I'm famous (and more important, I'm apparently kind of effective)

[sabotabby]

It seems that my little rant about the accessibility fail at the AGO has garnered some attention. It was apparently discussed at a conference (that I'd heard about through other means, and wanted to attend because it looked amazing) and then mentioned in the Ottawa Citizen!

"I'm so thankful that they put that out into the world, and that they put it in writing," said Syrus Marcus Ware, the program co-ordinator for youth at AGO.

She [sic] said the gallery has gone through a massive re-thinking of its existence, beginning as the new design was being planned, and has poured its efforts into trying to serve a wider population. This includes free nights for people who can't afford to pay admission, and better access for disabled visitors.

But she [sic] said there are always staff who feel defensive and resist change. The outside criticism, she [sic] said, "gave us a great push."

You guys. You guys. They are actually doing something about this, maybe. Words effecting concrete change that makes people's lives better and such.

Thanks a million to writer_grrrrl for passing said post around to the right people and for sending me the article.

EDIT: It is a lot dismaying to have learned that the article on accessibility!fail committed gender!fail. We have such a long way to go.