# Disability unconferencing recommendations to 2024 RSECon committee

Summarising: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OGJZ1_w3PgmdCMILqsGI-cGtjzuqHbWBTpNjDSkOX2c/

## What worked well:

Coffee breaks & session timing: 
  * having well distributed sessions with breaks in-between was very helpful to allow recovery time
  * Workshops on the Wednesday broke up the conference

Posters: 
  * Positioning these next to the queue for coffee was a stroke of genius.
  * Gaps between the posters were wide enough not to cause overcrowding

Covid precautions:
  * Social-distancing stickers and wearing of masks were generally respected by attendees
  * Clear messaging from organisers on this was great



## What could be improved: disability accommodations that could be made

Posters:
  * Compile abstracts into a PDF programme to distribute beforehand. Could improve accessibility of the posters for those with visual impairments and various forms of neurodiversity. Possibly link to hosted poster PDFs too?
  * Advertise periods when poster room is likely to be quiet
  * Have a Slido room for poster questions and make presenters aware of this, facilitating poster questions for those who struggle with face-to-face interaction


Quiet room:
  * Improve signage and info on what the quiet room is actually for (i.e., it is a space to go if you need a quiet environment, not a space where you can go to take a video call).
  * Some enforcement may be required: can volunteers check in on the room from time to time?

Food
  * Vegetarian food as a default could be considered
  * A standard society checklist to go through with the catering provider might prevent the issues encountered at Swansea?

Social events
  * Holding the event closer to the accommodation would allow people to leave when they want, as opposed to having to wait for a bus
  * Would be good to have informal (self-organised) backups for those not attending main social events
  	- Some starting-off points for self-organisation could be provided
  	- Covid-safe spaces, e.g. outside
  * Background noise can be an issue (Bunkers was particularly challenging for some attendees, BBQ was much better)

Networking:
  * More organised support to connect / network: some suggestions included:
    - Opt-in networking sessions where pairs (or groups of up to 4) are assigned and rotate after some time
    - Facilitate discussion in these using a set of seed questions. Particiapants can use these or take their discussions off-piste
    - Include non-work questions as talking about work can be harder for early career folk.
    - Make this session hybrid.
  * Accommodations for neurodiverse attendees will also help early-career folks

Hybrid events:
  * Could online attendees be better included in discussion?
    - Providing ability to make unconferencing events hybrid too

Lanyards/badges:
  * Print name in larger print on both sides: the badges rotate!
  * Maybe a shorter lanyard? 
  * Can help those with difficulty recognising faces (prosopagnosia, known as "face blindness")
  * EDI Working Group organised ribbon making, some participants used this to make their invisible disability visible
    - Perhaps we could provide badges (e.g. "I can be sensitive to certain sounds")

Code-of-conduct:
  * Some concerns raised that the current reporting model has a high barrier to reporting
    - Could there be a nominated member of the committee to bring CoC concerns to?