AireCon 2019 Accessibility Review
AireCon 2019 Accessibility Review
What is AirecCon?
AireCon is a 3 day board game convention run by hobbyists in Yorkshire. Primarily board games, it also has an RPG area, talks, exhibitors and a bring and buy. It's grown from a weekend of gaming in someone’s living room, to 3 days in a convention centre that can hold thousands of people in just 5 years!
Atmosphere
AireCon is held in a big, open space. In the main gaming area the lights are bright but not too harsh, and the sound of people talking doesn’t echo or amplify. There is a Family Zone, at the far end of Zone 1, which can get a bit noisier than the rest of the gaming areas, because of the highly excitable children playing games (which looked like a lot of fun!)
The tables are well spaced out. When you are sat at them gaming you don’t feel crowded, and they are easy to access if you need to step away from the game, without having to ask people to move.
There is a Quiet Gaming Area where there is less background noise.
The AireCrew (people working at the venue) are very friendly, easy to approach, and happy to help. We found everyone attending was polite, and AireCon has a Code of Conduct which the AireCrew can reference if attendees are causing issues, but thankfully we found everyone attending was polite and in very good spirits. There were no sore losers to be seen!
Assistants and Service Animals
Personal Assistants can attend free of charge if proof of disability is shown at the ticket desk on arrival. They accept proof such as PIP, DLA, and AA award letters, Access Cards, and Blue Badges.
Assistance dogs are allowed in the venue, but there is no access for other pets. This means the assistance dogs are free of being disturbed by other dogs. There is plenty of room for them, and water available from Tuck Shop, but you will need to bring your own bowl. To toilet your service dog you will need to leave the Convention Centre, as they have no designated outside area.
Physical Access
The disabled toilet is up half a level, which is accessed via steps, or a wheelchair lift, which has a weight limit of 400kg. The toilet itself is gender neutral, has good lighting and plenty of room for an assistant or to manoeuvre a wheelchair. There are grab rails, and an emergency cord. There is no adult changing table or hoist.
The Bring and Buy got very busy, but as I arrived in my wheelchair, the AireCrew waited for it to empty a bit, then let me browse before they let more people in. There are full height shelves and tables to hold the games. I did find it difficult in my wheelchair to see what was on the tables, as they were very deep, but members of the AireCrew were happy to help.
There is an app which shows the games available in the Bring and Buy, as sellers have to book their games in. So if you are looking for a specific game, you can ask the AirCrew to get it for you. It might take them a while as the games weren’t in any sort of order. Other attendees were constantly taking them off the shelves and tables to have a look; Think Primark!
Deaf Access
There are no BSL interpreters available, but all announcements are done both over the speaker system, and via the mobile app FanGuru, so you don’t miss any event start times, or other information.
Accommodation
AireCon is not held in a venue that has accommodation, but there are plenty of options close by with accessible rooms.
Food and Drink
Soft drinks, alcohol, tea and coffee, snacks and meals are all available at AireCon. There are no designated low-level counters, but in a wheelchair it was easy still to get to them. The outside caterers are through a rather heavy door, so you may need someone to open it for you. Vegan, dairy free, and gluten free were all catered for.
Summary
AireCon is leading the way in making hobby-grown events accessible. I have sensory and cognitive issues, and use a wheelchair, but found attending the whole event easy and enjoyable. The AireCon team are very clued up on access needs, hidden disabilities, and are generally a jolly good bunch of people!
I give the overall accessibility of AireCon 2019 4.5 Meeples out of 5!
