Disability Services

Disability Services provides assistance for the special needs of Chicon 7 members. If you or your family or friends have any special needs, please contact us at

. We will try our best to answer your questions or provide the service you need.

Meet the Team

The Chicon 7 Disability Services team is led by Cori Callicotte and W. A. (Bill) Thomasson (Deputy). Both Cori and Bill have worked with Disability Services at previous conventions and each understands special needs from a personal perspective: Cori uses a scooter and Bill is visually impaired (legally blind). The team looks forward to meeting all of you in Chicago and to helping you have a comfortable and enjoyable Worldcon.

Scooters and Wheelchairs

Electric scooters and manual wheelchairs are available to be rented for the duration of Chicon 7. We have both standard model scooters (holds up to 250 pounds) and heavy-duty model scooters (holds up to 400 pounds) as well as wheelchairs. If you need one, or just want more information, please let us know.

• The rental price for both regular and heavy-duty scooters is $200 for the run of the convention. The rental price for wheelchairs is $125 for the run of the convention.
• Scooters and wheelchairs will be available at Chicon 7 starting on Tuesday, August 28 and must be turned in on Monday, September 3 by 5 p.m. This return time is unfortunately inflexible due to circumstances beyond our control.
• Scooters and wheelchairs must be reserved in advance, and payment will be required at the time of reservation. Payment by check must be received by August 17, 2012.

Pay online by filling out the Scooter Request form, or
download our paper Scooter/Wheelchair Reservation Form and postal mail it with a check payable to 'Chicon 7' to:

    Scooter Rental
    Chicon 7
    P.O. Box 13
    Skokie, IL 60076

If you would like a scooter for after the convention it may be possible to make private arrangements with Scootaround, but that will be independent of the convention's arrangements and will be a separate charge. If you find you cannot attend Chicon or you need to cancel your rental, you have until August 19th to do so. Your payment will be refunded if you cancel by this date.

Publications

We expect to have the printed pocket program available in large-type format. If you are interested in this service, please contact us so we can make sure the supply meets the demand.

ASL Interpreters

Disability Services is looking for some ASL interpreters. If you or someone you know would like to help in this area please contact us. At present we cannot offer any compensation beyond Volunteer hours.

Reserved Seating for Events

We will have some seating at big events reserved for those with accessible needs.

Getting Around Chicago

Very good information about getting around Chicago, including the phone number for accessible taxis, is available at http://easyaccesschicago.org/transportation/. However, this site assumes that all people with disabilities will be using paratransit services rather than regular public transportation. All Chicago buses are wheelchair accessible and have very good audible and visual announcements of upcoming stops. Most, but not all, 'L'/subway stops are accessible. Unfortunately, the 'L' stop nearest the hotel, at State & Lake, is not accessible, although the Red Line subway station at this same intersection is. The Clark & Lake stop, about 0.6 mile from the hotel, is accessible and serves all other 'L' and subway lines.

Arriving in Chicago

The regular shuttle coaches from the airports to downtown hotels are not wheelchair accessible. However, arrangements for accessible vans can be made either by calling the shuttle service at  1-888-284-3826 (1-888-2THEVAN) or by calling SCR Medical Transportation at  1-773-768-7000. SCR provides the vans that the shuttle service uses.

• You can also call an accessible taxi at 1-800-281-4466.

• An alternative is to take the Blue Line 'L'/subway. Both the station in the O'Hare Terminal and the one at Clark & Lake (Thompson Center) where you will get off are accessible.

• From Midway, you would take the Orange Line to the same stop (Clark & Lake), which is about 0.6 miles from the hotel.

• If you arrive by Amtrak, your best bet is probably an accessible taxi.