Disability in Costuming - How to Make Costuming Accessible

[@Kladestillverkning]

Thank you so much for this panel, as a person with hEDS and use a electric wheelchair this means a lot. Have shared this video in my local SCA groups.

[@SewBiased]

Thank you so much! Nice to see so many zebras in the comments!

[@karinbaird2499]

Hej Alfhild😁 Hälsningar från Stockholm från en Anna zebra 🦓

[@karinbaird2499]

I really appreciate that this panel is texted and discussed wheelchair users and neurodiversity needs. Thank you for being so inclusive this year🙏🏼❤️🌷👍🏼

[@SewBiased]

We tried our best!

[@karinbaird2499]

@@SewBiased You all did an excellent job❤️ I am a deaf zebra 🦓 with fibromyalgia and an electric wheelchair so I felt right at home and could enjoy the insights and inspiration of the lovely panelist👍🏼

[@bcase5328]

About timepoint 1:18, Thank you.

[@ApprenticeWriter]

Hey, thank you so much for including the auto-captioning in the video itself- the stuff Google does is SO much more accurate than what youtube does, and it's just easier on the brain.

[@Spooky-Doodles]

When you bring up dickens fair and I just want to cry because I love dickens but I have never felt safe enough to work/ participate there beyond visiting as a guest. And Evan that is challenging. (I’m an artist / events vender/ costume events lover)

[@SewBiased]

I'm so sorry. I hope you find a group that is inclusive and amazing!

[@margaritagerman]

The algorithm made this pop up. I have lived with scoliosis (s shaped back. 2 curves, severely mangled lumbar region and distorted neck) so pain has always been part of my life. Add 2 pregnancies and decades of life, now 57, so I am no longer able to stand for more than a minute or 2 at a time. I am officially disabled and on disability. With the worsening condition came more sedentary life and more weight gain. I was attracted to recency era clothes because they are pretty and I think I look less like a potatoes sack. I am finding all of these different channels very interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@SewBiased]

I'm so glad you liked it, and feel free to ask if you need any assistance finding adaptive tools or methods!

[@camib2864]

This is so amazing on several levels. I have a laundry list of issues and this had been so helpful to see that I am not alone.

[@SewBiased]

You're definitely not alone!

[@roxannlegg750]

Ive cried thru most of this video...I relate to all of you so much. I wish SO much ppl would talk about their disabilities and struggles more. Ive lived with severe pain sicnce childhood and 40 plus years later, and i just am getting worse. Spinal pain, muscular-skeletal abnormalities, severe foot pain, extreme fatigue as I have intractable anaemia, so Im permanently exhausted, and i cant manage my weight despite a back ground in Nutritional medicine and now a medical science degree. I get cluster headaches, AND migraines, fibro, an auto-immune disease or two..and the list continues. Even with pain meds - a day out in costumes leaves me in bed for a week after. My hubbie is a champion. But without my costuming I wouldnt survive. I wish ppl understood howmuch my "amazing" costume results actually cost me physically. When your pain is spinal and feet esp - they dont get that so much of your time is standing at the table or bench drafting, or cutting out...yu cant just do it well sitting down esp if making big pieces. All my non sewing think think my life is spent sitting down at the sewing machine! And as Australia is in the grip of opiate phobia - we just cant get hold of effective medication enough. A lidocaine patch - OMG - you need to be dying of cancer to even be eligible here and even then Dr's are under pressure form the govt to stop prescribing. Its just criminal. Compound PTSD also is a feature of my life. So thankyou for the video

[@SewBiased]

I'm so sorry you're suffering so much. I know how it sucks. We're all here for you, and want to celebrate your successes with you!!!!

[@lunanightmyst7895]

Thank you SO MUCH for making this video! I needed this! ❤ To know that there are others out there that are going through the same struggles as I have been recently going through for about 2 yrs now, is a relief to know I am NOT alone. I use to do American Civil War reenactments for 5 yrs until I developed drop foot in both of my ankles. Doctors still are not sure if it is caused from diabetic peripheral neuropathy or possible MS. That was diagnosed 2 yrs ago and I have only progressed worse since then. Thus, needless to say, I have had to drop out of reenacting because of my condition, which broke my heart because I absolutely loved the hobby! I don't sew, but I do crochet and that has even been a challenge with my current condition as my hands and muscles have gotten weaker with the neuropathy and arthritis. So I can relate to every topic y'all have touched on in this video. I felt like I was observing a support group that I really needed and need to be a part of. I am pretty much going through this alone, one of those situations where everyone around you don't exactly understand what you are going through or how the littlest things are the biggest struggles. I hope you all keep doing these videos, I look forward to and would fully appreciate any and all support and advice that these videos can supply. Also, what was the discord group mentioned near the end? I would love to look them up and join if they are willing to have me. Thank you again, and God bless!❤ ~Danielle (Luna Nightmyst) Shafer

[@bcase5328]

And to the history people, people varied a lot in any time in history. The past probability had more "disabled" people per thousand (of population).

[@bcase5328]

Technology (these days) can aid adaptation (without making a spectacle doing the job) if you plan well, and plan for such from the start. [At a convention building] Incorporated video screens being an example, (-having an event themed cases for an IPAD). Bluetooth connections being another example. A listed website is a wonderful thing.

