To make Facing Race as welcoming as possible, we have included the following information for all participants to use in creating an accessible conference community. Below you will find information about Bathrooms, Physical and Emotional Accessibility, Language Accessibility, Childcare, and Self-Organized Religious Services. If you have any questions, please contact Hiba Elyass at facingrace@raceforward.org.
Bathrooms
Most bathrooms in the Facing Race conference space are designated by gender — Men and Women. Most of the bathrooms will be designated and marked All-Gender restrooms located on either the 1st or 2nd Floor. Please use the restroom of your choosing and allow other participants to do the same. “Gender policing” or claims that others are using the “wrong bathroom” are prohibited. All listed bathrooms are wheelchair accessible and contain multiple stalls.
Accessibility
Race Forward strives to make Facing Race 2024 accessible for all attendees. Please keep in mind that some disabilities are less visible.
Service Assistance & Guide Dogs
Do not pet, offer food to, or interact with guide dogs. These dogs support independence and autonomy. They are working, and thus, it is important not to distract them.
Physical Accessibility
Move chairs to make room for people using wheelchairs wherever they wish to sit. Keep the aisles clear to ensure people can move around freely. When navigating public spaces, including but not limited to elevators, leave plenty of room for people to pass and enter safely. Participants can rent accessibility equipment such as motorized scooters and medical equipment through the service providers below:
Medical West Healthcare
Hours: M-F 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Contact: Emily Wefenstette
Phone: 314-725-1888
Website: www.medicalwesthealthcare.com
| Item | Daily | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Wheelchair | N/A | $30 | $90 |
| Deposit | $90 | $90 | $90 |
Note: Equipment must be picked up from the Medical West Healthcare office by renter. Delivery service is not available.
Mobility City
Hours: M-F 9:00 am-5:00 pm, SAT 8:00 am-12noon
Contact: Noelle Humphrey
COO Phone: 636-329-6367
Website: www.mobilitycity.com
| Item | Daily | Weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Wheelchair | $25 | $55 |
| Schooter | $80 | $125 |
| Power Wheelchair | $125 | $150 |
Note: A rental deposit is placed on our equipment but is not charged at the time of the rental. Deposits will be applied to rental only if the customer did not return or the equipment was damaged. Delivery fee is $25.00
Scootaround Mobility Solutions
Hours: M-F: 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Contact: Nicole Sul
Phone: 888-441-7575, ext. 6222
Email: nsul@scootaround.com
Website: www.scootaround.com
Items available for rent: Manual wheelchairs, scooters and power chairs. Pricing depends on height, weight and equipment needed. Please call for further information. Notes: Rates may be reduced depending upon the number of wheelchairs/scooters rented. Flat rental fee is available for a fleet of chairs. Delivery and pick-up fees are dependent upon the number of wheelchairs or scooters rented and the location of the delivery.
Language
In consideration of those for whom spoken English is not their first language, speak at a moderate volume and pace. When engaging with someone using an interpreter, address the person you are speaking with and not the intepreter. Language translation (ASL and Spanish) will be available during plenary sessions.
Lactation Pods
There is 1 Mamava Pod located within the America’s Center available for use at any time. We have also partnered with our very own Host Committee member Sandra Thornhill to curate the Womb Goddess Nourishment Suite, an additional space to prepare, share and store nourishment offerings. The suite will be in room 256.
Childcare
Childcare will be provided be on-site during the conference. Childcare will be offered on the 2nd floor in room 264:
-
Nov 21 8am - 6pm
-
Nov 21 8pm - 12am
-
Nov 22 8am - 4pm
Childcare is only available for those who have reserved their slot during registration. We will not be able to accommodate any onsite registration for childcare.
Safety Team
There will be a Safety Team available in person during plenary and workshop times for confidential peer support and advocacy. They will be identified by their badges, and participants are free to approach them for support services at any point. Safety Teams attempt to problem-solve, mediate, and offer support to attendees during an event to support a transformative justice and healing justice framework. If you or someone you know experiences harm such as sexual, verbal, or physical harassment by conference goers or non-conference goers, Police violence, or otherwise is made to feel unsafe during the conference, please reach out to the safety team. Our Safety Team is modeled after the Audre Lorde Project’s Safe OUTside the System Collective’s model and includes members from the local Detroit community, Black people and people of color, transgender people, women and femmes, and people who believe in building safety that doesn’t rely on police/government. Some have formal crisis intervention training, and others who are working with only informal experience-based training. For more information on the model for this work, visit www.alp.org.
Wellness Space
This year at Facing Race, we are pleased to offer a dedicated Wellness Space designed to provide a sanctuary for rest, reflection, and renewal. Recognizing the challenges and traumas that can impact us, this space is available for attendees to recharge and find support in an environment focused on holistic well-being. The Wellness Space will offer resources and support to address the wellness needs of heart, mind, body, and soul.
We are honored to partner with Power4STL, a community of health leaders dedicated to reducing the impact of trauma related to bullet injuries within the St. Louis region and beyond. Through a holistic approach that prioritizes community healing and comprehensive wellness, Power4STL addresses trauma on every level, empowering individuals and communities to find resilience and healing. In alignment with the conference’s transformative justice values, our Wellness Space is here to foster self-care, collective care, and healing for all Facing Race attendees.