Thread by @mari_ness

I've debated tweeting about this, but, it's been a few days and this is still on my mind, so.

Let's chat SFF writer's workshops, wheelchairs and belonging, shall we?

This might get long.

Last week I heard about an upcoming writer's retreat in Iceland in November hosted by Frameworks Workshop. Limited to 15 writers.

Covid aside, I knew I probably couldn't afford it, but, intrigued, I clicked on the link anyway.

Gorgeous facility. Two award winning instructors, including a multiple Hugo winner. Wine tastings. Writing time. A possible road trip. Yay!

I kept scrolling.

And - yes! Inclusive disability statement, ending with

"We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and accessible experience."

Yay!

I scrolled down more.

And felt punched in the chest:

" Úlfljótsskáli was originally built as a private home and is not ADA compliant. […]

Mobility - Úlfljótsskáli is not wheelchair accessible."

That's right:

Frameworks Workshop, an organization supposedly committed to providing an accessible experience, BOOKED A FACILITY THAT IS NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.

Not again, I thought. Not again.

#Disability #SFF #Workshops

Clarion West. Wheelchair inaccessible.

Viable Paradise. Wheelchair inaccessible.

Le Verger Speculative Fiction. Mostly wheelchair inaccessible.

Florida Writers Workshop: Somewhat but not completely wheelchair accessible.

#Disability #SFF #Writing

Oh, and my personal favorite - one of the Writing the Other workshops, purportedly focused on writing about marginalized perspectives…

...in a wheelchair inaccessible facility.

#Disability #SFF #Writing

And me, glumly staying at home.

#Disability #SFF #Writing

Now, let me be clear:

Are any of these workshops/writing retreats absolutely necessary for SFF writers?

Obviously not.

I even like to think I'm a good example of this.

#Disability #SFF #Writing

Which is a good thing, since these workshops/retreats tend to be out of reach for many people who don't use a wheelchair – largely because of financial concerns or time/family commitments.

So I'm not alone here in not being able to go.

#Disability #SFF #Writing

But still.

I also keep getting told about how fundamental/important these workshops are to the SFF community, and seeing evidence of this, and –

#Disability #SFF #Writing

I have to ask:

What does it say about us as a community when a supposedly fundamental/important part of the SFF community is not accessible to wheelchair users?

#Disability #SFF #Writing #Wheelchair

And I have to ask:

What does it say that even after YEARS of activism/discussion/accessibility pledges and so on, these workshops/retreats continue to be run in wheelchair-inaccessible locations?

#Disability #SFF #Writing

And what do the responses say?

Clarion West told me that changing locations would be difficult – and has then continued to ask me to fundraise/blog/whatever on their behalf for a workshop I can't attend.

Viable Paradise told me that they can't find a wheelchair-accessible venue for a comparative price – which I believe, because, hey, do you know where Viable Paradise meets? Martha's Vineyard!

Not exactly one of the cheaper locations on the planet.

But instead of saying, hmm, maybe we could consider other locations in Massachusetts or even the greater New England are, the response is, no, we like Martha's Vineyard, so we're staying here even though this means excluding wheelchair users.

Now, yes, I'm at a point in my career where Clarion West and Viable Paradise would probably not be all that helpful.

But the advanced workshops/retreats might well be.

And I'm betting that there's more than one up and coming writer who uses a wheelchair who could benefit from these early career, wheelchair inaccessible workshops.

#Disability #SFF #Writing

And it's just a frustrating and often painful message to hear.

Especially since the wheelchair accessibility issues in SFF aren't limited to the SFF workshops/retreats.

It makes me feel that I don't really belong.

#Disability #SFF

Not incidentally, my stomach is in knots right now. I do not enjoy doing these sorts of callouts. I am beyond, beyond, beyond tired of them. Beyond.

I KNOW that although most people will be openly supportive on Twitter and like/retweet this and so on, that by doing this, I run a very real risk of getting quiet, professional pushback and missing opportunities.

That's already happened.

I also hate that it feels like so many of my interactions with SFF involve the wheelchair, and not, well, me.

I hate that WHEELCHAIR COMPLAINTS AGAIN has become such a large part of my perceived identity.

So after all that, call out to one place that seems to be getting it right: the 3 day Cascade Writer's Workshop, July 15 – July 17, 2022.

They chose to go to a fully accessible Fairfield Inn.

Thanks, @snarkbat and @Catrambo.