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2018 Accessibility Services

Many accessibility services require advanced planning for a conference as large as AWP’s. In order to help us better prepare, all requests for accessibility services, equipment, or accommodations, should be submitted in advance of the conference. AWP can best meet accessibility needs when requests are sent by Wednesday, February 7, 2018 to Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 7.

• Conference & Event Space
• Convention Center & Event Space Limitations
• The Space & Elevators at the Tampa Convention Center
• Mobility Constraints
• Registration Services
• Onsite Accessibility Contact
• Accessibility Desk
• Interpreters & CART
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
• Attendants & Assistants
• Volunteer Assistance
• Conference & Braille Program
• Presentations & Handouts
• Quiet Space
• Weather
• Allergy Accommodations & Fragrances
• Hotel Rooms
• Accessibility Services at Local Airports & the Train Station
• Accessibility Services for Local Transportation
• Scooter & Wheelchair Rentals
• Service Animals
• Convention Center & Hotel Maps
• Tampa Convention Center Layout & Visual Cues
• Tampa Marriott Waterside Layout & Visual Cues
• Offsite Events
• Closest Drug Stores
• Sober AWP
• Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
• Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Conference & Event Space

All convention centers and hotels the conference occupies are accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). All rooms at the conference are wheelchair accessible and have seats in the first row and back row marked as reserved for individuals with accessibility needs.

Space has been left for two wheelchairs in the front and back of each meeting room. Please keep designated wheelchair areas and aisles clear for person who may be using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, or motorized scooters. Space should be left around the doors and aisles to allow access.

If you have questions or concerns about these accommodations, please contact Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org by Wednesday, February 7, 2018. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 7.

Convention Center & Event Space Limitations

AWP works closely with the hotels and convention center to plan the conference and assure Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and related accessibility compliance. However, AWP does not control or oversee the building’s accessibility for the hotels or the convention center. The hotels and convention centers are responsible for the accessibility of all common areas, building entrances and exits, room entrances and exits, hallways, bathrooms, roll-up doors and air walls, escalators, and elevators. AWP does not have the authority to make alterations to these spaces or their fire codes and security policies.  

While AWP has taken numerous steps to ensure these properties adhere to the guidelines set forth in the ADA, including multiple assessments of each property, as well as obtaining contractual language guaranteeing ADA adherence, we rely on the hotel and convention center staff at these venues to make sure the buildings themselves are accessible.

Each building has ADA accessible entrances as outlined in this document, but some other entrances must be locked to the outside for all attendees to ensure the security of the building for all attendees. For more details on the layout of the convention center or the hotel, please refer to the Convention Center & Hotel Maps, the Tampa Convention Center and Tampa Marriott Waterside layouts and visual cues portions of this document, or to the maps provided onsite in the conference materials.

Please see the Onsite Accessibility Contact section for information on how to contact AWP if you have trouble with accessibility at the hotels or convention center.  

The Space & Elevators at the Tampa Convention Center

The Tampa Convention Center is one of the smallest convention centers the AWP conference has ever occupied. The size of the center is not nearly as vast as previous centers AWP has used, and no other groups will occupy the center during our conference; this will make the center as a whole more accessible since attendees on average will deal with less competing foot traffic and navigate shorter distances between events.

The Tampa Convention Center has two public access elevators for conference attendees. Attendees with disabilities, attendees with strollers, and others who may find it difficult to use stairs and escalators will be given priority use of these elevators. The center is within the normal ratio of space to public elevators in convention centers the AWP conference has previous visited, which are some of the largest in the country.     

Though anyone who needs to use the elevators is welcome to do so, signage will be displayed, and volunteers will be assigned to the elevators on each level during the day to help assure that people with physical disabilities, and anyone who requires use of the elevators, receives priority. The volunteers will not check to verify disabilities. They will provide support, directions, and information only.

For more details on the layout of the convention center or the hotel, please refer to the Convention Center & Hotel Maps, the Tampa Convention Center and Tampa Marriott Waterside layouts and visual cues portions of this document, or to the maps provided onsite in the conference materials.

