In-Person 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. Please use these accommodations if you need them and we ask that no one question anyone’s use of this accommodation as some disabilities are invisible.

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.

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.

Mobility Constraints

Due to the large size of the AWP Conference & Bookfair, the 500 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 and 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 registration, located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, will have an entrance for attendees with disabilities who would prefer not to stand in long registration lines, in addition to a wheelchair-height registration kiosk.

For any questions regarding the registration process, please email the Registration Coordinator, Chelsea McLin, at registration@awpwriter.org.

Onsite Accessibility Contact

We will post onsite contact information in early March 2022.

Onsite Accessibility Tour

On Wednesday, March 23, there will be a tour of the Pennsylvania Convention Center for attendees with accessibility needs to see the facility and the associated accessibility features. This tour will also provide the opportunity to ask questions about conference accessibility. More information will be posted about this tour to the conference schedule in early 2022.

Accessibility Desk

Requests for help onsite 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. The location of the Accessibility Desk will be located directly next to the registration Help Desk. 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.

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.

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.

Interpreters and CART

Interpreters, including American Sign Language, Cued Speech Alliteration, and Computer Assisted Real Time Captioning (CART) are available.

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

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 colleen@awpwriter.org by Wednesday, March 9, 2022 with a list of the events you plan to attend. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after March 9, but sometimes interpreters are unavailable unless booked well in advance of our conference.

All featured events will be ASL interpreted and live-captioned. All virtual events will include captions.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

More specific information about assisted listening devices will be posted in the coming weeks. Typically, the audio-visual provider has several assisted listening devices for use in a limited number of rooms. If you would like to request an event be scheduled in a room with assisted listening technology, please email colleen@awpwriter.org..

Blind and Low-Vision Services

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. Additionally, conference presenters are encouraged to describe themselves and any visual aids they might use.

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 email Chelsea McLin at registration@awpwriter.org.

Volunteer Assistance

Volunteers are available 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, March 9, 2022 to Colleen Cable at colleen@awpwriter.org. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after March 9.

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

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

In-Person Skype/Zoom & Technology

AWP welcomes those unable to attend the conference due to a disability to Skype or Zoom in as a presenter. Those who video call in for accessibility reasons are not required to pay a registration fee, unless that individual would like to attend the full virtual conference, in which case a registration would be required.

AWP is able to provide internet, a projector, and screen for Skype or Zoom if the organizer of the event emails Events Coordinator Aubrey Kamppila at events@awpwriter.org before October 20, 2021 to make the request. If contacted before October 20, AWP can almost certainly provide this technology.

Unfortunately, AWP is not always able to fulfill technology requests that come after October 20. In cases where presenters request to Skype in after October 20, organizers can purchase internet for their event and use a personal laptop or tablet to Skype in their remote presenter. Email events@awpwriter.org if you have questions.

Hallway Seating & Quiet Space

Several lounges throughout the bookfair provide seating options for attendees. When possible, additional seating has also been provided in hallways and common areas at Pennsylvania Convention Center.

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 check the Schedule of Events for location information.

AWP will also designate a space as a non-florescent quiet room. More information about the locations of these spaces will be announced in early 2022.

Weather

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in late March has an historic average temperature high of 55-56 degrees, and a low of around 36 degrees. Please prepare accordingly and visit a source such as AccuWeather for the most up to date Philadelphia 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 Claire Johnson at at claire@awpwriter.org.

Scooters & Wheelchairs

15 scooters and 15 wheelchairs are available free of charge at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. These may be reserved by emailing Colleen Cable at colleen@awpwriter.org. Reservations are not required. Scooters and wheelchairs will also be available on first-come, first-served basis throughout the days of the conference.

If you would like to rent a scooter or other mobility equipment during your time in Philadelphia, please see Scootaround’s website for more information.

Convention Center Layout & Visual Cues

Photos of the Pennsylvania Convention Center will be posted in the coming weeks.

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 colleen@awpwriter.org to let us know.

Closest Pharmacies

Arch Pharmacy
933 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (500 ft)
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

CVS 1046 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (0.1 mi)
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

Rite Aid
1000-1008 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (0.2 mi)
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

Sober AWP

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

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Southeastern Pennsylvania Intergroup Association of Alcoholics Anonymous (SEPIA)
1903 South Broad Street - 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19148-2216
Staff available by phone 24/7: 215-923-7900
https://www.aasepia.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Find a Meeting, Philadelphia:
https://alcoholicsanonymous.com/aa-meetings/pennsylvania/philadelphia

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Greater Philadelphia Region of Narcotics Anonymous
Philadelphia Area Meetings
https://naworks.org/philadelphia-area-meetings/