[@kattlee636]

Thank you all for this panel! I've just been watching and nodding the whole time. You all spoke so open and honestly and that means so much to me and I guess other starter creators. It is so overwhelming wanting to do this, yet not knowing how to be ABLE to do it. I'm trying to get started in both costuming and historybounding, yet I'm still in the 'finding adaptations' stage myself. It just makes me feel less 'part of the gang' and more of a hinderence. But with your voices (here and your individual works), I am feeling a little bit more prepared going forward. Thank you again.

[@SewBiased]

You're definitely not a hindrance, you're one of us now! if you need help with adaptations, feel free to hmu and I can recommend all sorts of things!

[@DAYBROK3]

i have a missing knee cap from a car accident, which led to the early total knee replacement, which irritated a pinched nerve which wasnt helped by working standing 8 hours in a grocery store deli, which also made my anxiety worse leading to a full on panic attack at work. so im starting art university in school (we were virtual last year)

[@SewBiased]

I'm so sorry. *Spoonie hugs*

[@DAYBROK3]

@@SewBiased thanks

[@lauragiletti]

This is really helpful for people like me. I hold events not at all related to costuming or history but I want to be inclusive, and now I have some things I can add to help people with disabilities and I can also look to do even more than what was discussed here. Thank you al!

[@SewBiased]

I'm so glad it was useful to you

[@kattlee636]

Also remember to reach out to speak to disabled people in the real world Laura. There are many people who will be around you that you might not even know about. Given the opportunity, most disabled people will be happy to work with you and will be very open about this 😊

[@lauragiletti]

@@kattlee636 yes, that was one of the points in the video that I want to take away with me. It’s in my notes but I appreciate the reminder.

[@beth_winegarner]

I am finally catching up with some CoSy vids and really appreciate this discussion. I relate to so much of it!

[@SewBiased]

I'm so glad it spoke to you!

[@roadrunnercrazy]

This is such an important conversation. Thank you to all of the panel members!

[@ashleatenny2719]

I relate certain events with chronic pain to being lactose intolerant. Sure, ice cream will make the person miserable the next day, or even later the same day, but sometimes it's enjoyable enough in the moment to justify choosing to partake.

[@SewBiased]

*nods knowingly in IBS*

[@laurenlaker]

Hey all! 👋 could the lack of evidence regarding stays/corsets and other support garments have had anything to do with A- survivor bias and/or B- the person not wearing them at all?

[@SewBiased]

A is likely, but B is less likely, because being female and active, you would need some kind of bust support, so they definitely had something.

[@annelewis7531]

Thank you so much.

[@pyxeebell4959]

This was fantastic. Thank you

[@SewBiased]

Thank you!

[@kida4star]

I appreciate this conversation. I don’t run anything, but this helps me be aware and hopefully avoid being that able bodied a**h*le.

[@SewBiased]

And feel free to ask about accommodations at events you attend - the more organizers are aware of it from their attendees, the more they pay attention!

[@Nerdygoddess]

This is why I'm watching as well. And the fact that someone in my family has been...warned that they might be permanently in a wheelchair by the time they are fifty - so I'm preparing for the worst, hoping for the best.

[@slinky.blackcat9965]

Thank you for this panel, it was really interesting.

[@SewBiased]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@slinky.blackcat9965]

@@SewBiased I really did 🙂 and it gave me lots of info & perspective that I didn't know, or didn't realise, before. I'll be sure to follow you all.

[@zikasilver1]

The Disabilities in Costuming Discord Server: discord.gg/g2KQzsU

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I’m really sad I missed this live. I’d love to ask Isolde about NDIS and seeing- if they support that, if they regard things like mechanical scissors or rotary cutters as reasonable and necessary- especially if sewing is a hobby rather than a job. I’ve just been accepted into the NDIS (after years of rejections because no one would help me get what I needed to and between not having money for specialists and having to work through my disability in order to put it together, it took a long time, and I had no idea why they wanted from me, and they didn’t give detailed explanations as to why I was rejected… it was a mess, even though I’m severely disabled and obviously eligible). Sewing is the only thing I have that would connect me to a community. It’s my only real hobby, and I’m too disabled to work. I’m just worried that NDIS will say no to any adaptive sewing equipment I need because it won’t build my job capacity.

[@historical.isolde7918]

The NDIS isn't just about employment. It is about enabling you to live a "normal" life. When you have your first planning meeting, make sure you have a goal about continuing participating in home and community-based hobbies. Then you can justify spending some of your consumables budget on equipment like you. I good idea is to make a list of some of the equipment you want, their cost, and justify how it would enable you to continue your hobbies. It can also be useful to include a report from an OT or similar, documenting this need.

[@kattlee636]

Also remember, your first plan is never going to be great. It takes many reviews to get it 'just right'. I've been on it for 3 years (7 reviews and still haven't used the funding properly yet) and I'm not there yet myself.

[@suzanmarie5374]

The video quality is bad, need to go 1080

[@SewBiased]

It was a livestream, so getting a video without lag was more important than video quality.