Accessibility
Craft
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Connection
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Joy
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Grief
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Rage
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Legacy
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Possibility
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Family
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Reflection
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Friendship
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Redemption
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Wonder
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Craft • Connection • Joy • Grief • Rage • Legacy • Possibility • Family • Reflection • Friendship • Redemption • Wonder •
At the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival, we are committed to ensuring our events are as accessible as possible.
Please note that accessibility information for each individual session will be released when our full program is launched on 1 September. At this point, audience members who are D/deaf or hard of hearing will be able to request Auslan interpreters, and check which events will have live captioning services (these services will be available in the Grand Dining Room and the Katoomba Community Centre (Tibbi Whalan Hall).
If you have individual access requirements and can’t find the information you need on this page, please contact us at hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au and let us know how we can help you.
If you have questions you can also call the office on 02 4782 5674 during business hours.
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Subsidised Tickets for Patrons on a Disability Support Pension
We have received special funding this year to offer a 50 per cent discount on a limited number of Festival passes and tickets. This ticket is available for patrons on a Disability Support Pension, or for those whose income is severely impacted by their disability or a lack of access. Please note that these tickets are limited and subject to availability. To receive this discount, simply select the Disability Support Pension ticket type when purchasing your ticket from the Festival website.
Planning your journey to Katoomba
The Transport for NSW Trip Planner can help you plan any public transport to and around Katoomba. More information on the accessible travel webpage is also available to help you plan an accessible trip on public transport in NSW.
Access at Venues
Specific access information for each Festival venue is available on the venue page: bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au/venues.
All events except Inspired by Nature at Scenic World and Benjamin Law’s workshop at Blue Mountains Sauna are wheelchair accessible.
Accessible Parking
There are accessible parking spaces at the following locations:
In the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre car park (accessed via Parke Street), underneath Coles. There is lift access to the Cultural Centre from both parking levels.
At the TAFE car park, directly opposite the Parke Street entrance of The Carrington Hotel. Please note that crossing Parke Street safely from this car park requires crossing the road at the traffic island (30 metres further downhill).
In the top car park at The Carrington Hotel.
At the Megalong Valley, accessible parking is available immediately adjacent to the venue.
For wheelchair users, three spaces are available in the underground car park located to the right of The Carrington Hotel. These spaces provide access to the ramp and side entry of the hotel. To reserve a wheelchair car park spot, please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.
Note that ticket holders requiring wheelchair access to The Carrington Hotel will need to enter via the undercover car park on the right of The Carrington Hotel, where there is a small ramp to an entrance that provides flat access to The Grand Dining Room and Ballroom.
Accessible Print
If you require program information in large print or in an alternative format please contact us at hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.
Accessible Seating
In general, our venues have up to six spaces reserved in the front row as accessible seating, and there is further space adjacent to the aisles for wheelchair users or patrons who prefer aisle seating. If you have specific seating requirements, please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au. Otherwise, please alert a volunteer when you arrive at the venue that you require accessible seating.
Accessible Toilets
Accessible toilets are located at The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba Community Centre (Tibbi Whalan Hall), Katoomba Library, the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, the Old Stables in Megalong Valley, as well as Scenic World. The only venue that does not have wheelchair-accessible toilets is The Baroque Room.
Assistance Animals
Registered / accredited Assistance Animals are welcome at all Festival events and venues.
Captions AND T-LOOPS
All events in the Grand Dining Room at The Carrington and Katoomba Community Centre (also known as the Tibbi Whalan Hall) will have live captions.
T-loops will be available in both the Grand Dining Room and Katoomba Community Centre (also known as the Tibbi Whalan Hall). You do not need to book T-loops in advance, but if you have any questions about how to connect to the T-loop when you arrive at these venues, please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.
If you do not wish to connect to a T-loop but you are hard of hearing, we can reserve seating near the front for specified sessions. Email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au to book.
Auslan-Interpreted Sessions
We have Auslan interpreters available for the Festival weekend and Auslan users have the opportunity to request interpreters for specific sessions. If you have purchased a day or weekend pass, you'll receive an email asking you to specify which sessions you'll be attending, and at this point, you can request that you'd like Auslan interpreters for those sessions. If you have purchased a single ticket, please email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au to request an interpreter.
We will monitor these requests and confirm interpreters as bookings come in.
Should requests exceed interpreter availability, interpreters will be provided in sessions where captions aren’t available.
Companion Cards
Companion Card holders qualify for a complimentary ticket for their companion. Please let us know if you require a companion ticket by emailing hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au.
Quiet Space
As a bustling hub, the main Carrington foyer and the space in front of the bar can get busy with patrons in between sessions. The Lounge Room inside the Carrington, located to the right of the bar and down the hallway past the bathrooms, acts as a respite from the overwhelm of social traffic, as do the Carrington lawn and gardens located next to the street at the hotel entrance.
Outside of the Katoomba Community Centre, there is plenty of space in the open-air courtyard where patrons can take a moment.
The Carrington Hotel is located on 15 to 47 Katoomba Street.
The accessible entrance into the hotel is located along the driveway. There is a blue accessibility sign to direct guests.
Visual Story: Accessing the carrington hotel
Once you have passed the stairs and are in the driveway there is another sign on the garage door which leads to the entrance into reception.
Inside the garage there is a ramp and door to enter into the hotel.
Visual Story: Accessing the TIbBI Whalan Hall
Tibbi Whalan Hall can be accessed via the Carrington Hotel driveway. From the hotel front steps, guests can move through the driveway entrance and to the zebra crosswalk. This path then leads to College Lane and ramp access to the Tibbi Whalan Hall across from Coles.
Tibbi Whalan Hall can be accessed via College Lane which runs between the hall and the building that holds Coles and the library.
From College Lane there are steps and a ramp leading past the Food Co-Op and onto the courtyard in front of the Tibbi Whalan Hall and the Hall itself.
Tibbi Whalan Hall can also be accessed via Katoomba Street, which is the main street of the town centre. There is ramp and stair access from Katoomba Street that leads past the water bubbler and to the Tibbi Whalan Hall.
