All About Accessibility: Ohio State Fair

Governor DeWine talks to a gentleman charging his wheelchair during the 2019 Ohio State Fair.

The return of this year’s Ohio State Fair, which takes place from July 27 to August 7, 2022, will be more accessible and inclusive for everyone!

 

Fairgoers will enjoy continued accessibility enhancements: wheelchair/mobility device charging stations, technology to connect people who are blind or have low vision to an agent who can help with navigation, accessible picnic tables, service animal relief areas, and a dedicated sensory-friendly morning.

 

“I am pleased that the Ohio State Fair is committed to inclusion and accessibility,” said Governor DeWine. “This year’s enhancements will help even more people celebrate Ohio’s products, businesses, people, and history. Whatever you are looking for, you can Find It Here at the Ohio State Fair!”

 

OOD teamed up with the State Fair to make complimentary wheelchair/mobility device charging stations available. The stations are in marked areas in the Bricker MarketPlace Building, Kasich Hall, Lausche Youth Center, Natural Resources Park Pavilion, Taste of Ohio Café, and WCOL Celeste Center.

 

“The Ohio State Fair is a great way to recharge from work and enjoy the summer,” said OOD Director Kevin Miller. “Since visitors usually spend the entire day at the Fair, it’s important that charging stations are available to keep wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices going strong.”

 

Also made available with support from OOD and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, fairgoers who are blind or have low vision can use Aira – which stands for Artificial Intelligence Remote Assistance – to connect, for free, to a remote agent via a cell phone or through specially-fashioned glasses. Both the application and the glasses allow the agent to access visual information, which is especially helpful for navigating a large, unfamiliar area. The agent is also able to locate users through GPS and direct them to places of interest.

 

"The Ohio State Fair is one of the best in the country and the most accessible it’s ever been,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “These new enhancements, especially the technology-driven Aira, which will assist fairgoers who are blind or have low vision navigate the grounds, will help make sure everyone has a great experience.”

 

The addition of six accessible picnic tables throughout the Fairgrounds will encourage visitors to relax and enjoy their favorite foods. Ohio Penal Industries, a division of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, made the units, providing fairgoers opportunities for socializing with friends and making people feel more included.

 

With service animals permitted at the Fair, another great addition this year are service animal relief areas with pick-up bags and waste receptacles. Service animals are those that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service animal relief areas with waste receptacles will be available on the Rhodes Center Lawn, Central Park, and Natural Resources Park.

 

In collaboration with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), the Ohio State Fair is turning down the lights and volume in an effort to host a sensory-friendly morning event on August 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fairgoers will have an opportunity to ride the rides with no flashing lights or music, visit the Fair’s educational activities, take a break in the air-conditioned Quiet Room (located in the Taste of Ohio Café), and explore many activities in the shade of the Natural Resources Park. Find a parking permit for the event and more information at OCALI’s website.

 

“We know the Fair can be a bit overwhelming for some people,” said Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler. “By offering the sensory-friendly morning, as well as calming, natural spaces, we’re supporting an enjoyable experience for all families.”

 

These additions build on efforts the Ohio State Fair has already had in place:

• Buildings and most restrooms are accessible
• Motorized and non-motorized wheelchair rentals
• Sign language interpretation (by advance request)
• Free assistive listening devices for use at the WCOL Celeste Center, Main Street Stage, and Gazebo Stage
• Accessible seats for concerts in the WCOL Celeste Center can be purchased at the same cost directly from Ticketmaster (to view accessible seats, click the “filters” button, then toggle on the “accessibility” button to see)

“We’re thankful for partnerships with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and OCALI to make the Fair an inclusive and welcoming space,” explained Strickler.

 

Learn more at the Ohio State Fair’s accessibility webpage. During the Fair, conveniently-located guest information services booths offer daily schedules, maps, and directions. For additional information, contact info@expo.ogio.gov or call 614-644-3247.