Hollyhock Leadership Institute

Accessibility Information:

Details to support to your physical, mental, and cultural well-being

Last updated August 2024

Not sure where HH is on their last accessibility audit but this checklist can help inform the details below.

Physical

• As Hollyhock is located on an unpaved site, the ground is uneven. Our campus is spread out over 4 acres, and buildings are reached by footpath. Most of the paths are gravel, and some are forest paths with roots and uneven terrain. Generally walkers and scooters can access the main paths, but may have difficulty accessing some buildings and session spaces, guests can be assisted by golf cart.
• While we are happy and willing to assist your movements to session spaces with the golf carts, we are limited in the trips we can provide due to staffing. For this reason, a schedule with set times is typically worked out in conjunction with the guest.
• We suggest folks reach out to registration to discuss the accommodation options to ensure your accommodations are accessible for you.
• In session spaces we have folding chairs and floor seating. People are welcome to sit, stand, stretch, and move about. If there are any adaptations to ensure your full participation, we are delighted to support your comfort.
• It gets very dark at night away from the city lights. Guests should bring headlamps or flashlights as the campus has little to no additional lighting on the pathways.
• Shower stalls in some of our original structures are small and may not accommodate comfortably large bodies. Hollyhock provides bath towels but if you enjoy a big bath towel or housecoat, we encourage you to bring your own.
• Microphones and amplification are used in the larger gatherings but not always in the breakout spaces.

Food

• Your stay at Hollyhock includes 3 meals a day, served during set times. Please contact [email protected] to request the menu during your program dates.
• There is a 24-hour toast bar with bread and natural peanut butter, as well as fruit available in the lodge. We encourage you to bring snacks to ensure you have your favourite treats to enjoy in between meals. (There is a market a 5-minute drive from Hollyhock where you can purchase snacks while on the island. We invite you to make arrangements with fellow guests if you do not have your own vehicle.)
• At Hollyhock, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all our guests. We understand the importance of accommodating special dietary needs and offer a variety of options, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free.

However, while we respect and value your needs, we cannot always accommodate every special dietary requirement due to resource and kitchen limitations. For instance, we unfortunately aren’t currently able to offer kosher meats. Additionally, with certain limiting dietary restrictions, your culinary experience may not be at the quality level we would like to provide.

We provide a fridge for guests and encourage you to bring the foods you love and require to supplement your culinary experience here. Please note that Hollyhock serves meat at some meals, but if you require significant animal protein for your energy levels, we encourage you to bring dried meat or other supplements to store in the guest fridge.

We will always do our best to meet your requests within our capabilities, but we may not be able to fulfill all specific dietary needs.

If you have special dietary requests, please inform us in advance, and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Drinks and Alcohol

• Fresh herbal tea, plant milks, water and coffee are available at no cost.
• Alcohol is available for purchase in the lodge and offered at a number of the hosted parties alongside alcohol-free libations. 
• Guests can also bring their own beer, wine, or cider to enjoy in the lodge for a corking fee. Drinks can be kept in the guest fridge.

Prayer & Quiet Space

• The Sanctuary is a dedicated site for all spiritual traditions. It is available to all guests seeking quietude or prayer space throughout the day and evening. Privacy is not ensured as this is a shared intercultural space.

Sensory

• We encourage participants to snap or rub their hands rather than clapping in the middle of sessions, as we understand that this can be an auditory challenge for some.
• The Hollyhock campus has room for privacy, quiet, loads of space for moving, flapping, stimming.  See this page with how they frame their site.

Childcare

• We have phone numbers available for childcare providers if you are considering bringing your little ones. Cortes Island is a wonderful place for wee ones. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions about the experience of bringing your children to campus and considerations to ensure a great experience.

If we've missed you have any questions or concerns to ensure that your cognitive, physical, and spiritual needs are well met, please contact us at [email protected].