Mobility Constraints

Due to the large size of the AWP Conference & Bookfair, the 550 sessions are often spread out, and distances between sessions may be considerable. Please remember in your travel plans to bring any mobility equipment you may need to help navigate throughout the conference, including between the convention center, hotels, and surrounding areas. If you find you need to rent equipment onsite, please see the Scooter & Wheelchair Rentals section of this document. If you require help navigating the conference, please see the Attendant and Assistants and Volunteer Assistance sections of this document.

Registration Services

AWP’s online registration system provides attendees with the opportunity to indicate if they have accessibility needs. If you indicate that you have accessibility needs when registering an AWP staff member will contact you to follow up to help ensure those needs are met.  

AWP does not require that any conference attendee disclose a disability; however, we can better meet specific needs if we know well ahead of time that a reasonable accommodation will be needed.

Onsite Accessibility Contact

If you require onsite accessibility during the conference either during regular conference hours or after-hours, please contact Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org with "Onsite Accessibility" in the subject line.

You may also call or text Colleen Cable at the Accessibility Hotline: (813) 278-7201 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. from Wednesday, March 7 through Saturday, March 10. You're welcome to leave a voicemail message outside of the prescribed hours and your call will be returned the next day.

After March 10, the best number to contact Colleen Cable about conference accessibility will be (301) 226-9711.

 

Accessibility Desk

Requests for help are best addressed directly to the Accessibility Desk. While the conference is in session, AWP’s small staff cannot monitor social media for requests. Please see the staff at the Accessibility Desk if you have a request. If you require assistance after-hours, or are unable to get to the Accessibility Desk, please see the Onsite Accessibility Contact section of this document.

The onsite Accessibility Desk is located in the registration area on the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center, and directly next to the registration Help Desk. To access the Accessibility Desk, enter the convention center through the Chanel Entry or the Franklin Street Entrance as indicated in the Convention Center & Hotel Map portion of this document. Then proceed to the nearest escalator or elevator to the second floor where the AWP registration area with the Accessibility Services Desk is located.

AWP conference staffers will be available at the Accessibility Desk from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to offer assistance.

Interpreters & CART

Interpreters, including American Sign Language, Cued Speech Alliteration, and Computer Assisted Real Time Captioning (CART) are available. AWP only utilizes experienced, professional interpreters and CART providers.

AWP can provide interpreters and CART services for any onsite conference event, including the bookfair, from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, with the exception of receptions.

Arrangements for interpreters and CART require advanced planning for a conference as large as AWP’s. Interpreters can best meet interpreting and CART needs when requests are received for the specific events you will attend in advance. To make a request for an interpreter, contact Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org by Wednesday, February 7, 2018 with a list of the events you plan to attend. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 7, but sometimes interpreters are unavailable unless booked well in advance of our conference.

 

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

The audio-visual provider has 10 Assistive Listening Devices that can be assigned to 19 different event rooms throughout the conference. The audio-visual provider requires rooms that utilize Assistive Listening Devices to be assigned no later than 4 days in advance of the event. 

To see if a room has been assigned an Assistive Listening Device, or to inquire if a room can be assigned an Assistive Listening Device on short notice, please email Colleen Cable with “Onsite Accessibility” in the subject line at events@awpwriter.org, and detail the specific title, day, time, and location of the events, or visit the Accessibility Services desk located in the registration area on the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center.

The device itself will need to be picked up from the Accessibility Services desk prior to attending the event. A photo I.D. and valid credit card must be presented in order to pick up an Assistive Listening Device, and a fee of $125 will be charged for devices that are not returned to the desk by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

 

Attendants & Assistants

Registered attendees requiring an attendant or assistant to facilitate their participation and accessibility needs will be granted one complimentary registration for an attendant/assistant. To register an attendant/assistant, please contact Tiffany Robinson at registration@awpwriter.org.

