AAA strives to foster accessible spaces during the Annual Meeting. The Accessibility & Meetings Manager can help identify if current AAA accessibility protocols will meaningfully support your access needs or if additional accommodations are necessary. Examples of accommodation requests include ASL interpreters, sighted guides, reader and/or note takers, personal assistants, tactile interpreters, etc.
At any point that you recognize you need to request accommodations for the Annual Meeting, please follow the process described below to do so. Everyone who is interested in attending the AAA Annual Meeting is welcome to seek accommodations at any time in preparation for the meeting.
You are not required to disclose your disability (mobility, auditory, sight, sensory, etc.) or identity status (Disabled, Deaf, Autistic, Chronically Ill, Mentally Ill, etc.), but are welcome to do so if you believe this information will influence the later discussion surrounding your access needs and/or accommodation requests.
Note: While requests are welcome at any time, please also recognize that requests will most effectively be supported if they are submitted as soon as possible, and where possible, before Friday, October 8, 2021.
How to Request Accommodations
Please submit your accommodation requests prior to Friday, October 8, 2021, so that AAA can provide the best services possible to meet your access needs.
- Identify the way you will request accommodations for the Annual Meeting.
- At time of Registration for the Annual Meeting
- Check the box that reads “I require accessibility accommodations.”
- Use the text field below the check box to indicate any access needs you have.
- Via the Google Form. The Google Form is available at all times and can be after registration if accommodations and access needs were not necessary while registering for the meeting.
- Complete the form.
- Via the form below which will be directly sent to the AAA Accessibility & Meetings Manager. This can be completed after registration if accommodations and access needs were not necessary while registering for the meeting.
- Please provide the information you believe is most important to receiving the best support possible.
- [contact-form id=”request” to=”accessibility@americananthro.org” subject=”Accommodations Request for the 2021 Annual Meeting”][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea”][/contact-form]
- At time of Registration for the Annual Meeting
- The AAA Accessibility & Meetings Manager will follow up with you, whether you requested accommodations via the meeting registration form, the Google Form, or email. In this follow up, they will discuss your needs and identify the best plan moving forward to provide your accommodations. This follow up will occur once the online program is available, but you are welcome to email the Accessibility & Meetings Manager earlier to discuss your needs sooner!
- Some accommodations may require that the Manager requests your desired schedule at the Annual Meeting to provide the appropriate accommodations. Time changes onsite are accommodated as resources permit, but cannot be guaranteed.
- The AAA Accessibility & Meetings Manager or another AAA Staff Member will meet you at the onsite registration table and review your accommodations with you and ensure you have access to the supports you need.
- If during the meeting you have any questions, comments, or concerns related to any accessibility practices or your accommodations, please feel free to call or text the Accessibility & Meetings Manager at 703.239.4499 or contact them using the above form which gets sent directly to the accessibility inbox.
Request your accommodations and share your access needs by Friday, October 8, 2021, to receive the most effective supports possible.
Accommodations Available Upon Request
Below are a few examples of what accommodations will be available upon request. Feel free to request accommodations outside of the options listed below as well. Review the quick list of accommodations.
Assistants
- Sighted guide
- There will be hotel and AAA conference staff who can orient you and direct you to rooms.
- Reader/note taker
- Personal assistant
- If you require a personal assistant to help navigate the AAA Annual Meeting, AAA will register your assistant as a complimentary guest. Please message the Accessibility & Meetings Manager to register your assistant (name, city, state, and e-mail address is required for the badge). The personal assistant will be issued full conference registration and can pick up their badge at the Annual Meeting in the advance registration kiosk.
- If you need AAA to arrange for an aide to help you navigate the meeting, complete the Access Needs & Accommodations Request Google Form by Friday, October 8, 2021.
Go to the quick list of accommodations
Language Access
- ASL interpreter
- Attendees can request sign language interpreters for the AAA Annual Meetings. Please submit your request using the Access Needs & Accommodations Request Google Form by Friday, October 8, 2021.
- AAA is working with the Kyle Duarte Company to provide ASL interpreting services. The Accessibility & Meetings Manager will connect you with the interpreting agency to discuss your needs.
- You will be asked to share which sessions you may be interested in so that interpreters can review the presentations and abstracts before the conference.
- You are not limited to only attending those sessions. However, this gives the interpreters a chance to review the presentations and abstracts in order to properly prepare and provide excellent service.
- Interpreters are available for AAA scholarly times, plenary events, business meetings, and workshops. All additional events outside of this scope must be arranged with the Kyle Duarte Company separately at the individual’s cost.
