people with limited walking mobility can get around or even those who have fatigue related conditions etc etc. If I have missed something obvious now is the time to poke me about it.
I will publish as much information as I can on the BiCon 2004 website and alert potential BiCon attending people in various LJ, online and BCN type places where to find it. If I am allowed I will also try and get photographs of accomodation and communal spaces so people can see them. The earlier we realise potential problems the better we can devise solutions and alternatives.
Please do let me know as soon as possible about potential questions, I am not sure of the final date for checking the venue but it should be soon. I have exams in the first week of February so before that would be helpful so I can incorporate it into my review plan.
My email address is barakta@barakta.org.uk any email you send will be kept confidential and your identity not revealed to anyone else.
Thanks
Natalya - disability/accessibility minion of BiCon 2004 team.
p.s if anyone knows of good online sources of access guidelines please let me know...
memevector's websites which have changed considerably - I'll email her about that to find out what is going on. I want to tidy it up something this year and put it on one of the central BiCon websites alongside the Guidelines and stuff.