ACCESS INFORMATION

For guests with disabilities

Updates throughout. Posted: March 16, 2009

IMPORTANT: THIS IS 2008 INFORMATION! WE WILL UPDATE FOR 2009. CLICK HERE

Questions before the Event: Send an email to access at rothburyfestival dot com. Laura Grunfeld, ROTHBURY’s Access Specialist, will respond to your email.

Questions during the Event: Come to the Access Center or ask a member of the Access Team. The Access Center is located between the Accessible Camping area and the entrance to the venue, and is near the Medical Tent.

ROTHBURY’s Access Center: This is where ROTHBURY’s guests with disabilities can come to get information, request services, rendezvous with friends, and rest & renew. The Access Center is open from 10 am to 10 pm each event day. Do you want to meet up with other like-minded folk? Put a notice on our bulletin board to drum up a gathering of fellow AA members, veterans with disabilities, members of the Deaf community, or whomever you want to bring together.

ROTHBURY’s Access Team: We are the staff and volunteers working to make ROTHBURY accessible to guests with disabilities. We will be wearing lime green t-shirts.

Requests for Accommodations: Do you need an accommodation that we have not listed below? Please give us as much notice as you can. Especially this first year as we are working out our systems, we would like the time to make it right for you. We ask for a minimum of two or three weeks; even more if you can. Why wait? Shoot us an email right now: access at rothburyfestival dot com

SERVICES FOR GUESTS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES

THE LAY OF THE LAND
This is a large site. From the far end of the Accessible Camping area, to the most distant stage, is a little less than a mile. The venue itself is about two thirds of a mile from end to end. The terrain is flat for the most part, but there are some slightly hilly areas. There are some roadways and hardened bike paths but much of your travel will be over grass and gravel pathways. People who have difficulty traveling distances may want to bring a mobility device such as a wheelchair.

ACCESSIBLE DAY PARKING
There is an accessible day parking lot located within the Accessible Camping area and very near the venue.

ACCESSIBLE CAMPING
The Accessible Camping area is adjacent to the venue. It is open to guests who have the state-issued accessible parking license plate, hang tag, or placard. People who do not have the tag but who have difficulty walking long distances should talk with their doctor about getting a temporary pass for this event. Write to access at rothburyfestival dot com if you need further information or assistance.

One companion vehicle is allowed to camp alongside the primary vehicle in Accessible Camping. The companion vehicle must enter along with the primary vehicle.

ACCESSIBLE RV CAMPING
A section of the Accessible Camping area will be set aside for those who drive RV’s. A state-issued accessible parking tag is required. There is a $125 charge for bringing an RV. There are no hookups in this area. Go to RVs [link to RV info] for more information.

ENTERING ACCESSIBLE CAMPING/DAY PARKING
You must use the southern entrance to the ROTHBURY Festival site in order to access Accessible Camping and Day Parking. Follow the wheelchair symbols on the signs and use the far right hand tollbooth when you enter the Rothbury Festival.

ACCESSIBLE VIP GOOD LIFE CAMPING
The GOOD LIFE VIP MAPLEWOODS Campground will also be located close to the venue. You may camp here or bring your RV ($150 for a GOOD LIFE RV Pass). This area has a snazzier accessible toilet and shower. There are no hookups in this area. Go to RVs [link to RV info] for more information. Follow the directions given to you for camping in the VIP section.

GOOD LIFE MAPLEWOODS Camping and Accessible Camping are about the same distance from the venues.

NO SHADE
Accessible Camping and VIP Camping are both in large open fields with no shade. Please bring a shade tarp if you would like.

THE GOOD LIFE VILLAGE, BACK FORTY, AND LUCKY LAKE
At this time, these facilities are not fully accessible. If you have an accessible RV, you may bring that for parking in Accessible Camping or in GOOD LIFE VIP MAPLEWOODS Campground.

SHUTTLE SERVICE   
There will be limited golf cart shuttle service for a fee. This is the first year for the festival and for the shuttle service. I would not rely on this service to always get you where you want to go when you want to get there. Please come prepared to get yourself around this large site.

RESERVED VIEWING AREAS
ROTHBURY will have reserved viewing areas for guests who use wheelchairs or who have significant mobility disabilities. If you do not use a wheelchair, but have a permanent mobility disability or significant temporary mobility disability and would find it very difficult to stand in the general audience area, stop by the Access Center for a pass to these areas. Those with slight injuries are not eligible.

