ACCESSIBILITY
Beach Road Weekend Festival’s Accessibility Guide
For Patrons with Disabilities
Last updated 8-7-2023
1. Accessibility information
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Pre- or Post-Festival Questions: Email info@beachroadweekend.com.
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Questions During the Festival: Stop by the Access Center inside the venue. The Access Center services are listed below.
2. REQUESTING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
If you need an accommodation not listed in this Guide, please make your request as soon as possible by writing to info@beachroadweekend.com. The sooner we know, the more likely it is that we can provide the accommodation. We may not be able to accommodate last-minute requests. Please include your phone number.
3. Getting to the Festival
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See the Getting There and Shuttles & Parking tabs.
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The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority busses are accessible.
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Cottage City Cab Company, (508) 693-3500, uses a mini-van and is capable of transporting persons using manual chairs who can transfer on their own. Call or text in advance to make a reservation.
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The distance from the Vineyard Haven ferry terminal to the festival’s Access Entrance at 21 Beach Street, is about 1,000’.
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The Beach Road Weekend shuttle program offers wheelchair accessible shuttles. If you require an accessible shuttle, please arrive at the shuttle stop of your choosing, and notify the shuttle attendant. They will call to have the accessible shuttle dispatched to you! This procedure will be the same when you are leaving the festival as well."
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- ​The MVTA operates The Lift paratransit service for those who have previously registered for the service.
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Accessible Drop-Off and Pick-Up Locations (no parking):
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21 Beach Street, next door to the Harbor Landing. This entrance is for patrons with disabilities and their companions. It is the shortest route to the festival. Use the paved bike path to get to the venue (about 250’). There is no Box Office at this entrance. Use the Main Entrance if you need the Box Office.
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Beach Street and Lagoon Pond Road intersection, (about 1,000’ to the Main Entrance).
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Lagoon Pond Road and Skiff Avenue intersection, (about 1,500’ to the Main Entrance).
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Main Entrance Access Lane: Patrons with disabilities and their companions may use the Access Lane on the left side of the Main Entrance. Look for the sign with the wheelchair symbol.
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Box Office: The Box Office at the Main Entrance has an accessible lane. Look for the sign with the wheelchair symbol.
4. INSIDE THE VENUE
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Venue Description: Veterans Memorial Park is a large field with mowed grass. The ground is a firm, mostly flat surface with little change in the terrain. This grass can become muddy, less firm, or uneven depending on the weather. The distance from one end of the festival to the other is about 700’.
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The Access Center: We are an information and assistance booth for patrons with disabilities. We are located just inside the 21 Beach Street Access Entrance to the festival, on the left. Stop by to:
o check out a wristband giving permission to use the reserved viewing areas for patrons with disabilities.
o get the code to the locked toilets reserved for patrons with disabilities.
o pick up the braille or Large Print, or Dyslexia friendly font copy of the program schedule that you reserved, or to read the extra copy we keep at the Center. To reserve your copy, write to info@beachroadweekend.com at least 2 week before the festival.
o meet up for a guided tour of the venue available to patrons who are blind or have low vision. Write to info@beachroadweekend.com to make a reservation. We may be able to accommodate a last-minute request.
o recharge your powered mobility or medical device.
o learn where the service animal relief area is located.
o fill out a survey about the Access Program.
o rest in the shade of the Access Center. -
Reserved Viewing Area: The viewing area for patrons with disabilities is on a raised platform in front of the Sky Deck in the middle of the field. Folding chairs are provided. Enter from the northeastern side of the Sky DeckDeck (the entrance has moved since 2022). Look for signs with the wheelchair symbol. Patrons using this area must have a disability that makes it very difficult to stand in the audience. To gain access to the viewing platform, stop by the Access Center to check out an access wristband.
o Companion Policy: Each person with a disability may bring one companion into the reserved viewing area. Families, consisting of no more than two adults and any children less than 18 years of age, when one member of the family has a disability, may stay together in the reserved areas. -
Accessible Toilets: There are accessible portable toilets located in each cluster of toilets. Some are locked to help them stay cleaner. Patrons with mobility disabilities, compromised immune systems, or conditions making it necessary to use the facilities with great haste, may stop at the Access Center for the code to these locks.
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Hydration Stations: The hydration water stations are staffed so are accessible.
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Charging Stations for Powered Mobility and Medical Devices: These are located at the Access Center and on the raised viewing platform.
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Mobility Devices: Only those with mobility disabilities may use mobility devices.
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What’s allowed: Power wheelchairs and three or four-wheeled mobility scooters. Manually powered mobility aids, such as walkers, crutches, canes, braces, knee scooters.
