2010 DISABILITY ASSISTANCE

THE IOWA STATE FAIR, America's classic state fair, welcomes everyone to its celebration of pride and achievement held annually in August.

SCOOTER and WHEELCHAIR RENTALS: Reservations will be accepted for wheelchairs and electric scooters. A limited number of wheelchairs and electric scooters will be available for walk-up customers on a first come, first serve basis. Wheelchairs rent for $15 per day; electric scooters rent for $55 per full day or $35 for half a day (6 hours). Security deposit of a driver’s license, debit or credit card is required for rentals. Cash, check and credit or debit cards are acceptable forms of payment. Wheelchairs and scooters must be returned by 10 p.m. Rentals are handled by HomeTown Mobility of Hartley, Iowa. Approximately 90 – 100 electric scooters and 45 wheelchairs will be available each day. Rental locations are at Gate #11 and #15 (click here for a Fairgrounds map).

It is strongly encouraged that patrons wishing to rent these mobility aids reserve them by calling HomeTown Mobility at 877/928-5388 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance and are limited to half of the available units, so reserve early to be assured a unit. Reservations will only be accepted for full day rentals. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund, less a $5 cancellation charge.

THE FAIR BOARD is committed to making the Fair’s 445-acre, 124-year-old facility accessible to all. No qualified individual shall, on the basis of disability be excluded from participating in or be denied the benefits of public services, programs or activities held on the Fairgrounds.

ADA/DISABLED PARKING: The largest area of parking reserved for visitors with disabilities is located in the North Lot. Admission to this lot is through Gate #2 at East 33rd Street and East University Avenue. Vehicles with a DOT parking permit or a license plate designating a disabled driver or passenger will be directed to the reserved parking area north of the Grandstand racetrack. Vehicle parking fee is $10 on a space-available basis; some hard-packed surface parking is available.

Additional parking for people with disabilities is located on the inner Fairgrounds, accessible through Gate #10 at East 30th and Walnut Streets. Vehicles must have DOT parking permits or license plates designating a disabled driver or passenger. Inner grounds parking is $10 on a space-available basis.

Some hard-packed surface parking is available; however, the age and the rolling nature of the terrain means most of the parking area is unpaved. Designated accessible parking spaces on main streets in the inner grounds will not be available during the Fair.

Whether entering at Gate #2 or #10, parking personnel will do their best to direct disabled visitors’ vehicles to the closest, most convenient parking available. As north parking lots fill on high attendance days, the Des Moines Police Department determines when outside gates to the Fairgrounds are opened and closed. When one gate closes, generally, another is opened to assist in keeping traffic congestion on city streets to a minimum.

ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES: Available for the Cattle Barn Penningroth Media Center, Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, Sheep Barn Sale Ring and Swine Barn Sale Ring when the State Fair sound system is being used. For more information, call 515/262-3111, ext. 522, at least 48 hours in advance.

During the 11 days of the Fair, a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) will be available 24 hours a day for outgoing local/credit calls located outside The Des Moines Register Service Center, west of the Administration Building.

BUILDINGS: Ramps, curb cuts, street-level entrances and observation ramps make most buildings and facilities accessible to those using mobility aids. Accessible seating is available in the Grandstand and Pioneer Livestock Pavilion. Low-mount telephones are also provided. Donations from Iowans across the state have paid for the replacement of many blocks of sidewalks, eliminating many ruts, cracks and bumps.

FIRST AID: Hy-Vee First Aid and Health Center is located east of the John Deere Agriculture Building. A satellite station is located in The Des Moines Register Service Center, west of the Administration Building. Both are staffed by representatives of the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross.

GRANDSTAND SEATING: When ordering Grandstand tickets through Ticketmaster or the State Fair Ticket Office, please request seating for the disabled; room for one person and one companion will be provided in an accessible seating area. For information on Grandstand shows and ticket buying procedures, call 515/262-3111 ext. 305.

