WisCon 37: Who I Am, Where I'll Be.

If you have pre-con questions, ask them now & here. If the answers are intriguing we can follow up in person. Or if not, not.

Recognizing me

I'm another fat white woman with short pepper-and-salt brown hair and strong purple glasses. Probably the first thing you'll notice is the power wheelchair, red bag on the back. (There are quite a few wheelchair users at WisCon: I'm not any of them.) Look for the badge on my hat.

Better Interaction Tips

• Please get to my eye level if we're speaking for more than two sentences, cause I can't tilt my head back.


• Look me in the eyes so I can read your speech.


• No hugs, in fact, no hands on the body except ...


• I love holding hands!


• I cannot multitask at all. If you need to interrupt me, write it down and put it in my lap OR get the other person to stop talking first.


• Asthma is a thing for me. I may scoot away fast if you have scents, fragrances, smoke, pollen, solvents, or other smells. It's not personal. Yes, I'd much prefer human stinky sweatiness to any deodorant.

A Bit About Me

• I'm local to Madison and familiar with the area.


• I never turn down an opportunity to sing, and will happily join in with you (if it's old enough I may even remember the words)


• I've been on the Concom for a while, and would be happy to talk about volunteering.


• I always have food on me you're having a blood-sugar crash


• I love assistive technology and will talk about it for ever.


• I'm willing to discuss wheelchairs in some detail if you're interested for yourself.


• I'm in the hotel! Use the 2nd Floor Paper Message Board right by C1 (it works). Or text me directly via the number in my profile.

SCHEDULE

Starting 15 May I will be printing things, designing things, scribbling things. May be super anxious, may welcome distractions.

Thursday 2:00 - 9:00
Welcoming GoH Joan Slonczewski into the con

Friday 9:00 - 10:15
I'm not your metaphor: explaining oppressions with analogies
I believe analogies and metaphors can be powerful tools for good as well as damaging instruments of oppression. And that's just me: I'm looking forward to the range of opinions of the four other panelists.

Saturday 10:30 - 11:45
Taking our slurs back
Last year I pushed the envelope with a 9pm panel. Now I'm going for broke! Coffee may be involved. There are some common slurs that make my skin crawl, but are OK with other panelists. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT (I doubt it.)

Sunday 1:00 - 2:15
A Very Special Disability Panel
Inspired by the successful, hilarious "Not another &^%$ Race Panel" (and its descendants) I hope that this panel of "same old faces" is perceived in a new light.

Monday 9:00 - 3:00
Escorting Joan Slonczewski back to Her Way Home.