Accessibility

Commitment to Accessibility

AALS is working to ensure every attendee’s experience will be enjoyable and accessible. AALS commits to making our meetings and events accessible to all attendees.

Requesting Accommodations

To give us time to plan, please make requests before April 15, 2025 whenever possible. During the conference, AALS staff will be available at the registration desk.

Feedback & Additional Requests

Below are features in place to support and encourage an inclusive and welcoming environment, but this list is not comprehensive. We understand that people have diverse needs and aim to provide an inclusive experience for everyone. Please reach out to AALS Accessibility with any questions or to make arrangements in advance.

Housing

Accessible rooms are available as a part of the AALS room block at the same price as other standard rooms.

If an attendee upgrades their ADA room to the club level or chooses a different view, the price may vary. This applies to all upgrades, with the ADA room being subject to the same pricing markup as a standard room.

Accessible Westin Georgetown Hotel Features

  • Accessible on-site parking
  • Property has elevators
  • Self-Operating lift or a sloped entry in hotel swimming pools
  • Service Animals are Welcome
  • Van Accessible on-site parking

Guest Room Accessibility

  • Accessible Vanities
  • Adjustable Height Hand-Held Shower Wand
  • Alarm Clock Telephone Ringers
  • Bathtub Grab Rails
  • Bathtub Seat
  • Closed Caption TV
  • Deadbolts on Guest Room and Suites Doors
  • Electronic Room Key
  • Flashing Door Knockers
  • Guest Room and Suites Doors Self-Closing
  • Guests in mobility-accessible rooms may inquire about lowering the bed height
  • Hearing Accessible Rooms and/or Kits
  • Lever Handles on Guest Room Doors
  • Lowered Electrical Outlets
  • Lowered Viewports in Guest Room Doors
  • Mobility accessible rooms
  • Non-slip Grab Rails in the Bathroom
  • Roll-in Shower
  • Safety Chains and/or Latches on Guest Doors
  • TTY/TTD Compatible
  • Toilet Seat at Wheelchair Height – Toilet for Disabled
  • Transfer Showers in Guest Rooms
  • Viewports in Guest Room and Suites Doors

Getting Around

DC Accessibility Information

Local information on accessible taxis, sidewalk conditions, public transportation and sightseeing tips are available on the Destination DC Accessibility Page. WMATA provides information on accessibility on public transit.

For those flying, the local airports provide accessibility information for arriving and departing passengers:

Conference Maps

Before the conference begins, maps will be posted on the website clearly noting elevator and ramps.

Wheelchair & Mobility Devices

Because the workshop has numerous concurrent sessions, there can be distance between sessions. If you are a regular wheelchair user, we suggest you bring your chair with you to the meeting.

Meeting Room Setup

AALS will ask hotels to provide adequate aisle space and cut-outs for individuals with wheelchairs and other mobility devices in all meeting rooms. Please note standard head tables (when used) include a podium and microphones on the tables and podium. If you are presenting and require additional accommodations (such as a ramp, or lavaliere microphone), please contact AALS at [email protected]  in advance. Every effort will be made to set meeting rooms/locations to accommodate all attendees, both speakers and audience members.

Hearing Support Services

Sign Language Interpreters

Attendees may request a sign language interpreter for the Conference. Please email your request by May 10, 2025. Sign language interpreters are provided for AALS-sponsored events only.

CART

Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) is a word-for-word speech-to-text interpreting service for people with a hearing loss or who would otherwise benefit from this accommodation. Attendees may request CART service for the Conference. CART will be provided for AALS-sponsored events only. Please email your request  by May 10, 2025.

Other Access Needs

Chemical Sensitivity

All AALS events are smoke-free and, as often as possible, held in smoke-free venues. Smoking is not permitted in any meeting or session rooms, business, or networking events, or AALS-sponsored social events. Please be aware that some venues (i.e., offsite) may allow smoking in public areas. Cigarettes may be used in designated smoking areas as determined by the venue. Specific requests can be made to hotels within our block and the meeting venues that chemicals not be used in guest rooms on carpeting or other surfaces.

Nursing Parents

AALS will provide a room with electrical power, a refrigerator, and a locking door for nursing parents who attend AALS meetings. Please visit the AALS Registration Desk for access to the room.

Registration of Personal Aide/Companion

Should you require an aide or personal assistant to help navigate the workshops, AALS will register your aide as a complimentary guest. Please contact our accommodations team to register your personal aide (name, city, and state is required for the badge) which can be picked up at AALS Registration. Personal aides may attend sessions and AALS sponsored meals.

If you need AALS to arrange for an aide to help you navigate the meeting, please email your request to our accommodations team to outline the specific type of assistance required. To best accommodate your request, we ask that you notify us of your request as much in advance of the meeting as possible.

More we can do? Please let us know, we are happy to hear from you at AALS Accessibility.