(in-person) HDA - Hackers With Disabilities is back for 2021

[Delchi]

HDA ( Hackers with Disabilities ) is back for 2021! For those of you out there planning to attend DEFCON and have questions about how to get around the ADA world of Vegas, this section of the forums is for you.

HDA will be providing:
- PDF maps of the convention area highlighting elevators, ramps, and best ways to get from point A to point B
- Answering your questions about ADA needs in the hotels and in the convention area
- A clearinghouse for hotel information and answers to any of your ADA related questions ( how do I get to the hotel from the airport? How do I rent a scooter ? )
- Meetups, parties and other events themed for those of us who make ADA every day!

Last time around we even had HDA schwag to carry along with you. I'm working on that for this year.

So , let me have your ideas, questions, and we will do what we can to help!

Thanks to Eddie Mize for the HDA artwork!

-- Delchi

[The Dark Tangent]

If there are anyone with feedback on how to improve accessibility at DEF CON please feel free to participate here.

[admford]

I wrote up a partial guide to defcon for people with disabilities a while ago. I should still have a copy of it somewhere. I’m not going this year but if anyone can get pictures of ramp locations, automatic door locations and floor maps of the new locations for the event, I can see about adding them in.

[admford]

Found it! I updated it a bit for 2020…

[Delchi]

Found it! I updated it a bit for 2020…

THANKS! I"ll see about getting down to shoot some pics this week.

[Delchi]

Found it! I updated it a bit for 2020…

A few things right off that need to be updated :

- RTC : RTC is not running at full capacity right now due to COVID. I'll get with them and find out the latest availability. They have been HEAVILY unreliable lately and since the start of COVID.

- TAXIS : Right now Taxi's and Ubers from the airport are very limited. While they are there and you can call them / use them be prepared for a wait.

- CITY BUS : If you are in a larger power wheelchair ( Jazzy 1450 or bigger ) or scooter you may not be able to use the city busses easily, or the taxis at all. I have a few suggestions if that happens but they are not economical.

- SCOOTERS : Hotels have been charging extra fees for pick up / drop off if rental scooters if you arrange them directly with the rental agency and not through the concierge desk at the hotel. Also be aware that there are problems with "scooter gangs" of people who may not have a medical requirement for a scooter that are renting them and causing trouble on the strip by riding them down escalators, and other hazardous acts. This may result in issues when renting. It's a best practice to carry medical documentation indicating your need just in case.

PLEASE NOTE : It is not our place to judge if you need a scooter or other assistive device or not. This is just to make you aware that there are people who have caused problems lately and you may be subjected to extra scrutiny. Not all disabilities are visible, but forewarned is forearmed when it comes to potential complications.

Local news report : https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/scoot...aa236d185.html

- D

[Delchi]

UPDATE : Meeting with the convention center on MONDAY to talk about ADA for HDA. Please submit any questions as soon as possible.

[Delchi]

HDA UPDATE :

Topics we will be addressing with the venue at our meeting. PLEASE ADD YOUR QUESTIONS TO THIS POST.

- Scooter rental policy : rent on site vs BYO vs rent from a 3rd party
- Service animal relief areas
- Use of electrical outlets on site for charging scooters
- Points of contact with the facility for ADA assistance / issues
- ADA Rooms in the hotels
- On site tour , photos & potential problem areas

Topics we will be addressing internally within DEF CON & within the community ( This means YOU )

- HDA badging lines
- HDA Schwag
- HDA contacts during the con ( Protip : Goons are always #1 )
- Shortcuts, tips and things to see that are accessible.

PLEASE ADD TO THESE LISTS HERE IN THIS POST

- D

[admford]

Ok, so I think the least information we have is regarding the new convention center, the Caesars Forum. There's a general floor plan of the first floor available, but it looks like there's elevators to a second floor, and no info on it, if it's open to the public or conference goers.

Caesars has a program called "Pet Stay" for some companion and service animals. But there's literally zero info about the program and how to potentially book a room when you're traveling with an animal. Also as with the pet stay programs, there's zero information regarding animal relief areas for the hotels and Caesars Forum.

