Accessibility

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We are clear about our access limitations.

As realists, we recognize that it isn’t always possible to meet every person’s access needs at the same time. Occasionally, we’ll encounter conflicting access needs, or the nature of an Event makes it inherently inaccessible to some people (for example, a live music Event will usually be inaccessible to someone who can’t handle amplified noise). In these cases, we are always clear about access limitations in the Event description.

Some examples of advisories may include:

• “Attendees may want to bring earplugs for amplified noise.” (Or, better yet, “Earplugs provided!”)

• “This Event includes visual performances but does not feature Audio Descriptions for Blind and Visually Impaired attendees.”

• “Wheelchair-accessible parking spaces are limited, so please contact the Host in advance to make arrangements.”
  

Rather than glossing over the gaps in our accessibility protocols, we highlight them so that Members can make informed decisions about whether a given Event or Gathering is accessible to them.

Baseline Access Requirements for In-Person Events & Gatherings

In-person Events and Gatherings must incorporate all of the following accessibility accommodations, at minimum. 

Hosts are welcome to add even more accommodations and/or to restrict attendance based on a higher level of infectious disease precautions. For example, someone could Host an Event that’s exclusively for Members who never go to any unmasked private events and never eat at restaurants, so people can meet other Members who share their higher level of precaution.

We require masks for everyone throughout the entire event space.

The masks must be KN95s, N95s, or better. The Host must provide at least half as many masks as there are attendees, under the assumption that most members will arrive in their own masks in accordance with our membership requirements. Hosts can apply for funds to supply the masks when they submit their Proposal to the Quarterly Forum. Hosts are also encouraged to tap into local resources, like Mask Blocs.

If someone is truly unable to mask due to a health reason (not discomfort or annoyance), they may be unmasked. It’s all the more important that everyone else wear a mask to keep that member safe.

We require the best possible air quality.

Outdoor venues are preferred (as long as they’re otherwise accessible) due to the reduced risk of airborne infectious disease spreading. 

Indoor venues must be running at least as many HEPA air purifiers as the manufacturers recommend for that size space, or the equivalent in central air filtration. Hosts can reach out to local Clean Air Clubs and Mask Blocs who may be able to loan out air purifiers.

Both indoors and outdoors, Hosts are encouraged to run portable fans to keep the air moving, particularly if there’s limited space for social distancing.

There must be a designated area for medically-necessary unmasking.

Humans need to eat, drink water, take meds, etc. at various times throughout the day. To accommodate this safely, the venue must have one of the following:

• A private outdoor area (with no venue staff or guests from other events), ideally running a fan to facilitate air flow.

• A private, enclosed room (with no venue staff or guests from other events), ideally running twice as many HEPA filters as the manufacturers recommend for that size space, or the equivalent in central air filtration.

Only one person may unmask in the designated area at a time. The designated area must have at least one chair large enough to accommodate fat bodies comfortably and rated for at least 400lbs, without armrests. There must also be at least one chair just outside of the designated area, for members who are waiting their turn. 

While we recognize some Members might need to consume cannabis during events, we refrain from smoking in the unmasking area. Vaping is allowed, so long as we exhale into a “sploof,” like the Smoke Trap+ or Smoke Hunter, to minimize the irritants we’re releasing into the air. If an attendee must smoke, they must do so outside of the Event space.

Hosts are asked to supply disposable water bottles or cups and access to a safe tap for water.

All attendees who plan to unmask must isolate and try to test for COVID and flu.

If the unmasking area is indoors, everyone who expects to use that space during the Event must isolate and test ahead of the Event (to the best extent possible).

If the unmasking area is indoors, everyone who expects to use that space during the Event must isolate and test ahead of the Event (to the best extent possible).

The following isolation and testing precautions are mandatory for members who need to unmask during the Event. All other attendees are encouraged to isolate and test.

Isolation

We isolate ourselves from others for at least four full days prior to attending an in-person event. It’s fine to self-isolate along with one or two loved ones, as long as none of them comes into contact with others during those four days. 

If someone can’t isolate because they have roommates or need to work in-person, give care to a loved one, or interact with people for another reason, we ask them to implement two-way N95 masking. If other parties won’t comply with two-way masking, we ask those members to at minimum wear their own N95 whenever they are sharing air with anyone else during those four days. Our goals are harm reduction, not perfection, and to maximize accessibility while minimizing risk.

Testing

Testing is incredibly important for preventing the spread of infectious disease. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult for most of our members to access reliable tests. 

PCRs, the gold standard test, are the best at picking up infections, even before symptom onset. PCRs were free to all Americans during the Public Health Emergency, but are now difficult to access and rarely covered by insurance. Therefore, we can’t require PCRs.

Home molecular tests like Metrix and Lucira are almost as accurate and reliable as PCRs, but they’re prohibitively expensive, so we can’t require them, either. However, we encourage Hosts to connect with local Mask Blocs and Clean Air Clubs that might have molecular testing machines to rent or borrow for Events.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are by now very familiar to most COVID-conscious people. They are the cheapest and most readily available option in the US. Unfortunately, we have no idea how effective they are at picking up infections with the latest variants. Estimates place them as anywhere from 25%-65% effective, meaning that RATs may give false negatives up to 75% of the time. Therefore, we’d need to take four RATs to be sure that a negative test result is accurate. This, again, becomes prohibitively expensive, so we can’t require RATs, either. However, we encourage Hosts to connect with local Mask Blocs and Clean Air Clubs that might have RATs to give out.

The best we can require, until reliable COVID and flu testing becomes more accessible, is to ask people who need to unmask during an event to take the most effective test(s) they can access (if any), within 48 hours of the event.

The lack of accessible testing options heightens the importance of self-isolating before in-person Events for any member who will need to unmask during the Event.

