[OSList] Accessibility concerns about bending down to pick up paper/pens
Koos de Heer via OSList
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Fri Aug 19 09:10:59 PDT 2016
As far as I can remember, it has never been a problem. Surely folks have complained, but I am with Harrison on this one: the ones to complain in my experience were not the ones with serious disabilities, merely people suffering from indignation: “Are you really asking ME to bend down to the FLOOR?” I am afraid that I have a disability here myself: I find it very difficult to make space or to organize for this. The people who had arthritis or a short skirt (or even a wheelchair) always found a solution quickly.
I feel that the more I try to organize, the more I am in the way of the self organizing of the group. Of course I need to provide conditions, but there is a balance between providing conditions and pampering. Pampering is not a good condition for self organization. I try to tell myself that the people who are invited are incredibly welcome and incredibly powerful. That includes finding solutions for practical problems. If I try to predict and organize for every possible problem, I work way too hard and I don’t trust the folks in the room.
I once had a deaf person attending. She contacted us beforehand, announced that she would bring her own sign language interpreter and asked us to help make this possible. So we made sure they could both sit in such a way that the interpreting would work well.
A co-worker once organized an Open Space event where a number of police and government hot shots would attend. The organizing committee (including my coworker) decided to put tables in the middle because they felt it was impossible to ask these high ranked officials to bend over or sit on the floor. I thought it looked awful and I did not like the energy in the circle.
A year or so later, I had two Open Space events for that same police and some other organizations, again including a number of stripes and stars. I did not do any tables, just everything on the floor, and nobody complained. Everybody took part and everybody loved the energy and creativity of the group.
Koos
Van: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] Namens Chris Corrigan via OSList
Verzonden: vrijdag 19 augustus 2016 17:18
Aan: Birgitt Williams <birgitt at dalarinternational.com>; World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
Onderwerp: Re: [OSList] Accessibility concerns about bending down to pick up paper/pens
I often share the principle of "ask for what you need and offer what you can" with the idea that we should ensure that everyone who wishes to participate can do so. And that includes providing tranlastion for those that need it.
Bottom line is to be as hospitable as you can and then encourage the group to look after each other.
___________
CHRIS CORRIGAN
www.chriscorrigan.com <http://www.chriscorrigan.com>
On Aug 19, 2016, at 7:38 AM, Birgitt Williams via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> > wrote:
Hi all,
I am choosing to answer a question that was not asked. The question is 'what is needed in our OST meetings to ensure that people who have disabilities of any sort can feel welcomed and included?'. Having worked with people with lots of different abilities and what are commonly referred to as disabilities...both obvious and invisible, there are some things our clients have recommended. Some of them are basic good manners of welcome as we would include in our homes.
1. For visually impaired, do not have markers/pens rolling around on the floor either in the middle or at the agenda wall...use some sort of container and explain to people why. For the blind, having a partner to assist throughout the process is helpful....it is amazing how much of an OST meeting depends on being able to see. For the deaf, arrange for people to sign...not just in the main room but in the breakout space....and if signing is no longer the best option with our advanced technology, do something that is current and helpful.
2. For seniors and those taking medications who have difficulty seeing a typical printed report...have reports on flip chart paper with big print OR if printed on a computer, use 18 point or greater font...and double space.
3. For the 10% of the population who gets headaches and other symptoms from scents/chemicals, use unscented markers/pens and in the invitation ask people to refrain from wearing any products with fragrances. Check the venue including restrooms/toilet areas to ensure no air fresheners are in use. If the venue uses pesticides, arrange with them ahead of time to refrain from spraying on day of meeting.
4.For those with joints that don't bend so well, provide some kind of tables with markers/pens....maybe at the side...so that they can maintain as much independence as possible in getting the topics up.
5. For those who have various allergies/intolerances/cultural needs with food, take care with beverages and food so that people are not being left out by the limited usually carbohydrate choices.
I am not sure if I have remembered everything and would appreciate anything you all have figured out to add. While I respect that we create the conditions for self managing, a more equal playing field from the start that is welcoming to all is kind...and we can do with a little more kindness in this world.
Blessings all,
Birgitt
On Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 10:11 AM Michael M Pannwitz via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> > wrote:
I have seen people reject such help from others, especially with
considerable verve from folks that one might consider differentially
abled. One thing I have never seen is someone writing a thought for
someone else.
What happens regularly with younger children is that they will huddle
and discuss an issue that they want to put on the paper.
Considering the attempt to expand time and space for the force of
selforganistion to show up in an OST event more clearly accompanied with
some manifestation of selforganisation being the mode for participants I
wonder what the least controlling, least prescreptive... mode might be
for facilitation.
Regarding the offering of issues I tell people very shortly after I have
started my introduciton what I will invite them to later on... and I
actually go through all the steps (walking to the center, getting on the
floor, jotting down an issue, announcing it to the group, walking up to
the bulletin board and posting it)... and then continue with my
introduction. At the point of inviting for issues I have reduced my
words to almost zero but I do make an inviting gesture towards the center...
Greetings from Berlin
mmp
On 19.08.2016 15:28, MK Vidrine via OSList wrote:
> I wonder if there would be any difference in results between inviting
> people to ask their neighbors to help, and inviting people to offer help
> to their neighbors? I'm imagining something like, "When you grab a piece
> of paper, you could also get one for someone else nearby. After you
> write down what you've got in mind, see if you can write down a thought
> for a neighbor also- let's get as many written as we can."
>
> -MK
>
> On Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 5:13 AM, Jennifer Hurley via OSList
> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> >>
> wrote:
>
> I often say something in the opening like "if it's difficult for you
> to bend over or you think your handwriting is too bad, ask one of
> your neighbors to help." This also gives an easy out to anyone who
> may be illiterate. I think it also fosters a sense of camaraderie.
> But it doesn't make it 100% as easy for someone with physical or
> literacy problems to participate, so it may not be the best answer.
> I really resist tables inside the circle, though. I've had to do
> several events that way, and there is definitely a negative impact
> on the energy in the room.
>
> Jennifer Hurley
> Hurley-Franks & Associates
> 267-971-4598 <tel:267-971-4598>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 19, 2016, at 12:27 AM, Harold Shinsato via OSList
> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> >> wrote:
>
>> In the many OST's I've participated in or helped open myself, I've
>> encountered this complaint about having to bend over to pick up
>> the pens and the papers in only two instances. Both of which were
>> Universities. In both cases, the leading edge of the complaint
>> seemed to have to do with women's dresses, but I also heard
>> something about being "able" prejudiced.
>>
>> The first University chose to put some tables outside the circle
>> with some papers and markers. The second one is thinking they will
>> wheel in a table after the opening into the center, which seems
>> energetically disruptive.
>>
>> Have others encountered this? How did you deal with it?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Harold
>>
>> --
>> Harold Shinsato
>> harold at shinsato.com <mailto:harold at shinsato.com> <mailto:harold at shinsato.com <mailto:harold at shinsato.com> >
>> http://shinsato.com
>> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
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--
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++49 - 30-772 8000
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