PAGING: Representatives of the Iowa State Fair Public Safety Department offer paging for lost children, senior citizens and medical emergencies ONLY from 8 a.m. to Midnight in The Des Moines Register Service Center, located west of the Administration Building. After Midnight this service is available at Iowa State Fair Public Safety headquarters, located at the west end of the Grand Concourse.

RESTROOMS: Facilities with ramps, widened doorways, handrails and stalls built to accommodate those using mobility aids are available in major buildings across the Fairgrounds. They include The Des Moines Register Service Center, Grandstand, Walnut Center, Elwell Family Food Center, Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center, 4-H Exhibits Building, Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center, William C. Knapp Varied Industries Buildings, the Horse, Cattle, Sheep and Swine Barns, plus facilities east of the Susan Knapp Amphitheater and north of Ye Old Mill.

SHUTTLE SERVICES:

1. Iowa Telecom trams provide convenient transportation from north parking lots to several Fairgrounds locations. Operating daily beginning at 8 a.m., trams feature a curbside electric/hydraulic lift, making them wheelchair accessible.
   
   Inner grounds boarding points: adjacent to the East Skyglider aerial tramway on the Grand Concourse; the west end of the Grand Concourse, across from Public Safety; adjacent to Elwell Family Food Center; the northeast corner of the Sheep Barn; north of the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion; northwest of the Cultural Center; adjacent to Grandfather's Barn; and adjacent to the Richard O. Jacobson Hall. Livestock traffic or special events may occasionally shut down portions or entire shuttle service for short periods of time.
   
   
2. Free Campgrounds shuttles beginning at 8 a.m. daily. One wheelchair-accessible unit will be available approximately every 15 minutes. Operated by the Clearfield Lions and pulled by John Deere tractors, these shuttles run continuously round-trip between the Campgrounds, Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, Richard L. Easter Museum Complex and the inner grounds.
   
   
3. Golf-cart mini-shuttle service (not wheelchair accessible) from north parking lots to inner gates is available all 11 days, beginning at 8 a.m. This service is provided by the Des Moines Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. While offered as a free service, riders are encouraged to make donations to the Crippled Children's Hospital and Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Transportation Fund. Golf carts are not available for rent for reasons of safety and liability.
   
   
4. Convenient DART State Fair Park 'n' Ride Buses make getting to the Fair easier. Parking is free at all locations. Most buses are wheelchair-accessible. Click here for details.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS: Sign language interpreters will be on hand at the Governor’s VSA arts of Iowa’s Festival in Fun Forest to assist visitors with hearing loss. All shows on the Hy-Vee Fun Forest Stage will be ASL interpreted. To arrange for a sign language interpreter for a specific event, please call 515/262-3111, ext. 222 at least one week in advance.

SPECIAL FAIR DAYS:
Wednesday, August 18: Older Iowans’ Day
Gate admission will be $7 for persons age 60 and over. Groups traveling by bus on August 18 may enter through Gate #2, purchase tickets at Gate #15 and continue riding the bus into the Fairgrounds to unload at Ye Old Mill on the Grand Concourse. The driver may then relocate the bus to the parking lot (remembering to ask for proper re-entry credentials) and return later in the day to pick up passengers at the same location.

Friday, August 20: Building Bridges Day
Building Bridges - Pathways to Accessibility is a group of individuals and agencies who have partnered to bring Fairgoers information about products and services available to Iowans with disabilities. Building Bridges Day promotes increased awareness and quality of life issues for people with disabilities.

STORAGE FACILITIES: Available just west of the Administration Building. $3 for 4 hours or $5 for all day. (Fees subject to change.)

Suggestions for improvements and additional services are always welcomed by the Fair Board, which will continue efforts to make the Fairgrounds accessible to everyone.

Renovation always complies with federal specifications and guidelines related to accessibility. A drive to raise approximately $60 million to renovate and restore the facility is underway. As maintenance and modernization funds become available, the special needs of all Iowans will be kept foremost in mind.

Questions? Call 515/262-3111 or 800/545-FAIR. Or email info@iowastatefair.org.