General Rules & Procedures
Turn Down For What NYC is not responsible for any events that occur before the session, program, or event begins, or after it concludes. Turn Down For What NYC will supervise participants during the session, program, or event. Turn Down For What NYC volunteers will oversee the activities throughout the session, program, or event. For select sessions, programs, or events, participants will be paired with an accountability "buddy" or one-to-one support person. Each participant will have the responsibility to remain with his / her / their assigned "buddy" for the entire duration of the session, program, or event.
Turn Down For What NYC emphasizes friendships over relationships. PDA (Public (or private) Displays of Affection) that go beyond friendship are strictly prohibited. Participants will be dismissed for inappropriate sexualized behavior.
Participants are responsible for the cost of their own food, beverages, tickets, transportation, etc. for all pop-ups, bingo nights, and special events. Special events and overnight trips require advance payment of applicable tuition or attendance cost. Turn Down For What NYC does not accept waivers, respite, or self-direction funding. Need-based scholarships may be available.
If there is a rare extenuating circumstance in which Turn Down For What NYC pays any expense on behalf of a participant, an invoice will be sent to the participant / parent / guardian for the total cost of the expense, plus a 10% administrative and processing fee. Participants will not be permitted to attend future programming until outstanding invoices are paid.
Possession of illegal drugs or weapons will result in immediate expulsion. All participants must follow instructions given by volunteers or other authority figures. All participants must be courteous and respectful to other participants and volunteers. Turn Down For What NYC reserves the right to suspend participants' privileges at any time during the session, program, or event. Participants are prohibited from threatening and causing physical harm to themselves and others. Failure to comply will result in immediate expulsion. Participants are prohibited from verbally or physically bullying and harassing other participants, volunteers, or affiliates (including via digital platforms).
Transportation
Participants must have their own transportation arranged to and from the session, program, or event. Volunteers will be present 15 minutes prior to the meetup time and 15 minutes after the end time in order to meet arrivals and assist with departures. In some cases, Turn Down For What NYC may provide a group travel option via public transit or car. In these cases, a 20 minute meet-up window will be announced. After the meet-up window is up, the group will depart in order to arrive to the session, program, or event on time. For events where there is a significant walk from public transportation, Turn Down For What NYC may provide a meeting point in a similar fashion. Volunteers are not be responsible for coordinating participant transportation in the event that a meet-up window is missed. If volunteer assistance is needed meeting a ride share or Access-A-Ride, please let us know in advance in the TDFW NYC Whats App Group (join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E4LOgOsbnXFAZwuSGunb0G?mode=ac_t). Please provide a direct link to the ride as opposed to a screenshot.
Publicity
Turn Down For What NYC reserves the right to use in any or all publications, promotional materials, and publicity any basic information (e.g., name, age, and hometown) and any photograph, audiotape, videotape, or film in which the participant may appear. Pictures and / or videotapes of participants may appear on various news media sources.
Good Faith Clause
The decision to hold Turn Down For What NYC harmless is consistent with the organization's goal to integrate all adults. Turn Down For What NYC has and will continue to act with the most amicable intentions. Parents and guardians of participants, as well as participants, agree to act in the same benevolent way as Turn Down For What NYC.
Overnight Friends Trips Rules & Procedures
All participants must remain on the property unless accompanied by a volunteer with permission from program leadership. Participants leaving the property on their own will be expelled from the program. All participants are required to adhere to any established curfews and wake-up calls. Failure to comply may result in expulsion from the program. All participants should remember that they are guests at the property at which we are staying. Participants should try to leave the facilities the same way they found them. All participants will be responsible for any damages they cause during the program. This includes property damage in the rooms and damage done to other participants, volunteers, or personal belongings. Rooms will be checked at the conclusion of the program to ensure that they have been properly maintained. For the health and safety of every attendee, Turn Down For What NYC reserves the right to conduct room inspections to ensure participant compliance with stated rules and regulations.
Medical professionals will be available to treat participants for any injuries or illnesses and administer medications. Participants who receive medication(s) must have their parent or guardian notify Turn Down For What NYC about any medications and dosages prior to the start of the Friends Trip by the provided deadline. Any medications must be given to Turn Down For What NYC medical personnel at the start of the trip to be administered at the appropriate time.
Hold Harmless Clause
Turn Down for What NYC is committed to the safety of participants and volunteers. It insists that all participants follow safety rules and instructions. In signing this agreement and participating in Turn Down for What NYC activities or programs, you are solely responsible for legal liability and waiving and releasing all claims for injuries, damages, or losses which yourself /son / daughter / ward might sustain as a result of participating in programs. I recognize and acknowledge that certain risks of physical injury to participants are possible and I agree to assume the full risk of any such injuries, damages or losses, regardless of severity, which myself / son / daughter / ward may sustain as a result of participating in any Turn Down for What NYC activities or programs.
I hereby waive and relinquish all claims myself / son / daughter / ward may have against Turn Down for What NYC and its officers, agents, volunteers, employees, and instructors from any and all claims from injuries, damages, or losses which myself / son / daughter / ward may have or which may accrue to myself / son / daughter / ward on account of such attendance or participation. I further agree to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Turn Down for What NYC and its officers, agents, volunteers, employees, and instructors from any and all claims resulting from injuries, damages, and losses sustained by myself / son / daughter / ward and arising out of, in connection with, or in any way associated with such attendance or participation.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in suspension from activities, expulsion from programs, or any other actions deemed appropriate by Turn Down For What NYC leadership. The participant and the participant's family will assume complete financial responsibility for returning the participant home, if necessary.
All participants, parents, and caregivers must review and complete this Policies Form prior to attending any events. One form submission per household is acceptable.
