Time for Change: Use Your Power!

Accessibility Information

Dear NCIL Conference Attendees,

Many of you have expressed valid concern about the limited accessibility at the Grand Hyatt hotel as the selected site for our Annual Conference.  I share your frustration.  Just last year our staff and Board of Directors considered every hotel in the Washington, DC area.  The few hotels that are large enough for our group are either not interested in our business, have access issues worse than the Grand Hyatt, have room rates upwards of $300/night, and/or are too far from downtown for the March & Rally.

In addition to those barriers, the new Washington Convention Center contracts with hotels to give preference to “city-wide” events, excluding non-profit groups like ours, whose budget-conscious events are quickly passed over by hotel revenue managers.  In fact, the only other hotels in Washington, DC large enough to host our event are the:

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• Omni Shoreham Hotel – Major access issues (stair-rail lift to function space); uptown location is too far for march to US Capitol;

• Marriott Wardman Park – Major access issues (perched atop a very steep hill); uptown location is too far for march to US Capitol;
  
  
• Renaissance Washington DC Hotel – Lack of elevators to conference level similar to Grand Hyatt.  Also, being the closest hotel to the new Washington Convention Center, they have clearly refused to accept our business; and,
  
  
• JW Marriott Hotel, Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Capitol Hilton – all of which have nightly room rates well over $300.
  

I believe the lack of additional elevators is the only major access issue at the hotel.  While this is a significant concern, we have also received feedback from members praising the hotel for its excellent customer service, dining, location, and amenities.  Some of you have made it clear that you are offended by the suggested use of the service elevators in the hotel’s employee hallways.  We wouldn’t dare challenge those perceptions – we understand the position and plenty of NCIL staff and board members share the sentiment.  However, for other conference attendees, these additional elevators are a necessary accommodation.  We are beholden to all members as we strive to strike this delicate balance.

I hope this explains why we have chosen the Grand Hyatt, despite its lack of additional elevators to the conference level.

Regards,

John Lancaster, Executive Director

Auxiliary Aids & Services

CART (Communications Access in Real Time),  sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, personal assistants*, accessible materials, and other services will be provided upon request for all NCIL conference activities.  Please make requests on your registration form.  

*Personal Assistants will be available during conference hours only.  Please see below for information on arranging your own personal assistant service. 

Environmental / Chemical Sensitivities

For the safety and comfort of attendees with chemical or environmental sensitivities, please refrain from using perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, colognes, perfumes, fabric softeners, etc.  It is also essential that we maintain a smoke-free environment.  Please refrain from smoking in paths of travel and doorways.

Personal Assistance Coordinators

ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (CIL)
703-525-3268 (V); 703-525-3553 (TTY)
Attn: Ruchika Lalwani, PAS Coordinator

Maxim Healthcare Services
(202) 545-6980 (V); Use 711 for Relay.
clduvall@maxhealth.com (E-mail)

Wheelchair & Scooter Rental and Repair

Area Access (rental and repair)
8117 Ransell Road
Falls Church, VA 22041
Phone (voice): 1-703-573-2111
Phone (voice): 1-800-333-AREA (1-800-333-2732)
http://www.areaaccess.com/

E-Car Corporation (scooter rental)
8673 Grovemont Circle
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone (voice): 1-800-890-4251
Phone (voice): 1-301-527-6119
http://www.scooterforrent.com/
E-mail: scooter@scooterforrent.com or ecar@poltron.com
Rent a 4-wheel scooter in DC and we will deliver and pick it up from your hotel

Rehabilitation Equipment Professionals (repair)
Alexandria, VA
Phone (voice): 1-703-370-2100
Phone (voice): 1-800-291-2360
Fax: 703-370-7985
E-mail: alex@rep-inc.com
http://www.rep-inc.com/
For repairs and sales for all types of wheelchairs both motorized and manual in the DC metro area.

Roberts Home Medical (rental and repair)
20465 Seneca Meadows Parkway
Germantown, MD 20876
Phone (voice): 1-301-353-0300
Phone (voice): 1-800-807-7290
Northern Virginia: (703) 385-8018
Fax: 1-301-916-2611
E-mail: jreeves@robertsoxygen.com
http://www.robertshomemedical.com