Collective Access Updates for Sins Invalid 2016: Birthing, Dying, Becoming Crip Wisdom

Dear friends -We want to update folks about what we are doing to make the venue, ODC Theater at 351 Shotwell at 17th St San Francisco, more accessible to our mixed ability, cross-disability communities.Notes for All;

• Please refrain from using scented products so that all community members may attend.  For a partial list of unscented products, please visit http://eastbaymeditation.org/accessibility/scentfree.
• Traveling to ODC Theater: The closest BART station is the 16th St station, 4.5 blocks away (0.3 mi).  You can check the elevator status in real time at https://www.bart.gov/stations/elevators or by calling 888 235-3828.   
• We ask that people purchase tickets, however no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
• Content Notice: The performance addresses the connections between disability, sexuality, queerness, body transitions, transitions on the planet and love.

Fragrance Free Access:For folks needing Scent Free spaces, there will a Fragrance Free Seating Area in the theater near air flow [the first 2 rows on house left], behind which there will be a “Scent Moat” (a row of seats with unscented audience members). Though we cannot guarantee a scent free safe space, we are encouraging audience members to come scent free in all outreach efforts. Beginning Oct 10th, the theater will be using only scent free cleaning products in preparation for our performances on Oct 14-16. There will be scent free hand soap in the restrooms. Ushers will direct scented audience members to the opposite side of the theater from the Fragrance Free Seating Area.Access for People with Visual Impairments:Audio description is available Saturday night only and headsets can be picked up at Audio Visions table in the lobby.  George of AudioVision will be providing the audio description. Braille and large print are available at the ticket booth and at the Sins Invalid table all evenings.  The visual art exhibits in the lobby will have Braille wall text. Sins volunteers are also available for access support so please don't hesitate to ask for assistance. Please let ushers know if you have specific seating needs (e.g. front). Access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for the performance will be available on Saturday only. An ASL interpreter will also be available Saturday at the ticket booth and in the lobby. ASL interpretation is provided by Michael Velez and Sherry Hicks. We are still attempting to secure Assistive Listening Devices.Access for People with Limited Mobility:The theater is wheelchair accessible, including restrooms. The lobby will also have cushioned seating available. Wheelchair accessible seats are in the front row of the theater. Audience members who have specific seating needs will be able to access seating fifteen [15} min before the theater doors open for general seating. We encourage wheelchair users to arrive before general seating. Access for Larger Bodied People:We will have chairs without armrests available in the theaters and lobby. Please let u s know as soon as possible if you need other seating arrangements. Access for Neurodivergent Community:Sins Invalid welcomes all communication styles and movements so feel free to flap, stim, and do what you need to do to be present. Please bring whatever you need to participate, including formal and informal augmentative aids and alternative communication devices. We will also hold a quiet room on the second floor of the performance building, a low stimulation environment where people can go to decompress and rest. We are asking folks to maintain accessibility of the quiet room, by refraining from conversation and too much stimulation / noise in that room.  We will light the room with lamps with non-fluorescent bulbs.  There will be large floor pillows for comfy seating.  There will be an access volunteer in the quiet room.Access for People with Sensory Impairments:We will update folks re lights in lobby and during performances when that information becomes available.  For the safety of our performers and audience, flash photography will absolutely not be tolerated. Access for People with Chronic Illness:The seats in the theater will be cushioned. As mentioned above, we will have a Quiet Room on the second floor to rest. You can take an elevator to the second floor. Please don't hesitate to connect with a volunteer if you need access support, Thank you for partnering with us to create collective access for all of our community. If you have access concerns, please email Stacey at staceymilbern@sinsinvalid.org immediately. See you next weekend!The Sins Invalid team