I find issues with this article. A "best practice" is only practical when possible!
The article is geared more towards the WisCon type conference, and needs to recognize other types of conferences as well.
- Blue tape may not be used in all venues. At the Greater Columbus Convention Center, for example, blue painter's tape is expressly forbidden on walls and its use will gain you a fine. Please consider modifying language to suggest this and point out that everyone should work with their particular venue. (amusingly, balloons, latex or otherwise, are banned as well.)
- ASL interpretation is touchy. At least in Ohio, professional ASL interpreters are not allowed to volunteer their time (no, I am not making this up).
- The idea that "paying for an interpreter is better than asking for volunteers because it fits the model of disability vs. charity model" -- I dont' know where to begin. I work with a 501c3 non-profit organization. Every single person involved is a volunteer. We only pay when there is no other way of doing things. We have had ASL interpreters tell us that they would volunteer to work our conference if they could find a way to do it. Additionally, if everyone else is a volunteer, why is it a "charity model" to ask someone to assist with a disabled situation to volunteer?
I think the point I'm trying to make is, there's nothing wrong with asking for disability-related assistance to be volunteers just like everyone else. If the assistance requires monitary compensation it should be (in my opinion) granted, if it is possible. We have volunteers at our event willing to help with disabled people, which is not done because of any "charity" but because that's what volunteers do -- help! Nobody thinks, "poor {disability} person, we have to help him!" We think, "We have an attendee who can use assistance to have a better experience at the conference."