Some chairs are provided but we cannot promise that there will be enough for everyone. If you must have a chair, bring along a low folding chair.

Each person with a mobility disability may bring one companion into the reserved seating area. Families, consisting of no more than two adults and any children under 18 may all come into the area together. 

We ask that only those that need to use reserved seating apply. Space is limited and we want to have enough space for those who truly need it. We appreciate your cooperation.

ACCESSIBLE VENUES
Most of the performances and activities are accessible. There may be an exception or two and we are working on that.

POWERED MOBILITY DEVICES
Motorized wheelchairs and three or four-wheeled scooters are allowed at Rothbury. For safety reasons in this crowded environment, guests may not use golf carts, all terrain vehicles, two-wheeled scooters or any other motorized mobility devices.

MANUAL WHEELCHAIR RENTAL
Manual wheelchair rental is available from Airway Oxygen, Inc. in Muskegon. Call (877) 570-2270 or email rrobbins at airwayoxygeninc dot com to reserve a chair. Make your reservations early as there are a limited number of chairs available. Chairs must be picked up and dropped off during business hours, Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM. A weekend rental price of $40 is available for chairs picked up Thursday morning and returned Monday morning.

RECHARGE
There is no electricity in the campgrounds. The Access Center (open from 10 AM to 10 PM) will have power. Guests may plug in for recharging medical equipment. There are a limited number of outlets and we cannot take responsibility for any equipment. While we do offer this as a convenience, you are responsible for charging your own equipment. You may use an AC/DC power converter and plug into your vehicle.  They range in wattage from 150W up to 5000W.  The ones under 400W may be plugged directly into a cigarette lighter socket and provide 1-2 conventional 110V outlets.  They can be found in most camping equipment stores or through general catalogs such as Heartland America. Type “inverter” into the search box. Please read the manuals and select a system that will work with your particular equipment.

ACCESSIBLE PORTABLE TOILETS
In each cluster of portable toilets, you will find at least one accessible portable toilet. There will be additional accessible toilets in the Accessible Camping area.

ACCESSIBLE SHOWERS
There will be accessible showers in the Accessible Camping area and in the Accessible VIP Camping area. There is a fee for showers.

ACCESSIBLE ATMS
There will be an accessible ATM near the entrance to the venue.


SERVICES FOR OUR GUESTS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION

BRAILLE
Braille programming information will be available at the Access Center or you may request that we mail a copy to you in advance. Please make your request no later than June 18. 

LARGE PRINT
Large Print programming information will be available at the Access Center.

GUIDE SERVICE
A one-time guided tour is available to guests who are blind or have low vision. Please make a reservation by June 18 so that we may schedule a volunteer for that time.


SERVICES FOR OUR GUESTS WHO ARE DEAF OR ARE HARD OF HEARING

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
American Sign Language interpreters are available. Please make your request as soon as you know which performers you would like to see. As you know, it takes time to get the information that we need from the musicians and it takes time for the interpreters to practice. We would appreciate three weeks or more advance notice and no less than two weeks, please. The Access Center will be the base for the Interpreter team, and you can find a schedule of interpreted events posted there as well.


MEDICAL

MEDICAL CENTER
There is a medical center on site with ambulances standing by. The nearest hospital is about seven miles away. There is also a medevac helicopter nearby. There are two pharmacies, in nearby towns, within ten miles of ROTHBURY.

MEDICINE
People bringing medicines or who use syringes, must show medication in prescription packaging, with your name on the label, and a photo ID. 

If you need a cool place to store your meds, there is a refrigerator at the Medical Tent next to the Access Center.


BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE

SERVICE ANIMALS
Guests with disabilities may bring a service animal that is trained to assist that person. Service animals must remain on a leash in this large, crowded environment. Disruptive or dangerous animals will have to leave the site.

So that we don’t have to dig it out of the treads in our sneakers, there will be a relief area where you may walk your animal along the side of the Accessible Camping area. Look for signs.

Some service animals may find the summer heat and distances difficult. If it would help your service animal perform its job better, your service animal may camp in the Accessible Camping area. Of course, you’ll have to camp there as well. If you don’t have an accessible parking tag, write to access at rothburyfestival dot com, no later than June 18.

Service animals are not pets. We love your pets almost as much as you do, but they are not allowed at ROTHBURY. Click here [link to 6.4.0 Festival Details] for a list of kennels.

WHAT WE DO NOT PROVIDE
We do not provide push service or personal care service.


We look forward to seeing YOU at ROTHBURY!