Accessibility

NASPA is committed to ensuring our programs activities are accessible to and usable by disabled people. We are making slight modifications and adjustments in some of our procedures, practices, and policies during the conference to allow each attendee to maximize their conference experience without limitations.

NASPA will

• Provide Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) during all major speaker sessions.
• Work with the hotel and the convention center to make sure that all events are set in such a way as to accommodate scooters and wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers, etc. in the front, middle, and back of the room.  Additional aisle spacing will also allow for uninterrupted access.
• Request that hotels provide a lower counter option at check-in to allow for ease of accessibility during this process.
• Request that all buffet stations be set at one level so that attendees in wheelchairs and scooters can reach all food and beverage options.
• Request that if bathrooms in public areas have closed doors, that they be propped open to be more accessible.
• Provide large print program books on request at registration and check-in.
• Provide facility maps that clearly mark elevators and accessible routes.
  

In addition to the above, we will work with individuals to provide reasonable accommodations for those who self-identify a need for assistance in other areas such as providing qualified sign language interpreters, note takers, transcripts adaptive computer software, etc.

If you have identified yourself during the registration process as needing additional accommodations, a staff member will be in touch with your directly.  If you did not self identify, but require assistance, please e-mail the NASPA Office directly or call, 202-265-7500 to speak with a staff member.

Tips for presenters

The Conference Planning Committee encourages all presenters to

1. Provide handouts in an accessible electronic format.  Use this Tip Sheet to assist you with preparing your handouts accordingly.
2. Speak slowly and clearly with amplification. Do NOT rely on the perceived amplification of your own voice -- USE the microphone. This takes the onus of individuals within the audience having to indicate their inability to hear the presenter. This helps ALL participants, as ambient noise can often make it hard to hear a presenter even for those who generally have no difficulty hearing.
3. Re-voice questions before answering them.
4. Use person-first langauge (e.g. "students with disabilities," rather than "disabled students").
5. Offer contact information for questions.