Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 23:25:59 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Handicapped access at Silver Spring Hilton
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

>> kfl at KeithLynch.net 11/18/02 11:04PM
>Since I was in Silver Spring on Saturday afternoon, I dropped by the
>Hilton to refresh my memory as to its layout, especially as it applies
>to handicapped access.
>
>I was puzzled by complaints, since I recalled that, while the ground
>floor was split-level, each level had its own elevator bank.  Someone
>in a wheelchair could go up one elevator, over to the other bank, and
>down to the other half of the ground floor.  Or so I thought.
>
>Now I see the problem.  The ground floor is actually *three* levels.
>The lowest, featuring hotel registration, has one elevator bank.  The
>highest, with the Council and Quorum rooms, has the other.  But the
>middle section, with the Assembly room, only has one elevator, and it
>requires a key.
>
>If we return to that hotel next year, we might want to get one key for
>each wheelchair user as part of the contract.  Alternatively, we could
>avoid getting the Assembly room as one of our rooms.

In the best of all possible worlds, atleast in regards to this hotel, it =
would be useful to have a much of the convention within a less diffuse =
area.

In addition to the problems regarding handicap access, one should note =
that William Tenn is no spring chicken and to have him go from one end =
ofthe hotel to the other is asking a bit much of him.  Those who are =
severely able-bodied should not be bothered by the hike.

There are financial costs involved in keeping more of the con on the =
second floor.  Numbers need to be obtained and crunched.

mjw