Mobility Impaired Attendees
Scooter and Wheelchair Rental
Scooters and wheelchairs can be rented from Lance Sizemore with Rollin' On The River by calling 513-582-6526. NGS recommends that you make your reservation by 1 March 2012 to ensure availability. Rented equipment will be delivered to and picked up from the conference hotels.
Convention Center
The Duke Energy Convention Center is an ADA compliant facility with wheelchair ramps, elevator standards, door width standards, and rest room accessibility.
Lecture rooms at the conference
The back row of lecture rooms will be reserved for wheelchairs and scooters. Signs will be posted on the back of the chairs that are directly in front of this row. This will allow people in wheelchairs and scooters to wheel in and out easily. Room monitors will be available to help with placement.
Those who are in a wheelchair or scooter and have hearing difficulties may request a place in the front of the room. Please arrive to the room at least 30 minutes before the session begins so that arrangements can be made with the room monitor to seat you in the front.
Wheelchairs and scooters will not be permitted to park in the aisles as it creates a safety hazard.
Lectures will be held on the second floor north and south meeting rooms, exhibits on the first floor in Exhibit Hall A, and meals on the third floor, Junior Ballroom. All rooms will be identified in the conference program which will be distributed at conference check-in.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
All areas of the airport are handicap accessible. Skycaps and airline personnel are available if assistance is needed.
Hotels
Most of the hotels have handicap rooms. Room accessibility features will differ with each hotel and possibly within a hotel. Please contact the hotel and speak to them about your specific needs to acquire the best room for you.
Parking
Handicap parking for the convention center is located in Lot E, closest to Exhibit Hall C. The hotels have handicap parking for hotel guests.
Skywalk and going from hotels to the Duke Energy Convention Center
All conference hotels are connected to the convention center via a skywalk. However, the skywalk is not handicap accessible through many doors leading to the convention center. If you choose to use the skywalk, you may need to have someone with you to open doors.
Except in inclement weather, the street level sidewalks are a better option. To get from the hotels to the ramp at the east concourse entrance of the convention center:
Millennium: From the front doors, go across Elm Street.
Hyatt: From the front doors, turn left ½ block on Fifth Street, cross Elm Street and then Fifth Street.
Hilton: From the hotel, cross to the north side of Fifth Street at Race Street. The sidewalk on this side is smooth whereas the sidewalk on the south side is brick and will make for a bumpy ride in a scooter or wheelchair. Proceed one block to Elm Street and cross.
Events
For details about these and other events, see the NGS 2012 Family History Conference Registration Brochure.
Tuesday, 8 May 2012, Tour of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
The tour features limited walking and will accommodate most individuals who can enter a motor coach with limited assistance.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012, Museum Center Tour and Dinner
Buses will accommodate most individuals who can enter a motor coach with limited assistance. The museum is too far to ride a scooter or wheelchair. For information about accessibility at the museum, visit http://www.cincymuseum.org/visit
Thursday, 10 May 2012, Evening at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
The event does not include transportation. The museum is about one-half mile or six blocks from the hotels and convention center. There are sidewalks the entire route for scooter or wheelchair travel. Attendees may also take a taxi or use their own transportation. Parking is available in the Central Riverfront Parking Garage. The Freedom Center is handicap accessible, call 513.333.7504 for details.
Maps
Click here for the map of the Duke Energy Convention Center and the adjoining hotels and buildings.
Click here for a map of the Duke Energy Convention Center, which shows the layout of the building including elevators and escalators. The Elm Street elevator goes from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor, and the 6th Street elevator goes from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. Signs with this information will be posted near the elevators.
Questions? Contact the NGS Conference Manager at conference@ngsgenealogy.org.
