HDA ( Hackers With Disabilities ) for DEFCON 30

[Delchi]

Awesome -- glad to hear it. If you want to pick my brain for other observations. We had some good discussion in the Skytalks backline re: accessibility and directing people to these, but didn't have good solutions other than posting peiople on the casino floor to help direct people.

Tell me where those problems are and detail them here , I'll get it in the infopack and on the main page once it's updated.

[Delchi]

COVID UPDATE :
https://defcon.org/html/links/dc-news.html#dc30covid

Barring a major change in the situation, we will not check proof of vaccination, but we will keep last year's mask requirement in place for DEF CON 30. Protecting the community is our first priority, and we want to make sure that everyone is as safe as we can make them. Everyone includes the healthy, the vulnerable and those who have immune compromised loved ones they need to protect.

Thank you for all you did to protect each other last year, and with your help we’ll do it again this year.

[clebernsant]

Hi there! I'm from Brazil and it'll be my 1st DEFCON. I'm a bilateral hearing imparied, but I use hearing aids. I guess I'll appreciate a lot!

[Delchi]

Hi there! I'm from Brazil and it'll be my 1st DEFCON. I'm a bilateral hearing imparied, but I use hearing aids. I guess I'll appreciate a lot!

Greetings!

You can take advantage of reserved front row seating in talks, where we will have projectors showing slides and talk information. I"ll keep this area posted of any updates / changes.

[Delchi]

HOT IDEA: Masks will be required at
@defcon
. We know there are people out there who punch down on mask wearers, but who supports them? Next time you see a person wearing a mask, throw them the Vulcan hand sign. 'Live long and prosper'. Quietly but firmly support them.

[TheGuiPing]

Hello, this is my first DefCon and I have standing issues mostly. Does there need to be a pre-registration to use ADA services like reserved seating or how does it actually work? If there is a link to this information that I am missing I would greatly appreciate it. I read on the main page that there will be an information packet available for download, is it not available yet? Thank you.

[The Dark Tangent]

Delchi is the Master of the ADA related questions, but we have seating up front and should have chairs available for long lines. The information packet is almost complete.

[The Dark Tangent]

Welcome to your new Forums space Delchi!

We have created a dedicated ADA section here:
https://forum.defcon.org/node/242670

Let me know if you want us to move this thread over there.

[Delchi]

Welcome to your new Forums space Delchi!

We have created a dedicated ADA section here:
https://forum.defcon.org/node/242670

Let me know if you want us to move this thread over there.

Huzzah!! Thank you !!
PLease move the thread over so that we have historical info.

[Delchi]

Hello, this is my first DefCon and I have standing issues mostly. Does there need to be a pre-registration to use ADA services like reserved seating or how does it actually work? If there is a link to this information that I am missing I would greatly appreciate it. I read on the main page that there will be an information packet available for download, is it not available yet? Thank you.

Hello!

First off welcome to DEF CON!

As far as lines go , attendees with ADA issues involving standing are allowed to go to the head of any DEF CON line such as registration. If you would like you can request that a Goon ( DEF CON red-shirted staff ) such as myself , to escort you there. Ask anyone for assistance. We can not provide chairs in the lines due to the safety hazards they present. So when you get to registration just ask any staff person for assistance and we will take care of you.

As far as the infopack goes, it is going to be released next week, as I spent the day today doing a walkthrough of the space to verify information and maps. It will be posted here and in a general announcement on the defcon.org page. Stay tuned!

If you have any other questions please let me know. During DEF CON I will be available by radio , just ask any Goon to give me a call if you need a hand.

[Delchi]

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!
See the attached file , this is the BETA of the infopack for DEFCON 30. Now is the time for the community to review it and ask any questions, request additions, and all you can think of.

[aNullValue]

Delchi thanks for your work on this!

I have a few comments.

First the technical, regarding the PDF:

• In Firefox for MacOS, the file doesn't render correctly. The first page and the "Location & Venue Maps" pages are both mostly blank. I assume there's some kind of embed problem.
• In PDF Expert for MacOS, the file doesn't render correctly... but differently from Firefox. The content is there for the pages above, but the links you use as a contents page are blank, and the text rendering is just.... not in the ballpark of being correct.
• In Chrome for MacOS, the file seems to render perfectly. It doesn't look anything at all like how it looks in Firefox or PDF Expert.
• In Safari for iOS and iPadOS, everything seems to be visually correct, but none of the links work.

And now for comments regarding content. Do note that I have not experienced any of these paths in-person yet; my knowledge is exclusively based on looking at floor plans, watching walk-through videos, watching videos on YouTube of the facilities and monorail, etc. My perspective is that of someone who is *mostly* able to walk (except recurring flights of stairs), but I'm all about route optimization, in order to keep paths most efficient.

• On the "Traveling Between Venues" page, it implies that there's only one elevator (in the sky bridge between the Forum and Linq). Wouldn't someone need to traverse numerous elevators to take any of these routes?
• I feel like this is impossible, but I'd love to come up with some way to estimate travel time between common destinations.
• Nothing seems to indicate the path that one would ultimately need to take to get from one DC30-area to a different DC30-area (in another venue). I suspect this would be rather time consuming to do, but I feel like it would be worthwhile. Could potentially just be free-form text, explaining the path one would take, where escalators/elevators are, etc? Not sure.

