Accessiblity Information

The River Arts Center strives to be an accessible facility for all patrons. Please see information below on accessible seating, listening assistance devices, and general things to know for those who have accessibility needs.

If you have questions about a specific need not listed here, please contact us.

Parking & Accessible Entrance

A total of 7 accessible parking stalls are available around the River Arts Center. Two are located in the "staff" parking lot that runs along 9th Street, and 5 are located in the "bus" parking lot that runs along Oak Street.

An accessible entrance is provided at the main front entrance of the River Arts Center, which includes door openers. This is at the farthest right door when facing the building.

Accessible Seating Information

Accessible seats are spaces specifically designed for wheelchairs or others with accessibility needs and include features such as an accessible approach, location at grade, clear floor space, and larger dimensions.

Who qualifies for purchasing accessible seating?

People with mobility disabilities who require accessible seating because of their disability are permitted to purchase tickets for accessible seats. This group includes people who use wheelchairs, those who use other mobility devices, and people who cannot climb steps or walk long distances because of significant arthritis or severe respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac conditions.
Individuals who have a disability that requires use of the accessible features that are provided in accessible seating are also permitted to purchase accessible seats, including people who cannot sit in a straight-back chair or those whose service animals cannot fit under a non-accessible seat or lie safely in front of their seat.
Tickets for accessible seats may be sold to individuals who require accessible seating themselves or to someone purchasing on their behalf.
People who do not fall within the categories above but merely have a preference for accessible seating are not entitled to purchase accessible seats.

What do accessible seating locations look like?

Accessible wheelchair seats in the Theater and Leola Hall are empty locations with no chair, to accommodate a wheelchair. If you have a disability and require a chair, please contact a house manager or usher for a temporary banquet chair to be placed in the location.

What is a companion seat?

Each accessible seat has a corresponding companion seat for another patron accompanying someone in an accessible seat. These seats are typically a regular theater seat. Only one companion seat may be purchased per accessible seat, as these seats are required by federal law to be held for a companion with someone in an accessible seat.

I have a walker, crutches, or other mobility assistant.

Walkers may be folded and stored in available space within each row (if available), or may be stored at the back of the theater, or along the side wall of Leola Hall. Please ask an usher for assistance.
Canes, crutches, and other mobility aides must not be set in aisles, or stick out into aisles.
Patrons with canes, crutches, or other mobility assistance items may purchase accessible seating.

I want to transfer out of my wheelchair to a standard seat, is that okay?

Wheelchair users may either purchase accessible seating, or will need to transfer out of their chair to standard seating. Unused wheelchairs will need to be stored with walkers, and may not remain nearby.

I have a service animal, do I need an accessible seat?

Please see our section below on service animals. Generally speaking, it is perferable for patrons with service animals to purchase accessible seating, but there are some standard seats which can accomidate service animals. Please reach out with questions.

What else do I need to know?

Fire code requires all aisles to remain clear. As such, wheelchairs and other accessibility devices may be required to be stored away from accessible seating. While we will always try to accomidate all patrons, fire codes do take priority over accessibility needs.

If you have a question related to accessible seating, please contact the box office at tickets@riverartscenter.com or at 608-643-5676

Theater Accessible Seating

The River Arts Center Theater features 8 total accessible / wheelchair seats, plus 6 accessible seats with fold up armrests for easier seating. 3 accessible / wheelchair seats are located in the front row, and 5 accessible / wheelchair seats are located in the back row of the main section. Accessible / wheelchair seats will be left open for wheelchairs, but a temporary plastic chair may be requested from the house manager or usher if required.

Seating in rows A - K do not require steps, while rows L - Q require steps up to reach. Railings for rows L - Q are located in the outers aisles.

Leola Hall Accessible Seating

Leola Hall's seating system features 5 accessible / wheelchair seats, all of which are located in the front row. Accessible / wheelchair seats will be left open for wheelchairs, but a temporary plastic chair may be requested from the house manager or usher if required.

All seats beyond row A require steps to access. Railings are available.

Some events may have special seating arrangements, which would include accessible seating.

Hearing Assistance

Both the Theater and Leola Hall have listening assistance devices available by request at the box office, from the House Manager, or an usher. These devices include a small beltpack, and either a pair of headphones or a lanyard which will transmit directly to Telecoil (T-Coil) compatible hearing aids.

These listening assistance devices include a personal volume control and will provide sound directly from the sound system as well as sound from a microphone in the room. They will function for all performances, even ones that are not using sound reenforcement.

Restroom Information

All restrooms at the River Arts Center are wheelchair accessible. We have gendered restrooms in the front lobby, which each have an ADA compliant stall.

Additionally, an ADA compliant single-toilet "all gender" / family restroom is provided at the south end of the lobby.

Restrooms do not have automatic door openers.

All audience restrooms include infant changing tables, and sharps disposal units.

Flashing Lights & Theatrical Effects

Many performance events utilize flashing lights, as well as theatrical haze and fog. Some performances will use pyrotechnic effects. If you have questions, please ask the house manager for more information.

Service Animals

Per the Americans With Disabilities Act, and Sauk Prairie School District guidelines, the River Arts Center is happy to assist patrons who have a trained service animal. Emotional support animals are not allowed in the River Arts Center, and service animals in training must be indicated per Wisconsin law, including having a harness or special cape, and trainers will be asked to provide documentation of the training school.

If you are questioning whether a service animal is allowed, the following questions may guide you:

Is the service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?
- Is that work required for attendance of the event?

Service animals must not block egress (access to exits), which limits which seating in our spaces can accommodate a service animal. We generally recommend that patrons with service animals purchase accessible/wheelchair seating, and either contact the River Arts Center ahead of time, or check in with the house manager or ushers if a regular chair is needed, as accessible seating areas are usually left clear for wheelchairs.

If you have questions about accessibility or want event-specific advice, please contact the Box Office at least two days prior to the event at (608) 643-5676 or by email at tickets@riverartscenter.org

From ag9160B:

The definition of a service animal, as established by the ADA and applicable Wisconsin law is as follows:

Service animal means any dog or other animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. No animal that is not properly trained may be allowed as a Service animal. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

A service animal that meets the above definition shall be under the control of its handler. A service animal shall have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal's safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler's control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means).

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