But over all, Floor Maps, Floor Maps, Floor Maps! If the hotels can provide digital ones that we can modify and add the locations of ramps, shortcuts and anything else of help, would be great. If not digital, actual paper maps. If they're larger than can be scanned, I've got a book/large format scanner that I can use if you want to send me a copy of the maps. I could scan them in and post them here.

[Delchi]

Ok, so I think the least information we have is regarding the new convention center, the Caesars Forum. There's a general floor plan of the first floor available, but it looks like there's elevators to a second floor, and no info on it, if it's open to the public or conference goers.

Caesars has a program called "Pet Stay" for some companion and service animals. But there's literally zero info about the program and how to potentially book a room when you're traveling with an animal. Also as with the pet stay programs, there's zero information regarding animal relief areas for the hotels and Caesars Forum.

But over all, Floor Maps, Floor Maps, Floor Maps! If the hotels can provide digital ones that we can modify and add the locations of ramps, shortcuts and anything else of help, would be great. If not digital, actual paper maps. If they're larger than can be scanned, I've got a book/large format scanner that I can use if you want to send me a copy of the maps. I could scan them in and post them here.

Great start!

I'll be meeting with the Caesars folks Monday and will add the pet stay info to the list of things to ask about. I have located one service animal relief area so far.

As for the new Caesars Forum, this year the con will be at Ballys/Paris - I already have floor maps, just waiting on info on what events are going to be in what areas.

Thanks for the info! I'll circle back on Monday after my meeting and we can hash out what to do with the maps.

- D

[admford]

Oh one last thing. CARPETING! I mean the type with foam underneath to make it more comfortable for people to stand. It's quite literally a bane on my existence. Pushing my chair through it is like trying to push myself through quicksand, or glue.

Any information regarding where such carpeting is in general, would be a good idea. Personally I think it's mainly in the casino areas, but they could've expanded that stuff.

[Delchi]

Oh one last thing. CARPETING! I mean the type with foam underneath to make it more comfortable for people to stand. It's quite literally a bane on my existence. Pushing my chair through it is like trying to push myself through quicksand, or glue.

Any information regarding where such carpeting is in general, would be a good idea. Personally I think it's mainly in the casino areas, but they could've expanded that stuff.

GREAT THOUGHT! I have mentioned this to the folks at the site , along with the ridges in the doorways in some of the convention areas. I got stuck in one of those set up doorways 2 years ago in my chair. That was a PITA.

[Delchi]

UPDATES FROM THE MEETING :

- They will look into carpeting and doorway barriers that can hang up wheelchairs
- New maps with upcoming construction and potential obstacles will be coming from Bally's / Paris
- YES we can recharge mobility devices at outlets we see in the convention area - but we must be careful to not create tripping hazards or block the normal flow of traffic.
- Yes there are service animal relief areas! We will point them out on the maps
- Yes to helping us block off areas for ADA needs in the meeting rooms ( first row, exits , etc )
- Yes they will help us with ramps for speaking stages as needed - WE NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF TIME. If you are a speaker and need a ramp to get on stage let us know NOW.
- Yes they will provide points of contact for ADA needs during the con that are manager level at the hotel(s).


Anything else we need ?

- D

[admford]

Take a look at the seating arrangements that I covered in the guide that I wrote. It should help out regarding number of spots and placement. I think rather than having them in rows, since wheelchairs and scooters tend to seat people higher, I think the placing of the seats should be at the start of the rows, at the middle corridor going down to the stage. Possibly have seating staggered from side to side. This mainly because wheelchair users will obstruct vision for some people. So having a row of wheelchair users is actually counter productive.

Either way it's better than having us be placed in the back of the room as we're a "fire hazard"...

[Delchi]

Take a look at the seating arrangements that I covered in the guide that I wrote. It should help out regarding number of spots and placement. I think rather than having them in rows, since wheelchairs and scooters tend to seat people higher, I think the placing of the seats should be at the start of the rows, at the middle corridor going down to the stage. Possibly have seating staggered from side to side. This mainly because wheelchair users will obstruct vision for some people. So having a row of wheelchair users is actually counter productive.

Either way it's better than having us be placed in the back of the room as we're a "fire hazard"...

I spoke to DT & the room space coordinators about this earlier today. They have a fire marshal approved plan for the layout / arrangement and will be sending me an updated diagram soon.