On-Site Accessibility Services

Convention Center & Event Space Limitations

All convention centers and hotels the conference occupies are accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). AWP works closely with the hotels and convention center to plan the conference and ensure 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 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 on-site, please see the Scooters & Wheelchairs section of this document. If you require help navigating the conference, please see the Attendants & Assistants and Volunteer Assistance sections of this document.

Hallway Seating & Quiet Space

AWP will add hallway seating throughout the McCormick Place Lakeside Center where possible per fire codes.

AWP will also designate a meeting room as a Quiet Space for attendees needing a respite from the hustle and bustle of the conference. Please check the #AWP27 schedule for this room assignment in October 2026.

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. On-site registration, located in the Exhibit Hall D of McCormick Place Lakeside Center, will have a specific wheelchair-height Accessibility Desk for attendees with disabilities or those who cannot stand in long registration lines to pick up their registration materials.

For any questions regarding the registration process, please email ADA@awpwriter.org.

Accessibility Desk

Requests for help on-site are best addressed directly to the Accessibility Desk. While the conference is in session, AWP’s small staff cannot monitor social media for requests. The Accessibility Desk will be located in Exhibit Hall D of McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 3. If you require after-hours assistance, or are unable to get to the Accessibility Desk, please see the On-Site Accessibility Contact section of this web page.

AWP conference staffers will be available at the Accessibility Desk from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to offer assistance.

On-Site Accessibility Contact

An on-site contact for questions about accessibility services will be posted in March 2027.

On-Site Accessibility Tour

The Accessibility Tour is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 17, 2027. Please meet at 3:00 p.m. at the Accessibility Desk, located in the Exhibit Hall D or McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 3.

Meeting Room & Event Accessibility

All meeting and event 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. 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 people who may be using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, or motorized scooters. Space should be left around the doors and aisles to allow access.

Presentations & Handouts

AWP requests that all presenters review the Presenter Guidelines page for more information about how best to fulfill obligations to the audience, including attendees with accessibility needs.

Interpreters & CART

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

AWP can provide interpreters and CART services for any on-site conference event, including the bookfair, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CT.

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 conference staff at ADA@awpwriter.org by Wednesday, February 24, 2027, with a list of the events you plan to attend. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 24, but sometimes interpreters are unavailable unless booked well in advance of our conference.

All featured and virtual events will include open or closed captions.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

In addition to scheduling interpreters and/or CART services, assistive listening devices will available. If you would like an assistive listening device scheduled for a certain room or session, please reach out to ADA@awpwriter.org.

Blind & Low-Vision Services

The conference program is provided in multiple formats to accommodate multiple accessibility needs. Large-format and plain-text digital versions of the schedule will be available closer to the conference. A limited number of printed plain-text versions of the schedule will be available at the Accessibility Desk. Additionally, conference presenters are encouraged to describe themselves and any visual aids they might use.

Scooters & Wheelchairs

Fifteen scooters and ten wheelchairs are available free of charge at the Accessibility Desk located in Exhibit Hall D of the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 3. These may be reserved by emailing conference staff at ADA@awpwriter.org. Reservations are not required. Scooters and wheelchairs will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the days of the conference. Please be aware this equipment is only for use in conference venues, including McCormick Place, the Marriott Marquis, and Hyatt Regency.

If an attendee prefers to rent their own equipment directly and/or need equipment for use outside of conference venues:

ScootAround
Delivery, setup, and pickup services available
Manual wheelchair rental starting at $32 per day
Standard scooter rental starting at $38 per day
Call 204-982-0657 or email info@scootaround.com for more information.
Get 10% off monthly rentals in Chicago for a limited time. Book online and use code DELIVERY10.

Midwest Mobility
Delivery, setup, and pickup services available
Manual wheelchair rental starting at $75 per week
Standard scooter rental starting at $150 per week
Hours: Mon.–Fri. 10:00 a.m.– 6: 00 p.m., Sat. 10:00 a.m. –3:00 p.m., closed Sun.
Call 847-604-3444 or email info@midwestmobility.net for more information.

