Thanks to Nicollette Davis for her post on the WOC + Lib blog this week, “This Conference Could Have Been an Email: Counterstories, Accessibility, and Accomplices.” Reflecting on a return to conferences, Davis recounts a story from high school about the problems her mother faced finding an accessible entrance to an event in a high school theater. She then puts a fine point on the value of information that folks with disabilities need to plan their visits, including conferences:

When you register for the conference, you’re asked if you need accommodations such as a mobility scooter or a quiet space. However, there’s a lack of maps and information about travel, parking, distance, braille signage, etc. These are things that disabled folks have to consider well ahead of time. I heard from some attendees how uncomfortable they felt after having to navigate a new space with little insight.

Thinking today about my blog post two days ago where I mused about the value of mapping services in libraries, I realize the value of these maps is greater than I had previously imagined.