Regarding Wheelchair, Handicap, ADA Seating
This was brought to our attention by a client, and I found this text at the below website. Note that this speaks to the fact that individuals with disabilities should be able to purchase tickets from your organization in the same ways as any other patron. I would interpret this to mean that they should be able to select the accessible seating online as well as via box office with clear instructions, etc.
If you have previously required your patrons to call you to reserve accessible seating, you should probably change this to allow them to select ADA seating online and complete their purchase without having to call you.
Website: http://www.ada.gov
Specific information related to ticketing: http://www.ada.gov/ticketing_2010.htm and http://adata.org/ticketing
See document attached provided by AACT (American Association of Community Theatres) regarding ADA compliance.
Specific pertinent text:
Sec. 35.138 Ticketing.
(a) General. A public entity that sells tickets on a preassigned basis shall modify its policies, practices, or procedures to ensure that individuals with disabilities can purchase tickets for accessible seating during the same hours, through the same methods of distribution, and in the same types and numbers of ticketing sales outlets as other patrons, unless the modification would fundamentally alter the nature of the ticketing service, program, or activity.
(b) Availability. Tickets for accessible seating shall be made available during all stages of ticket sales, including, but not limited to, presales, promotions, lotteries, wait-lists, and general sales.
(c) Identification of accessible seating. If seating maps, plans, brochures, or other information is provided to the general public, wheelchair seating and companion seats shall be identified.
(d) Notification of accessible seating locations. A public entity that sells or distributes tickets for seating at...
also of interest:
(1) General. For each ticket for a wheelchair space purchased by an individual with a disability or a third-party purchasing such a ticket at his or her request, a public entity shall make available for purchase three additional tickets for seats in the same row that are contiguous with the wheelchair space, provided that at the time of purchase there are three such seats available. A public entity is not required to provide more than three contiguous seats for each wheelchair space. Such seats may include wheelchair spaces.
As of 3/15/11:
Organizations are now required to provide 3 contiguous seats next to an accessible seat designated as "companion" seats.