- ASL interpreting is provided during meeting plenary and non-compete events (i.e. Opening Ceremony, AAA Business Meeting, CASCA Weaver-Tremblay Award and Address, and Presidential Address) and are available to AAA attendees who need them for the duration of the meeting.
- On-site requests for interpreters can be made in the registration area; however, AAA cannot guarantee a sign language interpreter will be available to accommodate a request without advance notice.
- CART captioner
- Attendees can request CART captioning for the AAA Annual Meetings. Please submit your request using the Access Needs & Accommodations Request Google Form by Friday, October 8, 2021.
- AAA is working with the Kyle Duarte Company to provide CART captioning services. The Accessibility & Meetings Manager will connect you with the captioning agency to discuss your needs.
- You will be asked to share which sessions you may be interested in so that captioners can review the presentations and abstracts before the conference.
- You are not limited to only attending those sessions. However, this gives the captioners a chance to review the presentations and abstracts in order to properly prepare and provide excellent service.
- Captioners are available for AAA scholarly times, plenary events, business meetings, and workshops. All additional events outside of this scope must be arranged with the Kyle Duarte Company separately at the individual’s cost.
- ASL captioning is provided during meeting plenary and non-compete events (i.e. Opening Ceremony, AAA Business Meeting, CASCA Weaver-Tremblay Award and Address, and Presidential Address) and are available to AAA attendees who need them for the duration of the meeting.
- On-site requests for captioners can be made in the registration area; however, AAA cannot guarantee a CART captioner will be available to accommodate a request without advance notice.
- Tactile interpreter
- Signed English
- Transliteration
- Revoicer
Go to the quick list of accommodations
Alternative Document Formats
Abstracts will be available on the AAA Annual Meeting Virtual Platform. The final program is available in alternative formats to registrants who make such an advance request. Be sure complete the Access Needs & Accommodations Request Google Form or to connect with the Accessibility & Meetings Manager by Friday, October 8, 2021 if you require the final program in a different format.
- Accessible PDF
- Large print
- Braille
- ASL
Accessibility Devices
- Accessible room setup
- Wheelchair accessibility
- We have directed Convention Centre staff to make sure that meeting room chairs are arranged to ensure open spaces for attendees using wheelchairs both at the front and rear of rooms. We have asked participants to keep the aisles clear so that people can move freely.
- If you require a specific meeting room setup based on your access needs, please complete the Access Needs & Accommodations Request Google Form by Friday, October 8, 2021.
- Accessible stage ramp
- Lower podium
- Lower poster stand
- Podium lighting
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Yoga mat
- A limited number of yoga mats will be available, so they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no charge for the use of these devices. These may be used by attendees for prayer or to provide alternative ways of sitting or laying down in session rooms.
- Assistive listening device
- A limited number of assistive listening devices will be available, so they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no charge for the use of these devices. This technology generally involves the installation of “transmitters” in the sessions you wish to attend. Sound is transmitted to headphones provided to the attendees. If you need an assistive listening device, please complete the Access Needs & Accommodations Request Google Form by Friday, October 8, 2021.
- Mobility device
- Due to the size of the AAA Annual Meeting, sessions are sometimes spread out and distances between sessions can be considerable. Some attendees may want to consider borrowing a scooter, wheelchair, or walker in Baltimore.
- AAA will be providing electric scooters and wheelchairs on site. Please message the Accessibility & Meetings Manager if you would like to reserve a scooter or wheelchair for yourself while at the AAA Annual Meeting. By reserving an accessibility device in advance, we are better able to support your access needs at the meeting.
- When borrowing an accessibility device, you will be asked to complete a form. More information will be provided about this at a later date.
- Other navigation assistance
- Once available, please review the AAA Annual Meeting schedule on the Virtual Platform carefully and let us know if you may need assistance getting from one event to another due to long distances and short turnarounds.
Go to the quick list of accommodations
Maps
- Maps with all accessible conference building routes listed
- Large print conference building map
Quick list of accommodations without additional text
- Assistants
- Sighted guide
- Reader/note taker
- Personal assistant
- Language access
- ASL interpreter
- CART captioner
- Tactile interpreter
- Signed English
- Transliteration
- Revoicer
- Alternative document formats
- Accessible PDF
- Large print
- Braille
- ASL
- Accessibility Devices
- Accessible room setup
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Accessible stage ramp
- Lower podium
- Lower poster stand
- Podium lighting
- Yoga mat
- Assistive listening device
- Mobility device
- Other navigation assistance
- Accessible room setup
- Maps
- Maps with all accessible conference building routes listed
Large print conference building map
- Maps with all accessible conference building routes listed