PRIMER EU 19 is for everyone and each individual is valued for what they contribute to the community. “Our brain or body may work in different ways, but our ideas are equally valid.”*
OVERVIEW
Please email the Primer Conference as soon as possible so that we can collaborate about how best to provide accessibility for you throughout the PRIMER EU 19 conference and events.
VENUE
The closest access to the space is through entrance F1, which is located next to Casa del Reloj building, located in Paseo de la Chopera 10. Passing by the pedestrian entrance, follow straight ahead until the smooth pavement turns rough. At this point, turn left and keep following the smooth pavement until you notice a metal fence. Then turn right and follow the fence until it stops. You will also notice that the smooth pavement turns rough. You’ll be then at entrance F1. To make it to the main entrance, turn left, locate the smooth pavement again and leave the rough one at your right hand side. You will notice a small bump in the smooth pavement once you are located in front of the entrance. Turn left and… Welcome to PRIMER!
CHECK-IN
We want to be sure that everyone has everything they need from the very beginning of PRIMER EU 19. At the venue, there will be a designated Check-In desk with volunteers to welcome you, help answer your questions, and provide other resources and guidance as needed. In general, throughout PRIMER EU 19 please do not hesitate to ask for any assistance at the Check-In desk at any venue/event.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We know that not everyone likes having their picture taken. If you are one of those people, at Check-In please ask for a special button to pin to your name badge lanyard. We will be sure not to use photos of anyone wearing the special button in our social media feeds, communications, website, etc. We are asking all PRIMER EU 19 participants to be aware and respectful of these buttons.
NEURODIVERSITY
For people who are sensitive to stimuli or are easily over stimulated, we will provide, encourage, and support the following:
- Use of open/empty spaces within each of our venues and/or designated spaces for retreat
- Your own personal coping methods in any space throughout the Conference
- Space to unwind from/prepare for sessions, your next event, or let out physical and vocal behaviors which you may not feel comfortable expressing publicly (visit Check-In for venue specific location)
- Familiarization sessions between 15-45 minutes prior to the arrival of the Conference crowd (explore the space, have a tour, ask questions, etc). Please let us know in advance if you’re planning to come early for this purpose so we are prepared for your early arrival (primerconferenceeu@gmail.com)
BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Our schedule is available in large print on the PRIMER EU 19 website as well as via a .pdf for physical printing/enlargement. We are asking speakers to consider providing their sessions in large print or in digital formats which are possible to be screen-read. We are striving to improve the accessibility of our website and are working towards making more information compatible with screen readers. Your feedback is incredibly valuable if you have any comments or suggestions.
DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED
In PRIMER EU 19 all keynotes will be in English and automatically subtitled into Spanish. If you need assistance in any other language, please email the Primer Conference as soon as possible so that we can consider other alternatives to assist you.
During the all PRIMER EU 19, please let the designated volunteer in each location know how to best welcome and include you. If you lip read, please let us know so that we provide you with the best seating and can have speakers face you when delivering their presentation. During workshops, please don’t be afraid to ask anyone to repeat information. We are looking into future options of providing close caption as well as sign interpreters, but are still learning and welcome any ideas about how to best implement this.
DYSLEXIA
Our schedule will be available before the event in both a digital version via the website as well as a .pdf to help you plan which sessions you wish to attend. Key information about the Conference will be shared and real-time updated via our PRIMER EU 19 Slack Channel (to which all conference attendees are invited). The Masters of Ceremony in each venue will provide verbal announcements at the beginning and/or end of sessions regarding these updates.
We are reminding workshop facilitators that not everyone will want to read out loud/share their notes and that this will not be required from any participants. If you wish to record audio or video during workshops, rather than taking notes, email the Primer Conference as soon as possible to determine how we can best provide you accessibility to content.
WHEELCHAIR AND MOBILITY SCOOTER USERS
Like PRIMER EU 19, the main venue, the Casa del Lector in Matadero Madrid, strives to be accessible to all audiences. The main floor of the venue (which includes the Lobby, Auditorium, and public restrooms) is fully accessible to anyone with reduced mobility.
SIDEKICKS / PERSONAL ASSISTANTS /
ASSISTANCE DOGS
Peanut butter & Jelly, Han Solo & Chewbacca, Pen & Paper. Just like these great pairs, if you have a sidekick and need to bring yours, we will provide a free assistant’s ticket with your paid one. Human or canine, be it for medical, physical or psychological reasons, if they are needed so you can be here, they’re welcome, too. Contact us Primer Conference so we can be sure to expect you both.
TOILETS
Anyone of any gender identity/expression can use whichever restroom with which they are most comfortable. There is one within the venue, but also many more in buildings nearby so, please, take a look to our map to find other alternatives.
OTHER NEEDS?
PRIMER EU 19 is the new-kid-on-the-conference-block but making PRIMER and Speculative Design Meetups more accessible is an active, ongoing process. We welcome your suggestions and ideas and would like to learn from your experiences. Please contact us for more information, or to ask for support email the Primer Conference
*Giving credit where credit is due: These guidelines have been modeled in part or in whole from MOZFEST (https://medium.com/mozilla-festival/accessibility-at-mozfest-606c3ad20c04). We are grateful for and inspired by their work to provide accessibility to all persons. The Design Futures Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit which produces the Speculative Futures Meetups and the PRIMER Conference, is continually striving to improve our means by which we include and provide access to all individuals.
