RESPECT Conference

Conference for Research on Equitable and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology

FAQs

RESPECT 2024 Accessibility FAQ

RESPECT 2024 is committed to providing an inclusive environment and we will do our best to accommodate requests for special assistance. This page describes the accessibility features of RESPECT 2024, to help you make an informed decision about whether the conference will be accessible to you. Please contact us if your question is not answered here, or if the conference arrangements as described are not enough to allow you to attend. We will work with you to the best of our ability, to make the conference accessible.

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How do I communicate accessibility needs to RESPECT 2024 organizers?

The Accessibility Chair for RESPECT 2024 is Brianna Blaser, whose goal is to ensure the conference is accessible to everyone. When you register for the conference, there will be a registration question labeled “Describe here any accessibility needs.”. In your response, please indicate any accessibility needs such as wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, or a guide. The Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to clarify your needs. You can contact them directly at any time by emailing ccessibility@respect2024.sigcse.org.

Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?

More information about accessibility at Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center is available on their accessibility information page.

Please contact Kelley Turnbull Shaffer on 404-347-9440 | 1-800-706-BUZZ (2899) or email reservations@gatechhotel.com to discuss your specific needs with the venue directly.

If there is specific accessibility information you would like to see here, or if you wish to discuss any conference accessibility requirements, please contact our Accessibility Chair, Brianna Blaser by email: ccessibility@respect2024.sigcse.org, and someone will respond to you shortly.

Will sign language interpretation or captioning be available?

The conference will provide a team of sign language interpreters or captioners if requested by any attendees during the early registration period. Please make your request as early as possible. Our Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to discuss your needs in more detail. After March 17, 2024 (the deadline for early registration), a best effort will be made to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee that interpreters or captioners will be available.

What are the taxi and public transport options for getting to the conference venue?

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Who can I ask about accessibility in Atlanta, GA?

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Can a student volunteer assist me during the conference?

Student volunteers will be available to assist attendees with disabilities with navigation, meal service, or other accessibility needs. If you will need volunteer assistance at the conference, please indicate this on your conference registration form.

Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Please contact the accessibility chair if you need an assistant to help with disability-related needs.

What is the conference space like?

For the overall layout of the venue, please refer to this map of the conference space.

All conference space is located on the second floor of the hotel, which is accessible by stairs or several elevators. The general session will be in Salons 1-3 of the Grand Ballroom, and the food and beverage break station is located in the foyer of this space. The breakout rooms are as follows (all are located on the second floor and are near the Grand Ballroom): Day 1: Conference C, D, and E Dat 2: the Grand Ballroom will be divided into 3 spaces via airwall, and Conference A will be the fourth breakout Day 3: The ballroom will be divided into 3 sections via airwall again Lunch each day is in the Conference Dining Room on the 1st floor, which is accessible via stairs or several elevators, except for the last day where box lunches will be set out on tables in the Ballroom foyer for guests to take. The reception on Wednesday night is located in Conference A, which is across the foyer from the Grand Ballroom. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on this level to the left of the Grand Ballroom, and on the first floor adjacent to the Conference Dining Room.

In the event of an evacuation, all guests in a wheelchair should go to the service stairwell at the end of the guestroom hallway (when exiting the guestroom elevators, to the right and all the way at the end of the hallway). This stairwell is pressurized and has HVAC in place to draw out any smoke and keep the air breathable. Hotel staff will then notify the fire department what floors any guest that needs assistance is on, and the fire department will retrieve the guest from that landing.

Please see our other FAQs for more details about wheelchair or power scooter access, provisions for presenters, restrooms, walking and steps, and facilities for assistance animals.

Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair or power scooter?

Yes, the conference will be accessible to wheelchair users. The hotel has a street level entrance with automatic doors. The reception desk has a lowered section for wheelchair users, and the route all of the elevators is level. There is one dedicated elevator that goes just to the 2nd floor conference space, and 3 other elevators that go to all 8 floors (lobby, meeting space, guestrooms). Three wheelchair-accessible guest rooms are available, each with a walk-in shower and grab rails. The meeting room will have wheelchair spaces by the central aisle at the back of the room. Dining room staff is available on request to help with the break station on the second floor and the lunch buffet, and there will be space for wheelchairs at the lunch tables.

The hotel has a ramp that can be attached to the stage for any presenters that need it. The hotel can provide lapel or handheld microphones, or set a wheelchair-height table on the stage depending on presenter’s preference.