MobilityCity

Delivery, setup, and pickup services
Hours: Mon.–Fri. 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m., Sat. 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., closed Sun.
Call 872-224-5532 or email chicagoil@mobilitycity.com to request pricing information.

Sensory Resources

McCormick Place Lakeside Center uses a mix of florescent and LED lighting inside the facility. AWP designates a room as a low-light space for attendees to rest from LED and florescent lighting. The low-light space will be located at room E250, McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 2.

The Dickinson Quiet Space will be located at room E252, McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 2.

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 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, February 24, 2027, to conference staff at ADA@awpwriter.org. AWP makes every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 24.

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

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 that attendees should not distract or attempt to pet them.

Attendees with service animals can find relief areas in the courtyard ouside of Lakeside Center on level 3.

Lactation or Nursing Spaces

AWP provides dedicated space for lactation and nursing. There are two designated spaces for nursing/lactation. The first is a Mamava pod located across the hall from room E250 at McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 2. The second is the lactation lounge, located at E254, McCormick Place Lakeside Center, level 2.

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. McCormick Place Lakeside Center will only use unscented products throughout the facility.

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.

AWP works with McCormick Place to ensure items catering to multiple dietary restrictions are available on-site, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Concessions menus and dietary/allergen information will be posted in February 2027.

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 web page. 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 conference staff at registration@awpwriter.org.

If you need assistance with transportation between an official conference hotel and the Baltimore Convention Center for accessibility reasons, please email ADA@awpwriter.org to inquire about an accommodation.

Convention Center Maps

Maps of McCormick Place Lakeside Center will be posted later this fall.

Visual Cues

Visual cues of McCormick Place Lakeside Center will be posted later this fall.

Off-Site Events

Off-site 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 off-site venues listed in the off-site schedule are accessible according to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have any questions or concerns about specific off-site events, please contact the organizers of the event directly. If you attend an off-site event and find it is not accessible in accordance with the ADA, please contact conference staff at conference@awpwriter.org to let us know.

Weather

Chicago, Illinois, in mid-March has an historic average temperature high of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of around 30 degrees, with possible snow or icy conditions. Please prepare accordingly and visit a source such as AccuWeather for hte most up-to-date Chicago weather forecast.

Closest Pharmacies

Walgreens

316 W. Cermak Rd., Chicago, IL 60616

0.9 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Store hours: Daily 7:00 a.m.–12:00 midnight

Pharmacy hours: Mon.–Fri. 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Phone: 312-791-0392

CVS

520 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605

2 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Store hours: Daily 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.

Pharmacy hours: Mon.–Fri. 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Phone: 312-697-0021

Urgent Care

Michigan Avenue Immediate Care

180 N. Michigan Ave #1605, Chicago, IL 60601

3 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Hours: Mon.–Fri. 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Phone: 312-201-1234

Physicians Immediate Care

825 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605

2 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Hours: Mon.–Fri. 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Phone: 312-566-9410

Advocate Medical Group Immediate Care Center

2535 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago, IL 60616

1 mile from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Hours: Wed.–Mon. 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Tue. 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Phone: 312-842-7117

Hospitals

Insight Hospital & Medical Center

2525 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616

0.5 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Phone: 312-567-2000

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

251 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611

5 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Phone: 312-926-2000

John H. Stoger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County

1969 W. Ogden Ave., Chicago, IL 60612

6 miles from McCormick Place Lakeside Center entrance

Phone: 312-864-6000

Sober AWP

The conference hosts a daily twelve-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

Chicago Area Service Office (CASO)

180 N. Wabash Ave, Ste. 305, Chicago, IL 60601

Office hours: Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Phone: 312-3461475

Virtual and in-person meetings

Find Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Chicago.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Chicagoland Region of Narcotics Anonymous

24/7 local hotline: 708-848-4884 for English, 708-848-5194 for Español

Virtual and in-person meetings
Find Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Chicago.

On-Site Accessibility Services

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