For example, if I wanted to go from ICS (Forum: Alliance 315) to Rogue's Village (Linq: Third Floor: Evolution):

1. Take the escalator or elevator at (Forum: Forum Pre-function 1) to the Skybridge.
2. On the Skybridge, navigate toward Linq.
3. At Linq, teleport to whatever BLOQ is.
4. Take the escalators (no elevator?) to the 3rd floor.
5. Travel in the direction of Social Square until you arrive.

[Delchi]

WHAMO! Thanks for the well thought out and detailed reply!

Delchi thanks for your work on this!

I have a few comments.

First the technical, regarding the PDF:

• In Firefox for MacOS, the file doesn't render correctly. The first page and the "Location & Venue Maps" pages are both mostly blank. I assume there's some kind of embed problem.
• In PDF Expert for MacOS, the file doesn't render correctly... but differently from Firefox. The content is there for the pages above, but the links you use as a contents page are blank, and the text rendering is just.... not in the ballpark of being correct.
• In Chrome for MacOS, the file seems to render perfectly. It doesn't look anything at all like how it looks in Firefox or PDF Expert.
• In Safari for iOS and iPadOS, everything seems to be visually correct, but none of the links work.
  
  The intention of the PDF was to have it used on a tablet/phone with a PDF reader. I expected there to be issues with various browsers, because there are always issues with various browsers :) I created the PFD using InDesign, and exported it as a PDF , and tested it with the Adobe PDF viewer. I have some volunteers who are testing it with browsers. I'll pass your info along and see what can be done to fix things.
  
  Also : There will be a print friendly version, that can be printed out and carried around analog style.

And now for comments regarding content. Do note that I have not experienced any of these paths in-person yet; my knowledge is exclusively based on looking at floor plans, watching walk-through videos, watching videos on YouTube of the facilities and monorail, etc. My perspective is that of someone who is *mostly* able to walk (except recurring flights of stairs), but I'm all about route optimization, in order to keep paths most efficient.

• On the "Traveling Between Venues" page, it implies that there's only one elevator (in the sky bridge between the Forum and Linq). Wouldn't someone need to traverse numerous elevators to take any of these routes?
  
  Surprisingly , no! I have walked ( well, rolled ) all of these paths. When you come out of the monorail station at the Harrah's / LINQ station you can either turn right or left. If you turn right you are at Caesars Forum. If you turn left there is a bank of escalators, and an elevator between them. You take that elevator up one floor, and you are on a walkway that ends in a T intersection. Turn left for Linq, right for Harrah's. From there you are a short walk from the casino floor. From there you can follow the posted signs to the convention areas.
• I feel like this is impossible, but I'd love to come up with some way to estimate travel time between common destinations.
  
  To be honest, that is a huge variable. I can make it in my power chair in X minutes, someone in a scooter might make it in Y minutes , a person on crutches could make it in Z minutes. Any number would be a poke in the dark, as people with disabilities are all unique.
• Nothing seems to indicate the path that one would ultimately need to take to get from one DC30-area to a different DC30-area (in another venue). I suspect this would be rather time consuming to do, but I feel like it would be worthwhile. Could potentially just be free-form text, explaining the path one would take, where escalators/elevators are, etc? Not sure.
  
  For the most part that information is there, but not put together in a step by step way. You are correct, that would be time consuming. The existing diagrams show where elevators are, and each facility has signage to show how to get to the monorail / walkways between venues. Ultimately to get from any venue to another you follow the signs to the monorail, and either make one turn to end up between the Linq, Caesars Forum or Harrah's ... or you get on the monorail and head to Flamingo. It's just that easy.
  
  If you are at the Linq : Follow the casino signage to the monorail station. On your way there you will see the entrance to Harrah's. If you don't want to go to Harrah's, turn right and walk to the elevator then to the monorail station. If you want to go to Flamingo grab the next southbound monorail. If not walk past the monorail station to Caesars Forum.
  
  If you are at Harrah's : Follow the casino signage to the monorail station. On your way there you will see the entrance to the Linq. If you don't want to go to the Linq turn left and walk to the elevator, then to the monorail station. If you want to go to the Flamingo grab the next southbound monorail. If not, walk past the monorail station to Caesars forum.
  
  If you are at the Flamingo, follow the casino signage to the monorail station. Take the next northbound monorail to the Harrah's / Linq station. When you exit the monorail station , turn right to go to Caesar's Forum, or left to the elevator, then to the T intersection and turn left for Linq, right for Harrah's.
  
  If you think that is good enough, I can put it in the pack.

For example, if I wanted to go from ICS (Forum: Alliance 315) to Rogue's Village (Linq: Third Floor: Evolution):

1. Take the escalator or elevator at (Forum: Forum Pre-function 1) to the Skybridge.
2. On the Skybridge, navigate toward Linq.
3. At Linq, teleport to whatever BLOQ is.
4. Take the escalators (no elevator?) to the 3rd floor.
5. Travel in the direction of Social Square until you arrive.

This is a known problem with the LINQ, and I am working to resolve it. This map was changed Friday , and I have not had time to go over it.


Once again, thank you for an awesome review and clearly listed issues. I'm on it!

[clebernsant]

Greetings!

You can take advantage of reserved front row seating in talks, where we will have projectors showing slides and talk information. I"ll keep this area posted of any updates / changes.

Awesome! Thanks!

[TheBeardedCat]

I'm fairly late to the party, but I'm a hacker with Celiac disease, local to Vegas. If any other hackers need to know of some safe(er) Gluten Free options around town, please feel free to reach out or direct them towards me at twitter.com/thebeardedcat. If anyone else has suggestions, direct them to me too!

[Delchi]

Great idea! Can you provide me the list so I can include it and get it out there?