Volunteer Assistance

Volunteers are availble for those who may require assistance throughout the conference. Volunteers can provide assistance with note taking, navigation, and other tasks. AWP can best meet volunteer assistance needs when requests are sent by Wednesday, February 7, 2018 to Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 7.

Attendees requiring specific problem solving and onsite assistance during the conference should request it from personnel at the Accessibility Desk. Please see the Accessibility Desk section of this document for directions.

Conference & Braille Program

The conference program is provided in multiple formats to accommodate multiple accessibility needs. Large format print and digital programs will be available in the fall.

Braille programs are available onsite at the Accessibility Desk. Please see the Accessibility Desk section of this document for directions.

Presentations & Handouts

When applicable, AWP asks presenters to bring at least five copies of their presentation, even in draft form, in large-print format (boldface 14- to 16-point font size), for the use of members to follow the written text. Presenters who use handouts are asked to prepare three copies in large-print format (boldface 14- to 16-point font size) and briefly describe or read all handouts to the audience. Some presenters prefer to speak extemporaneously, and may not have handouts related to their presentation. Presenters reading from copyrighted materials (the books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction readings) may opt to not provide copies of those materials.

Generally, for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction readings, attendees should not expect that readings will provide handouts of the work, as that is not customary throughout the field of literature, and AWP cannot demand that authors give away for free their copyrighted work.

To help facilitate question and answer sessions, AWP asks that moderators at the podium microphone repeat all audience questions.

Please see the Presenter Guidelines webpage for more information about how best to fulfill obligations to the audience, including attendees with accessibility needs.  

Quiet Space

The Dickinson Quiet Space is a dedicated space for attendees to collect their thoughts, unwind, and escape the literary commotion. The quiet space is not available for conversations or meetings. Please respect the intent of this space, and contact us at events@awpwriter.org if it is not being used for its intended purpose. Please check the Conference Event Schedule for location information.  

Weather

Tampa, Florida in early March can experience a variety of weather, with an average high of 75 and an average low of 57 over the conference dates. Please prepare accordingly, and visit AccuWeather for the most up to date Tampa weather forecast.

Allergy Accommodations & Fragrances

As a courtesy to attendees with chemical sensitivities, attendees should refrain from using scented products to help ensure the comfort of everyone at the conference.

Some conference hotels offer allergen-free rooms, cleaning products, and bedding, as well as a mini-fridge, upon request. Please contact the hotel of your choice for more information.

Hotel Rooms

All AWP conference hotels are ADA accessible and should be contacted directly for reservations. Hotel contact information may be found on the Hotel & Travel webpage. These hotels have a limited number of rooms available for guests with accessibility needs. Given the number of attendees, and attendees with accessibility needs, at the conference, AWP hotels often sell out months in advance as reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. If you require an ADA room, please make reservations as soon as possible. If you are having difficulty securing an ADA room, please contact Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org.

Accessibility Services at Local Airports & the Train Station

Tampa International Airport (8.9 miles from the Tampa Convention Center)
Please refer to Tampa International Airport’s comprehensive accessibility services page.

Union Station (1 mile from the Tampa Convention Center)
Union Station has dedicated handicapped parking, an accessible waiting room, and accessible platform levels. The station is equipped with high platforms and wheelchair lifts to assist customers when boarding the train. Amtrak will also provide wheelchairs to customers who need them in the station. Attendees can request the use of a wheelchair while booking their tickets online or at amtrack.com or call 1-800-872-7245 for more information. Attendees can also request assistance from a uniformed Amtrak staff member at the station.

Please visit our Hotel & Travel webpage for an overview of local parking and transportation accommodations.

Accessibility Services for Local Transportation

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) operates buses, vans, and trolleys that are wheelchair accessible. Please visit their website for more information on any of these HART services.

HARTFlex
HARTFlex is an on-demand, door-to-door van-based service open to all passengers. For guaranteed seat availability, reservations are encouraged. Call 813-254-4278 for reservations.