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What’s Not Allowed: For safety reasons, powered mobility devices that move faster than a walking speed or are heavier and larger than a wheelchair or scooter, including two-wheeled scooters, golf carts, or all-terrain vehicles, are NOT allowed.
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Other Devices: Other types of mobility devices will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. You must obtain permission to bring a powered mobility device other than a wheelchair or three or four-wheeled scooter. Contact info@beachroadweekend.com no later than 1 week in advance of the event. Include the name and model number and a link to the manufacturer of the other type of device.
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Services Not Provided: The festival does not provide wheelchair push service or personal care attendants.
5. SENSORY CALM SPACE AND MOM SPACE
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The Calm Space: The Calm Space is in the Access Center (see map). The Calm Space is a tent with sides to reduce visual stimulation and offers a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Earplugs are provided but patrons are welcome to bring their own noise-cancelling headphones.
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The Mom Space: This is a private space in the Access Center where moms may nurse or pump or change baby’s diaper (but please note Beach Road Weekend does not provide wipes, diapers, etc). A table and chairs and a place to plug in a pump, and a comfortable chair for nursing, are provided.
6. MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND MEDICATION POLICIES
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Accommodations at the entrances: Write to info@beachroadweekend.com if you need permission to bring in a prohibited item because of a medical condition or disability. All possessions brought into the venue are subject to search. See "allowed and prohibited items - 1" on the information tab for more specific details or email info@beachroadweekend.com if you would like confirm your specific request.
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Syringes: A patron requiring medication that is administered via syringe must bring medication in prescription packaging with name on the label and current photo ID.
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Medication: Bring enough prescription medication for personal use only. An excess of medications is not allowed. Do not mix types of meds in one container. Each medication must be in its own prescription packaging with the person’s name on the label that matches the person’s current photo ID.
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Medication Requiring Refrigeration: Patrons may bring a small, soft-sided cooler (max size 6"x8") in which to keep medication or breastmilk. Please enter through the accessibility entrance, and once inside the festival grounds, you may keep your cooler at the accessibility center, and return to it throughout the day to access your medication. Patrons are not permitted to carry coolers around the festival grounds. Please email info@beachroadweekend.com ahead of time to let us know you will be bringing in a cooler. Be sure to label your cooler with both name and phone number!
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Medical Personnel: Medical Staff will be based in the Medical Tent located in the northeast corner of the festival and will be roaming on site. The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is located 1.5 miles from the Park. There are several pharmacies on the island.
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Pacemakers: If you use a pacemaker, use the Access Lane at the entrance and inform gate staff before going through metal detectors so that they may use a hand-wand.
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Special Dietary Needs: We have gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, and vegan food options at the festival. Re-entry is permitted until 6PM daily if you would prefer to exit the festival to eat, and reenter. Otherwise, outside food is allowed into the festival grounds within a soft-sided cooler (6"x8" max). Please enter through the accessibility entrance, and once inside the festival grounds, you may keep your cooler at the accessibility center, and return to it throughout the day to access your food. Patrons are not permitted to carry coolers around the festival grounds. Please email info@beachroadweekend.com ahead of time to let us know you will be bringing in a cooler. Be sure to label your cooler with both name and phone number!
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Chairs: Patrons may bring chairs under 30" height into festival grounds. Patrons with disabilities who need different chair accommodations may use the folding chairs on the raised viewing platform after checking in with our access center once inside the festival.
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Breastfeeding / Breastfeeding Equipment: Patrons who are breastfeeding are allowed to bring pumping equipment and a small cooler for milk storage into the festival grounds. Stop by the access center to learn where to replenish ice. To bring this equipment into the festival, enter through the accessible entrance and note any equipment brought into the grounds is subject to search. Please also see information about the Mom Space under number 5 on this accessibility page.
7. SERVICE ANIMALS
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Pets are not allowed at the festival. Persons with disabilities and their service dogs or miniature horses that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for those persons with disabilities are welcome.
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It is best to enter using the Access Entrance at 21 Beach Street. For safety purposes, festival staff at the entrance will perform a short service animal screening and issue a festival tag to service animals. After entering the festival, stop by the Access Center to learn the location of the service animal relief area, and additional services.
• If a service animal does not comply with the following, its handler may need to take it home, and the handler will be allowed to return without the animal (please note reentry to the festival ends at 6PM daily). -
Service animals must:
o be housebroken.
o be under control, on leash, harness, or tether, unless the handler cannot use these and uses voice, hand signals or other methods instead.
o not threaten the health or safety of any person or animal.