Performers may unmask in certain circumstances.

For events that feature performances, some performers may unmask, given the following criteria:

• The performance must require the use of the nose and mouth, such as singing.
  • Someone playing a string instrument, for example, can wear a mask without taking anything away from their performance.

• The performers must mask for 100% of the time that they’re not on stage or backstage fixing their makeup.
• The performers must isolate and test ahead of the event, according to the above protocol. If a performer cannot isolate for at least 4 days prior to the Event, then they cannot safely perform at that Event.

We limit attendance based on venue capacity.

This is to address both infectious disease safety and the risk of overstimulation for our sensory-sensitive members. There is no perfect formula for calculating attendance capacity, but a good rule of thumb is to ask the venue for their maximum capacity and subtract 25%. 

Attendance is further limited by bathroom stalls. There should be at least one all-gender stall per every 15 attendees. Ideally, there should be one accessible stall per every 15 attendees, but the reality is that most buildings are not built with access in mind.

Venues must be 100% wheelchair accessible.

That means there are functioning elevators (if applicable), wide hallways, and accessible bathroom stalls at a close distance to the main Event space. There must be zero required stairs to enter and navigate the venue. Hosts may install temporary or portable ramps for building access, if a venue is otherwise inaccessible and if the venue consents.

Venues must be clean, temperature-controlled, and fragrance-free.

Many of our members are medically vulnerable and/or experience psychological distress in unsanitary environments. Bathrooms must be clean and fragrance-free with accessible, functioning sinks and fragrance-free hand soap. 

There must be no plug-in scents or air fresheners used in the space prior to and during the Event. 
Attendees should avoid wearing scented detergent, soap, and fragrances.

Indoor venues’ climates should be controlled at a temperature of about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

There must be fat-friendly seating options, placed at least every 40 feet.

Hosts must supply at least one seat (with a backrest) per expected attendee. At least one-third of the seats must be large enough to accommodate fat bodies comfortably and rated for at least 400lbs, without armrests. 

In large venues where attendees are expected to do a lot of walking (such as a vendors market), there must be at least two seats every 40 feet for attendees to rest on.

We limit loud music and bright lights.

Many of our members experience sensory sensitivities that prevent them from attending events with big crowds, loud noises, and bright or flashing lights. We disallow all strobe lights and other flashing lights. Ideally, we choose venues without harsh fluorescent lighting. 

Unless music is a central component of the Event, we either play quiet, instrumental music in the background (60 decibels or less), or none at all. If any attendee requests that the music be turned down or off, we comply. If amplified noise is a central component of the event, we aim to keep it below 85 decibels.

The ideal venue has dim lighting (but not so dim as to restrict vision), minimal background noise, and dry acoustics.

We do not currently require live interpretation or audio description.

Because DT4T’s only official language is English, live interpretation is only required if the Event or Gathering is primarily taking place in a different language from English. As we grow and add more official languages, this will evolve.

As our resources grow, we hope Blind and Visually Impaired Members will lead efforts to establish guidelines around including Audio Description for performances.

We always provide nametags.

Nametags are an easy way to make meeting new people a little bit less stressful. We also have a number of Members with face blindness who rely on nametags, even with people we’ve met before. For large events, Hosts may want to have someone designated near the entrance to support with writing out name tags.

We advertise accurate timing.

Our Members need to be able to plan out our energy, so it’s important that all Events and Gatherings start and end on time. We also transparently advertise the breakdown of how the time will be spent.

We provide instructions verbally and in writing.

For any activity requiring participation, we provide instructions in at least two ways. Bonus points for using clear images and diagrams rather than text!

We sometimes record events.

If it’s a presentation or workshop, it’s okay to record, as long as all attendees are notified in advance. If it’s a group conversation or social event, we do not record. In this case, safety and privacy come before access.

Baseline Access Requirements for Virtual Events & Gatherings, Quarterly Forums, and Video Conferences

Virtual Events and Gatherings must incorporate all of the following accessibility accommodations, at minimum. Hosts are welcome to add even more accommodations.

We use these same guidelines for all Virtual happenings, including Quarterly Forums and administrative meetings.

We advertise accurate timing.

Our Members need to be able to plan out our energy, so it’s important that all Events and Gatherings start and end on time. We also transparently advertise the breakdown of how the time will be spent.

We do not currently require live interpretation or audio description.

Because DT4T’s only official language is English, live interpretation is only required if the Event or Gathering is primarily taking place in a different language from English. As we grow and add more official languages, this will evolve.

As our resources grow, we hope Blind and Visually Impaired Members will lead efforts to establish guidelines around including Audio Description for performances.

We use automated closed captioning.

Our video conferencing software has automated closed captions, which attendees can turn on at will.

We recap key information in the chat.

Whenever an important point is made verbally, the Host is responsible for recapping that information in the chat so no one misses it. If Hosts know how the Event or Gathering will play out, we can draft our information recaps in advance and copy-paste them into the chat at the appropriate times.

We read the chat out loud.

Any time someone types a message in the chat, someone who’s speaking reads it out loud so it’s part of the group conversation.

We ensure that it is easy to participate flexibly.

Activities should be inclusive of Members who:

• need to keep their camera or mic off

• can only use the chat

• cannot use the chat

• cannot hear the audio

• need to come and go throughout the activity

• cannot physically move from where they’re using the computer

• or just want to observe!

We provide instructions verbally and in writing.

For any activity requiring participation, we provide instructions in at least two ways. Bonus points for using clear images and diagrams rather than text!

We sometimes record events.

If it’s a presentation or workshop, it’s okay to record, as long as all attendees are notified in advance. If it’s a group conversation or social event, we do not record. In this case, safety comes before access.

We do record Quarterly Forums and make the recordings and their transcripts available to the entire DT4T Community.

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