HARTPlus Paratransit
HARTPlus Paratransit is a van service exclusive to those with physical, cognitive, emotional, visual or other disabilities that prevent them from using HART fixed route bus system. Those wanting more information should visit their website or call 813-384-6445 at least three weeks in advance of travelling to Tampa. You may also call their InfoLine at 813-254-HART or use their TDD number for the hearing impaired at 813-626-9158. HART requires each person to fill out an application and have an in-person interview before being able to use this travel option.

TECO Line Streetcar System
This streetcar is wheelchair accessible and offers half-price fares on single rides and on the one-day unlimited ride fare card for persons with disabilities. The streetcar operates between the neighborhoods of Downtown, Channelside, and Ybor City. For seniors over 65, and those on Medicare or with disabilities pay a discounted fare at $1.25 per ride or $2.50 for an Unlimited Ride Card. You can pay with cash or download the Flamingo Fares App to purchase your fare card.

Scooter & Wheelchair Rentals

Unfortunately, AWP cannot supply scooters or wheelchairs for our attendees. Attendees who require a wheelchair or scooter have several options.

ScootAround has set up a webpage specifically for AWP attendees looking to rent a scooter, wheelchair, or other equipment. You can visit the site or call 1-888-441-7575 for pricing and reservations.

Please contact Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org if you have additional questions.

Service Animals

All service animals are welcome in all spaces at the AWP Conference & Bookfair.

Attendees are reminded that service animals are working animals and should not distract or attempt to pet them.

Convention Center & Hotel Maps

Detailed maps for the Tampa Convention Center and Marriott Waterside Hotel are available below. Please click on the images for larger versions.

Tampa Convention Center Layout and Visual Cues

The main entrance of the Tampa Convention Center is the Channel Entry. This entrance has ramp access and an automatic sliding glass door. Attendees will also be able to drive directly up to this entrance using the circular driveway. This entrance is preferable for vehicle pickup/drop off, including shuttles, taxis, and Uber or Lyft. This is also the entrance that is closest to the elevators in the convention center.

In front of the Channel Entry is a dip in the curb for wheelchairs.

The Channel Entry is the main entry point for the convention center. There is a slight incline that leads up to the automatic doors. The entry is flanked by two sets of staircases and two sets of escalators. Both the stairs and the escalators lead up to the second floor. The ramp leads to the first floor. This ramp leads up to a sliding glass door. There is not an accessibility button.

This is the brick pattern on the ramp leading up to the Channel Entry.

This is a photo at the top of the Channel Entry ramp looking away from the main entrance.

These are the mats that are inside the Channel Entry.

This is the floor inside the Channel Entry hallway and in the registration area on the second floor.

This is the view when you enter the convention center from the Channel Entry. Elevators are to the left and escalators that lead to registration are to the right. Straight ahead, there a meeting rooms, and to the right are more meeting rooms, the ballrooms, and the Franklin Street entrance.

This photo of the hallway containing meeting rooms 1–17 was taken standing to the right of the café.

This is the hallway to the two public access elevators. These are the only elevators in the convention center and they can access all floors.

To the right of the Channel Entry are escalators that will take you up to registration. The ballrooms are to the left, and meeting rooms 18 to 25 are to the right. At the end of this hallway is the Franklin Street entrance.

The Franklin Street Entrance is the other entrance into the convention center. There are automatic sliding glass doors.

This is the floor in the first-floor lobby area and hallways.

The Franklin Street Entrance has a set of automatic sliding glass doors and several non-automatic doors that do not have accessibility buttons.

The Convention Center General Information Desk located in the registration area on the second floor, and will be staffed by Tampa Convention Center (not AWP) staff. They will be able to answer questions about the facilities, resources in the local area, and general Tampa transport. They will not be able to answer any AWP specific questions.

This is the floor in the registration area.

This is West Registration on the second floor where AWP’s registration area will be set up. The Help Desk and Accessibility Desk will be located in this area. The escalators and elevators are located to the left of this picture.

