ACCESSIBILITY

The Kettle Pond Writers’ Conference is committed to accommodating writers of all abilities attending both The Workshops and The Writers’ Residency. Basic information on accessibility at Paul Smith’s College (our venue) is below. The Kettle Pond staff want to make your week with us as possible so please be in touch about any questions you may have.

Conference Facilities & Housing

Barrier-free access is available to all facilities Kettle Pond will utilize for conference-wide events. All reading, lecture, dining, social, and housing spaces, as well as the library and some recreational facilities that will be used during the conference are either entirely barrier-free, or will be so on the main floor on which the event is held (main floor exceptions include staff housing for the open house). All housing for accepted writers is accessible via ramp and elevator, with barrier-free bathrooms available upon request.

Campus & Parking 

Paul Smith’s campus is relatively small, compact, and generally quite flat, with the exception of the short paths from our campus housing in Overlook Hall down to the main quad, which do have a grade. Parking is free and disabled parking is available at the dormitories and throughout the main campus.

Other College Facilities

Paul Smith’s College has numerous recreation and other facilities our writers are welcome to use during the conference. Please see our Campus & Facilities page and our FAQ for more information on these facilities. Many, though not all, of these spaces are accessible. We are currently working to create a definitive list of accessible spaces on campus; in the meantime writers with accessibility concerns are encouraged to contact the conference directly with any questions about campus recreation and other spaces. We are working to get detailed answers for you.

Service & Support Animals

Writers with Service Animals are always welcome everywhere on campus. Writers may be able to bring Support Animals to the conference in certain cases, with restrictions to certain buildings, and appropriate vaccine documentation.

Please let us know the specifics of your Service or Support Animal so that we can accommodate you as well as our writers with allergies in conference housing.