Here are some of the ways we are working towards accessibility and inclusion at WordCamp Dublin 2019. If you feel we have missed anything or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at dublin@wordcamp.org.
Access to the Conference Venue
The venue, DCU, is wheelchair accessible and there are lifts in the building.
If you need particular access information, we have made some informal photographs and videos we can share with you. If you will need any additional assistance that you did not indicate on the ticket form, please let us know and we will be pleased to chat with you about what we can do to enable your fullest participation in this WordCamp.
Terrence Larkin Lecture theatre on AccessAble: https://www.accessable.co.uk/venues/terence-larkin-lecture-theatre#39ff9b80-ee44-49d7-913d-d30d83292313
Hearing Loops – we understand these are in operation in the rooms which the talks will be held, more detailed information is being obtained. Please contact us if you have a specific disability need.
We are currently seeking more information about entrances to use for the wheelchair access at The Odeon, the venue for the After Party in Dublin. We will post this as soon as it is received.
Inclusion
Working with support from other larger WordCamps and WordCamp Central, the team is keen to make the event as inclusive as possible. Early bird tickets were created to reduce any ticket cost barrier. Organisations encouraging underrepresented groups in tech were asked to share information about the event. The basic website and information about the event were announced in June to raise awareness with wider audiences, allow potential speakers to put together their applications in good time, and to encourage those who had not spoken at tech conferences previously. With the help of others in the wider WordPress and tech community, support and mentoring opportunities were made available for any prospective applicants and post-selection. Thank you to everyone who has helped promote the speaker and learning sharing opportunities, and to those who have been willing to give advice or be mentors.
It is important to us that everyone who attends WordCamp Dublin is treated equally, is respected and protected. Every person attending must, therefore, agree to abide by our Code of Conduct.
Volunteers
Inclusion and growing the local WordPress community have been a central part of the volunteer recruitment and planning of the WordCamp. With help from organisers from other larger WordCamps and the Make WordPress community, we have used guidance, tips and ideas to find roles for as many people as possible. Roles have been adjusted when situations or personal circumstances have changed, understanding that ‘life happens’. Volunteers have been encouraged to get involved in the project when they can and we will continue to signpost all the exciting opportunities locally and within the wider WordPress community.
Our Contributor Session on the morning of Sunday 20 October 2019 and opportunities for contributing throughout the event are built around a similar commitment to being part of developing and sustaining the WordPress community.
All volunteers have been given the opportunity to take part in training or been offered resources on the variety of ways they can get involved in the global open source community. Speakers have also been asked to be involved with the Contributor Session on specific tasks linked to their skills as a way of helping them discover the Contributor Teams available and be a further part of the growth of WordPress.
Speaker selection process
We have worked to make the event inclusive and welcomed applications from all parts of the Ireland and Northern Ireland communities, as well as the wider global WordPress community. With the help of local groups and advice from organisers supporting us from other Camps, we have encouraged greater applications from the local geographic area and underrepresented groups in tech.
The first part of the speaker selection process removed the name and gender from the list of applicants and marks were attributed based on the submitted title and description. The person who brought together the applications was not involved in the selection choices, but acted as a facilitator/ administrator. Voting organisers gave marks to subjects in isolation to avoid influencing each other inadvertently and to be able to encourage a wider feedback on applications. The process also followed good practice from other Camps and events, and to minimise any potential unconscious bias.
Organisers are from a variety of different backgrounds within the WordPress community, representing both professional and non-professional constituencies. The selection was then considered for balance across the topic areas, including feedback from previous camps in Dublin and Belfast and from suggestions for topics received in the run-up to this year’s event. The gender balance was reviewed. The programme was also rechecked to make sure there were opportunities to help grow the local WordPress communities and future participants. This is something WordCamp Central encourages all local camps to do to ensure there is a good split in local and international speakers.
Thank you for everyone who has helped in this process and to speakers and future potential speakers. The team would like to have fitted in even more speakers and were grateful for the number of applicants.
Access to the After-Party Venue
The Odeon Bar has a wheelchair ramp onsite which is put out based on the arrival of guests. There is also a wheelchair accessible bathroom close to the area which we reserved for this evening. We would love all of you to join us there.