This is the area right next to registration on the second floor. Up the short flight of stairs or escalator, seen here, will lead you to the bookfair on the third floor. To the left of this photo are the elevators, which also lead to the third floor.

Up the stairs or escalators from the Channel Entry is a large second floor balcony. Inside the glass doors is the East and West Registration. The doors to registration from the Channel Entry balcony are not automatic and do not have accessibility buttons.

This is the tile on the Channel Entry balcony.

The third floor is where the bookfair and the UPS store are located. Registration is to the right of this photo down a short flight of stairs, escalator, or elevator.

There will be some events taking place on the fourth floor in meeting rooms. This floor can be accessed via staircases, escalators, and elevator. Elevators are located straight ahead from where this picture was taken.

The distance between the Marriott Waterside and the Tampa Convention Center is 0.2 miles. To get from the Marriott Waterside to the convention center, walk down the sidewalk, cross the street, and turn right to get to the Channel Entry.

Tampa Marriott Waterside Visual Cues

This is the entrance to the Tampa Marriott Waterside. There is a circular driveway, which leads to the main entrance.

This is the sloped walkway along the circular driveway.

This is the small hexagonal brick pattern at the beginning of the sidewalk leading to the Marriott Waterside’s entrance.

This is main entrance of the Marriott Waterside. Once you walk in the main entrance, hotel check-in will be on your right.

Once you enter the Marriott Waterside, check-in will be to your right.

The elevators are to the left of the check-in counters.

This is a closer shot of the Marriott Waterside lobby floors.

This is the carpet in the center of the lobby and in the center of the check-in area.

From the lobby, you can access a coffee shop, convenience store, and restrooms. There are also escalators and elevators to the second-floor meeting rooms.

This is a view of the second floor of the Marriott Marquis at the top of the escalators that lead from the lobby. There is also an elevator that leads from the lobby to all meeting rooms levels.

This is a picture of the flooring in the meeting room levels of the Marriott Waterside.

Offsite Events

Offsite Events are not produced, moderated, or curated by AWP, and AWP is not responsible for their quality or accessibility services. We list these events as a courtesy to the literary field. The organizers of these events have promised to AWP that the offsite venues listed in the offsite schedule are accessible according to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have any questions or concerns about specific offsite events, please contact the organizers of the event directly.

If you attend an offsite event and find it is not accessible in accordance with the ADA, please contact Colleen Cable at events@awpwriter.org to let us know.

Closest Drug Stores

Walgreens (0.4 miles)
315 W Platt St.
813-251-3939
Open 24 hours

CVS (0.5 miles)
220 E Madison Street
813-228-0175
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Walmart Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
1601 W Kennedy Blvd
813-254-6309
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Sober AWP

The conference hosts a daily 12-step meeting. The time and location of this meeting will be made available in the Conference Event Schedule. All in recovery are welcome. Please contact soberawp@gmail.com for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Below are a few open Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that take place during the conference dates in the Tampa area. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather meetings that take place near the Tampa Convention Center and during the days when the conference takes place. For more groups and more information about local meetings, please go to www.aatampa-area.org.

The Magnolia Group
Hyde Park Methodist
500 W. Platt
Enter from Azeele Street
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.

With Room To Grow
Bayshore Presbyterian
2515 Bayshore Blvd.
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Fever Group
Hyde Park Methodist
500 W. Platt
Enter from Azeele Street
Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.

Clean Air Group
301 House, in the Shed
8601 Bowles Road, Tampa, Florida
Thursday at noon
Friday at noon & 6:00 p.m.
Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Below are a few open Narcotics Anonymous meetings that take place during the conference dates in the Tampa area. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather meetings that take place near the Tampa Convention Center and during the days when the conference takes place.

More Hope I & II
Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Cyrus Green Community Center, 2101 East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The Heights of NA
Friday at 7:00 p.m.
Common Grounds Christian Church, 4207 North Blvd.

 

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