In the event of an evacuation, all guests in a wheelchair should go to the service stairwell at the end of the guestroom hallway (when exiting the guestroom elevators, to the right and all the way at the end of the hallway). This stairwell is pressurized and has HVAC in place to draw out any smoke and keep the air breathable. Hotel staff will then notify the fire department what floors any guest that needs assistance is on, and the fire department will retrieve the guest from that landing.

For more information about wheelchair accessibility at Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, please contact Kelley Turnbull Shaffer on 404-347-9440 | 1-800-706-BUZZ (2899) or reservations@gatechhotel.com.

We are still gathering information on wheelchair access to the offsite events. Please contact us directly with any questions.

What are the restroom facilities like?

The nearest women’s and men’s accessible restrooms are about 150 feet from the entrance to the general session, down the adjacent hallway. There are no obstacles, just a left turn down a hallway. There is one wheelchair accessible stall in the men’s room and one in the women’s room on this side with grab rails. There is another restroom on the other side of the second floor, the men’s and women’s restroom on that side also have on wheelchair-accessible stall each. The doors to the restrooms are not automatic, and they open 90 degrees.

What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?

We are still working on the stage design.

The hotel has a ramp that can be attached to the stage for any presenters that need it. The hotel can provide lapel or handheld microphones, or set a wheelchair-height table on the stage depending on presenter’s preference.

If you would like a student volunteer to operate slides or guide you onto and off the stage, or have other accessibility requests please contact Brianna Blaser at ccessibility@respect2024.sigcse.org by March 17, 2024.

Can I bring my guide dog?

Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at RESPECT 2024. There will be a relief area with water available. There is very limited green space. When exiting the main entrance make a left and follow the side walk down Spring Street until you get to 5th street and make another left. In one block there is a grassy area. Please indicate on your registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference.

Can I attend the conference by robot?

We are sorry, but RESPECT 2024 will not be able to accommodate remote attendance by robot.

How much walking or standing will be needed?

The conference will require minimal walking as all sessions are on the second floor and breakout rooms are next to each other. From the front entrance, the front desk is about 100 feet into the lobby. The first elevator that goes up to the conference floor is about 100 feet from that. The nearest accessible bathroom is approximately 200 feet from the front desk, and on the second floor about 150 feet from the general session. Seating will be available in the lobby, the foyer areas, each of the general session and breakout sessions, and during meals.

We are still gathering information on walking demands of the offsite events.

Please contact Brianna Blaser at ccessibility@respect2024.sigcse.org as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be an induction loop in the meeting rooms?

We are still working on establishing which rooms have induction loops.

Will speakers and audience members asking questions be using a microphone?

Yes, microphones will be used for all speakers. Attendees with questions will be requested to use a microphone so that their question is more easily heard.

What food service will be provided?

The conference will provide Day 1 will include a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Day 2 will include a continental breakfast, boxed lunch. There will be receptions on Day 0 and Day 1 with appetizers (vegan, vegetarian, gluten free options will be available). Food allergies provided during registration will be shared with the onsite catering team. . Dishes will be labeled. For more detailed information please contact TBD at TBD. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate these clearly on your registration form.

Can the conference accommodate special dietary needs?

Yes. Attendees who indicate special dietary requirements on their registration form will be provided with special meals when the conference catering does not accommodate them. If you have a severe allergy please indicate this on your registration form. For more detailed information please contact TBD at TBD.

Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?

The hotel is located on a university campus, and therefore the entire property is smoke-free. {{smoking_areas}}

Will there be loud music, strobe lighting, spotlights, or other strong sensory experiences?

We are still gathering information on sensory aspects of the conference. Participants will be requested not to use flash photography or to wear strong scents. Please indicate on your registration form if there are specific items you would like to know about in advance.

We are still gathering information on sensory demands of the offsite events and availability of quiet places.

Please contact Brianna Blaser at ccessibility@respect2024.sigcse.org as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be a designated quiet space at the conference?

We hope to be able to provide a quiet space at the conference but are still checking on availability. Please contact us if you are planning to attend the conference and may need such a space.

What if I have a medical emergency or health problem during the conference?

In case of emergency call 911 for an ambulance. The closest hospital is 2.1 miles from the hotel. If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact Brianna Blaser at ccessibility@respect2024.sigcse.org or ask any student volunteer. They will provide you with information about local doctors, specialists, chiropractors, etc. For non-resident attendees, buying travel insurance that covers medical expenses is strongly recommended as fees for emergency treatment can be very high.



This FAQ has been generated using the Accessibility FAQ Generator tool provided by ACM SIGACCESS. Event organizers are welcome to modify and reuse this template for other events. Please contact SIGACCESS for more information.

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