Walter E Washington Convention Center (WEWCC)

Safety & Accessibility

We are challenged by how many scooters we have in the convention space and we need your help. The elevators in the convention center and the tunnel between the Marriott and WEWCC are for members with disabilities plus one companion only.

Please use the stairs or escalators, if you can. Unfortunately, there are not enough elevators to accommodate those with disabilities, and waits will be significant. If you must use elevators, plan those wait times into your schedule.

For the main meetings only, we have arranged special elevator access from the center. If you are on a scooter, please go to the ADA Boarding area on the street level outside of room 103 the hallway and room to the left as you exit NAWS Onsite.  Alternatively, you can also come in through the Marriott tunnel directly onto the concourse. You will be directed from those two locations. See the Convention Center maps in the Maps and Locations section of the app.

For the main meetings only, we have arranged special elevator access from the center. If you are on a scooter, please go to the ADA Boarding area on the street level outside of room 103 the hallway and room to the left as you exit NAWS Onsite.  Alternatively, you can also come in through the Marriott tunnel directly onto the concourse. You will be directed from those two locations.

Entry into the hall for main meetings is divided into three main groups—A, B, and C—noted on the back of your badge (aka your boarding pass). The boarding pass assignments are based on how early you registered. PLEASE DO NOT SAVE MORE THAN 4 SEATS. Convention center public safety recommended this approach, given the challenges with using this meeting space for so many people.

Each boarding group has a gathering place to queue for the main meetings. The convention center (WEWCC) street level map shows each of these queueing locations.

  • Boarding Group A will enter through the Grand Lobby, to the right outside of merchandise (Enter through Mount Vernon Entrance) and will be directed UP the escalators.
  • Boarding Group B will enter through the L Street North Lobby and be directed to the line from there.
  • Boarding Group C will enter through the L Street South Lobby and then UP the escalator and across the L Street Bridge.
  • If you have additional needs for accessibility or assistance due to a disability, please gather in Room 103 of the convention center, regardless of your boarding group. You may be accompanied by one companion. Gathering in Room 103 helps us be sure to give you priority within your boarding group.

Please note: Boarding Groups A and C must go UP before going DOWN to the Main Meeting Hall. This is to try to keep the lines INSIDE the building as much as possible to avoid standing outside during the DC heat! 

There are ADA sections in Halls A, B, and C. The ADA seating sections in Hall A and B are preassigned to the people who have let us know ahead of time. If you do not have a ticket for one of these sections, please do not sit in any of these sections. Some of the ADA seating in Hall C will be preassigned to those who register onsite. There is scooter parking on the far side of each hall.

Main Meeting ADA Seating

For ticketed events with assigned seating, you will know where you are sitting in advance when you get your tickets at Registration.

There will be limited ADA shuttle service from the convention hotels to the Convention Center, for attendees with disabilities. More information is available at the K&V ADA accessible shuttle service desk near the Convention Information Booth.

The ADA shuttle will be available by calling K&V Service at 443-985-7220 at the following times:

  • Tuesday 27 August 1:30 PM to 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday 28 August 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM

 

Once the convention begins, there are in-person hours at the convention center:

  • Thursday 29 August 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM phone hours; also in person at the convention center 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Friday 30 August 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM phone hours; also in person at the convention center 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Saturday 31 August 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM phone hours; also in person at the convention center 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Sunday 1 September 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM (phone only)

Wait times for the ADA shuttle may be long. If your hotel is close, you may want to consider riding your scooter to the convention center.

If you do not need ADA shuttle service, we ask that you enjoy the walk, have a bike ride, or take the Metro. DC can be a challenging place to drive or park. The Metro subway system is easy, and air conditioned! The Convention Center has its own Metro stop, so getting in and out will be easy. You may find it simpler and more affordable to use the Metro or a shared ride service, such as Uber or Lyft, than to have a car downtown. There are Bikeshare stations all over town and regular or e-bikes are available.

Scooter Rentals from for WCNA 38 have exceeded venue capacity and are no longer available. To contact ScootAround concerning existing scooter reservations, please call: 1-888-441-7575.

Multiple parking garages are located around the Convention Center with hourly and daily rates. Parking may be expensive and hard to find; consider parking further away and using Metro, which will bring you directly to the Convention Center.

WCNA 38 is a weapons–free zone. Only authorized law enforcement personnel with legal jurisdiction are allowed to carry firearms in areas where WCNA activities are taking place. If necessary, appropriate action will be taken to remove any unauthorized weapons or firearms from the premises.

In Washington, DC, smoking is prohibited in all indoor environments. In accordance with local laws and World Service Conference policy, all meeting facilities throughout the Convention are nonsmoking. Please help us, and consider your fellow WCNA attendees, by smoking or vaping at least 25 feet away from any building entrance. We will mark the areas in front of the doors to make this distance clear to everyone. A smoking/vaping area has been designated On L Street between the North and South Buildings of WEWCC as well as on Mt. Vernon Place (now Allen Yew Place) to the left as you enter the convention center.

Also, please respect designated smoking areas in nearby hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.

For additional Convention Center information, such as First Aid, location of ATMS, Lost and Found, etc., please visit the WEWCC FAQ Page:  https://eventsdc.com/venue/walter-e-washington-convention-center/venue-faqs

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