For those outside the United States of America, we have a law to make it so that those with disabilities can have better access and live better lives. It is called the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and it is generally considered "a good thing." However, some people will abuse it, and this describes one such situation.

Carole Parker
At a U.S. convention, a problem came up that I believe that people need to be aware of. It concerned the front of the house, and I do not know if the masquerade director ever found out about it.

As most conventions do, accommodations were made for people with disabilities. Not only because the ADA requires it, but because we want people to have a good time.

A wheelchair activist wanted to sit in the aisle - where the fire marshall could close down the masquerade because of unsafe conditions. This person (male, I think) was offered seating near the stage out of the aisle. People offered to move chairs, and otherwise bent over backwards to accomodate this individual.

Nothing would do for this individual except for sitting in the aisle.

I believe that the upshot was that this person was removed from the hall. I am uncertain of this, but I believe this is what happened. Of course, the person raised a stink with the con chair. The con chair, according to my source, would not listen to any explanation of what happened from the crew and chose to believe this wheelchair activist.

Something that future conventions - especially U.S.A. - may want to have in their published documents is something along the lines of (going through the convention lawyer, of course):

ConventionName makes every effort to accommodate people under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA provides that "reasonable accomodations" be made. However, "reasonable accommodations" do not include blocking aisles, so that the danger to other people is increased, and the fire marshall can close down the event.

If someone in a wheelchair blocks an aisle and refuses to move to a safer location, that person will be removed from the event in question, or can have their convention badge confiscated and be expelled from the convention.

Toni Lay
Carole, you are quite correct. Safety issues override ADA issues. The con chair was wrong to side with the wheelchair activist. As long as that person was offered a safe place from which to view the masquerade, the house crew was correct to remove the wheelchair from the aisle. The power of the Fire Marshall is unbelieveably strong. If he/she perceives any possible dangerous situation in a large gathering, he/she will close the event unless the dangerous situation is corrected to his/her satisfaction.

I think a warning such as you suggested would be a smart thing to do. That way, everyone knows the score.

From the Front of House
Further information from the person who had to deal with the original problem.

The person in the wheel chair was not ejected from the event. I don`t remember if he and his friends stayed for the show or not. When the show started, he was not in the same place and no one notified me that he was blocking the way anywhere else.

As far as I know, the masquerade director was never informed of the problem. The con chair never talked to anyone on the masquerade staff except for me. Some con chairs seem to feel that the masquerade staff should accomodate the attendees, somehow, no matter what.

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