Accessibility

Online Conversations and Readings

We provide closed captioning on recorded readings and artist conversations. 

We offer live captioning on many of our online readings, information sessions, and live artist conversations through the Zoom platform.

Online Classes and Seminars

We use Zoom for our classes and seminars. We enable Zoom’s closed captioning feature for all online classes and seminars.

Wheelchair and limited mobility access

Our building is wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible parking space in front of our main entrance (enter off Myrtle Ave). An elevator inside the entrance accesses all levels.

Please note, we have limited parking spaces available. A drop-off by the entrance may be needed. See our contact page for more information about parking.

Seating in our auditorium space consists of three rows of seats on risers with additional chairs on floor level, which require no steps. Wheelchair and companion seating locations are available upon request. A lift is located inside the theater to access the back row of seating and the booth. For public events, a staff member will be available to assist with the lift.

All of our restrooms are wheelchair-accessible.

Service animals

Service animals are welcome at the Center.

Low Vision or Blindness

For people with low vision or blindness, our readings offer a different experience than theater productions, in that they are unstaged, and most of the stage directions are read aloud.

At any reading or event that has a program, large print programs are available at the check in desk. You do not need to request these in advance. If you would like the program text emailed to you, contact rsvp@pwcenter.org.

Hearing loss

We are exploring the feasibility of offering captioning or sign interpreters during public readings. Closed captioning is offered for online programming and recorded events.

Transportation

Playwrights’ Center is accessible by bus and light rail.

Light Rail Green Line

Nearest Station: Raymond Ave Station

Bus Route 63

Nearest Stops:

• Westbound: University Ave & Raymond Ave
• Eastbound: University Ave & Raymond Ave

Bus Route 67

Nearest Stops:

• Westbound: University Ave & Raymond Ave
• Eastbound: University Ave & Raymond Ave

Bus Route 87

Nearest Stops:

• Northbound: University Ave & Raymond Ave
• Southbound: University Ave & Carleton St

Please note, due to the nature of our work in creating and developing new plays, the run time of an event may be unknown and may change between each reading. We encourage audience members to contact the Center at (612) 332-7481 or rsvp@pwcenter.org to confirm the estimated running time when arranging for Metro Mobility pick-up.

Restrooms

All of our restrooms are all-gender restrooms, and are wheelchair accessible.

Privacy Room

We have a privacy room for nursing parents or others who need privacy.

Economic Barriers

Valuing equity, Playwrights’ Center works to remove actual and perceived barriers to participation. Here’s how:

• There is no application fee to apply for any of our fellowship opportunities.
• All tickets to our public readings are free.
• Many of our online seminars and artist conversations are free. Others are offered at a low or reduced cost.
• We offer reduced Membership rates and low-cost monthly payment plans. For more information, contact our Director of Professional Resources & Education, Hannah Joyce, at hannahj@pwcenter.org or (612) 332-7481 x1123.
• We offer flexible payment plans for all writing intensives and classes. For more information, please contact our education team at education@pwcenter.org.
• We offer subsidized rates and scholarships on some university courses for eligible students.

Playwrights’ Center is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying relevant accessibility standards. We acknowledge that in some areas on our site, there is room for improvement.

Measures to support accessibility on pwcenter.org

We believe in access for all, and as such, Playwrights’ Center takes the following measures to ensure accessibility of the Playwrights’ Center website:

• Include accessibility throughout our internal policies and practices.
• Employ persons responsible for accessibility and regularly meet with an accessibility committee containing experts in the field of accessibility.
• Provide continual accessibility training for our staff.
• Assign clear accessibility targets and responsibilities.
• Employ formal accessibility quality assurance methods.

Conformance status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. The Playwrights’ Center website is conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA.

Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of the Playwrights’ Center website. While we strive to ensure access for all, we know that certain items may be missed. Please let us know if you do encounter any accessibility barriers on the Playwrights’ Center website:

• Phone: 612-332-7481
• E-mail: accessibility@pwcenter.org
• Visitor address: 710 Raymond Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55114
• Mailing address: PO Box 14115, Saint Paul, MN 55114

We try to respond to feedback within 1-2 business days.

Technical specifications

Accessibility of The Playwrights’ Center website relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used.

Assessment approach

The Playwrights’ Center assessed the accessibility of pwcenter.org by the following approaches:

• Self-evaluation through the use of SiteimproveⓇ Accessibility Checker
• Ongoing classes and evaluation based on industry best practices
• Feedback from members of Playwrights’ Center’s Accessibility Committee, composed of individuals with various accessibility needs and perspectives on the experience.
• Community reporting from pwcenter.org users