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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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No Barriers Festival 2009 at Shake-A-Leg Miami
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Staff
Nicole Deters Spader
Executive Director
Jackie Craig
Event Coordinator
Board of Directors
Erik Weihenmayer, Chair
Mike Savicki, Treasurer
Hugh Herr, Ph.D.
Mark Wellman
Jim Goldsmith, Director Emeritus
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In case you are wondering...
We are only one week away from No Barriers Festival 2009 at Shake-A-Leg Miami and we have the answers to your frequently asked questions!
What is the one place I can go to find the schedule, list of sponsors and supporters, media and public relations information, maps and hotel listings as well as registration information and scholarship support?
You can find all this information at www.nobarriersusa.org.
Can I still register? Is it too late?
It is NOT too late to register either online or in person. Online registration will remain open until June 1 and then our focus shifts to Miami. Swing by Shake-A-Leg Miami and register from June 4-7, 2009.
Can I come for just one day?
Absolutely! You can join us whenever your schedule allows. Check out the Symposium in the morning and come back to hear an evening speaker. Join us on Friday and Saturday afternoons for a few interactive clinics. Engage your brain on Sunday morning at the Roundtable. The choice is yours...
What should I wear?
We recommend comfortable, casual clothing for all activities. Make sure to bring your sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, your camera, and for water-based activities your swimsuit. Stay hydrated, too! If you plan to participate in any clinics or outings, check out the list of recommended gear that is posted on the No Barriers USA website.
What are my transportation options? Will there be shuttles to and from the University of Miami dorms to Shake-A-Leg's sea base?
If you are arriving by airplane and need transportation from the airport, we recommend taking a cab or shuttle to your hotel or the University of Miami dorm at Pearson Hall. Yes, there will be shuttles to and from the dorms to the Shake-A-Leg campus once you arrive. And when you get to the Festival (or want to explore the Coconut Grove area), the local Coconut Grove bus runs regularly for $.25 and it will take you all around the neighborhood, to the metro rail line and to other bus lines.
Can I come to just certain parts of the event each day?
Absolutely! The Festival typically begins at 8:00 am and concludes by 10:30 pm (or before). Join us for the Symposium at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove on Friday and Saturday mornings then head over to the Shake-A-Leg Miami sea base for the afternoon and evening. Come back for our evening speakers and film festival, or simply stop by and wander through Innovation Village and check-out the Interactive Clinics. It's your choice.
What the heck is Innovation Village?
Innovation Village is the place where people come together to exchange ideas, explore new technologies, try a few assistive devices and learn. It will be packed with amazing companies and organizations showcasing the latest in adaptive technologies, equipment and services. Participants will be able to interact with exhibitors - the experts in their industries - and build their knowledge. You will not only leave with information about equipment and products, you'll feel empowered once you realize that your input counts. The experts want to learn from you, too. You have a voice in developing the solutions that will help you break through barriers and reach your potential. At Innovation Village, you will shape the future.
Wait, there's more...Innovation Village will also host some amazing pioneers who have shattered barriers in their fields. Meet them up close and personal and get a signed book. Are you in a disabled rock band? Swing by Innovation Village and schedule a time to rock the house. Do you work for a company that is coming out with a new product that will benefit the disabled? Find a home in Innovation Village.
Where exactly is the festival being held? Where is Shake-A-Leg Miami and what's the deal with The Ritz-Carlton?
No Barriers Festival 2009 at Shake-A-Leg Miami is located at the coast guard hangar and adjacent three-story building at 2620 South Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida. The Ritz-Carlton is located at 3300 SW 27th Avenue - just five blocks from Shake-A-Leg. The Symposium and some evening events take place at The Ritz-Carlton and everything else is at Shake-A-Leg's waterfront facility. We have downloadable maps online and you can follow the banners and signage to the Festival. They are already hanging along US 1 and in the Grove. You can't miss us!
Where do I check-in and sign-up for clinics?
Check-in, on-site registration and clinic sign-up will open at 4:30 pm at Shake-A-Leg on Thursday, June 4. If you are not arriving until Friday or Saturday, check-in, registration and clinic sign-up will be open from 7:30 am to 10:30 am at The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom and from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm at Shake-A-Leg. On Sunday, it will be open at Shake-A-Leg from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
We will have a long list of clinic sessions waiting for you when you arrive at Festival 2009. Clinic sign-up is on a "first come, first serve" basis (with the exception of the dolphin clinics --- you need to preregister for those online). So, take a look at Festival 2009 clinics online to get an idea of what you'd like to do and then leave the rest up to us. We will make it easy.
How come there is registration on the last day? That is a great question. For those of you who can only make it for a day, we want to ensure that your one day is a great day.
Where can I park?
If you are driving to Festival 2009, there are many places to park nearby. You can find parking on the street as well as in the parking ramp of the SBS building right across from Shake-A-Leg. There are also public parking ramps and lots at The Ritz-Carlton and other neighboring locations.
Why is it called a Festival?
Our event is called a "Festival" because of its feel. While there will be all sorts of scheduled activities, excursions and clinics, there will be also be plenty of time to hang around Shake-A-Leg, meet a variety of people, catch some amazing speakers, interact with entertainers, watch movies and participate in art and cultural programs.
Imagine the scene...the same off-road handcycles that have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro will tackle the curbs, obstacles and impediments of Miami Dade County; talking GPS devices will allow the blind to navigate Miami's neighborhoods, shopping malls, coffee shops and attractions; paraplegic and amputee golfers will try adaptive carts and swing modified clubs under the Miami sun; and adaptive yoga classes, trekkers and Nordic walkers will fill Kennedy Park and Coco Walk. Can wheelchair users participate in fencing? How can someone with a disability dance so beautifully? Is that Molly the Pony? Now look out over Biscayne Bay. Does that stand-up paddler only have one leg? Is that windsurfer sitting down? How can swimmers move so fast using their arms only? Why are there all those wheelchairs on the dock? Is it safe to let blind sailors steer a boat alone? What's next in research? There has never been a Festival that brings together land and water-based recreational activities with art, culture, music, science and technology. There has never been a Festival that celebrates disability and challenge. There has never been a No Barriers Festival in Miami until now. Shatter your own personal barriers...whatever they are. No Barriers Festival at Shake-A-Leg Miami is for everyone.
There is still time to join us in Miami.....pack your bags!
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The Ritz-Carlton
Coconut Grove, Miami
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No Barriers USA is funded by donations and sponsorships.
No Barriers USA is a not-for-profit corporation as designated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Please make contributions payable to: No Barriers USA
No Barriers USA
PO Box 27
Minneapolis, MN 55364
Ph: 952.472.2400 Fax: 501.647.4357
info@NoBarriersUSA.org
www.NoBarriersUSA.org
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