Accessibility FAQ

CSCW 2023 Accessibility FAQ

CSCW 2023 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 CSCW 2023, 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.

Contents

How do I communicate accessibility needs to CSCW 2023 organizers?

The Accessibility Chair for CSCW 2023 is Siddharth Mehrotra, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Ruolin Wang, whose goal is to ensure the conference is accessible to everyone. When you register for the conference, there will be a registration question labeled “Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?”. 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 accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org.

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

More information about accessibility at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel is available on their accessibility information page.

Please contact Doug Eastlund on +1 612.596.4537 or email doug.eastlund@hyatt.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, Siddharth Mehrotra, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Ruolin Wang by email: accessibility2023@cscw.acm.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 Sept 8, 2023 (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?

From Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, there are different ways to get to the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel.

Options for getting to the conference include:

Transportation Service Website

  • Inter-Terminal Shuttle Service: MSP’s inter-terminal shuttle service is a courtesy transportation option between terminals for customers with mobility challenges. The shuttle is provided as an alternative to the courtesy Light Rail Transit system for people with accessibility challenges, elderly people, families with young children or others with special needs. The van is equipped with a wheelchair lift. This free service departs approximately every 20 minutes and runs at all times. At Terminal 2, the shuttle picks up and drops off passengers on the ground level of the Purple Ramp. At Terminal 1, passengers are dropped off and picked up on the curb of the east roadway, Level 1 of the Gold Ramp. Look for overhead signs directing passengers. For more information call 612-725-4681 to speak to local dispatch.
  • Car Rentals: Rental cars with hand controls are available from airport car rental agencies at no extra charge. Rental companies request at least a 48-hour advanced reservation.
  • Public Bus Service – Metro Transit: Metro Transit bus route #54 stops at the Transit Center located on Level 1 of the Silver ramp and is accessible per Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. For city-wide route information and schedules, call 612-373-3333 or visit www.metrotransit.org.
  • Light Rail Service – Metro Transit: Light-rail service to the airport is available. Trains stop at both terminals and connect travelers to 17 other destinations, including downtown Minneapolis to the north and Mall of America to the south. Light-rail trains are zero-clearance to allow ease of boarding and exiting. At Terminal 1, the light-rail station is located below the Red and Blue parking ramps. Upon arrival by light rail, take the escalators or elevators up to the Red and Blue Ramps, then take the tram to Terminal 1. At Terminal 2, trains stop at a station next to the Orange Ramp. Upon arrival by light rail, take the escalators or elevators up one level to Level 2 of the parking ramp. Follow the overhead signs, and take the skyway to access the terminal and ground transportation.
  • Taxi Service and Shuttles: Taxi Service and Shuttles Taxi and commercial vehicles will pick up and drop off passengers at curbside if prior arrangements have been made. Taxi service courtesy phones for people needing assistance are located in Terminal 1 on the baggage claim near carousels 6 and 10. Shuttle buses, taxis and limousines also are available one level up from Level T in the Ground Transport Center at Terminal 1 or in the Ground Transport Center at Terminal 2.

Who can I ask about accessibility in Minneapolis, MN, USA?

For information about Minneapolis, MN, USA accessibility, including public transport, go to Online accessibility information or contact Guthrie Byard at +1 612-554-3666 or Guthrie.Byard@minneapolismn.gov.

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. Personal care assistants do not need to register for the conference. If the assistant will be having food and drink provided by the conference during coffee/tea breaks, lunches, and/or the reception, we ask that these be added into the attendee’s registration at the ‘extra options’ stage of the registration process. If you need any assistance from student volunteers, please contact accessibility co-chairs at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org.

What is the conference space like?

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

The venue is AT the recommended hotel, right next to the guest elevator. Most of the conference is on floor 4. The only part of the conference that is not on the 4th floor is the Monday evening reception, which will be on the 2nd floor. There are two elevators from the hotel entrance and another bank of guest elevators.

We are still working on an evacuation plan for attendees with mobility limitations.

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 Venue has accessible routes from accessible public entrance to meeting room/ballroom area, registration area, guest rooms, and restaurants. Public restrooms are accessible. Accessible guest rooms with mobility features have doorways with 32 in (0.81 m) of clear width. If you have any specific question or have other accessibility requests, please contact accessibility co-chairs at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org.

Most presentation rooms will not have risers, so no specific access is necessary. There is one available ADA ramp that can be moved as needed if a room does have risers to the stage. 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 accessibility co-chairs at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org.

We are still working on an evacuation plan for attendees with mobility limitations.

For more information about wheelchair accessibility at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel, please contact Doug Eastlund on +1 612.596.4537 or doug.eastlund@hyatt.com.

What are the restroom facilities like?

The 4th floor, where most of the conference takes place, has large common bathrooms. The men’s restroom has 4 stalls, including one ADA stall. The women’s restroom is divided into two sections by a wall and has four stalls, including one ADA stall, on each side of the wall. There are no changing tables in any of these bathrooms. There is one single-stall bathroom for family use on the first floor of the hotel.

What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?

Most presentation rooms will not have risers, so no specific access is necessary. There is one available ADA ramp that can be moved as needed if a room does have risers to the stage. 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 accessibility co-chairs at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org

Most presentation rooms will not have risers, so no specific access is necessary. There is one available ADA ramp that can be moved as needed if a room does have risers to the stage. 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 accessibility co-chairs at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org.

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 Siddharth Mehrotra, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Ruolin Wang at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org by Sept 8, 2023.

Can I bring my guide dog?

Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at CSCW 2023. There will be a relief area with water available. Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at CSCW 2023. There is a patio exit from the building through the 2nd floor that opens onto the greenway, which can be used for animal relief. Unfortunately, to reenter the building, one would have to go back to the front entrance because that exit auto-locks. Please indicate on your registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference.

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.

Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?

The entire conference venue is a no-smoking area. We are still gathering information on where there are smoking areas around the venue.

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.

Please contact Siddharth Mehrotra, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Ruolin Wang at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.org as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be a designated quiet space at the conference?

We will designate two small rooms on the main conference floor, a Quiet room and a Changing/Lactation room. We will also have a small refrigerator in the changing/lactation room for pumped milk, medication, etc. Please visit the registration desk for the keys to these rooms.

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

In case of emergency call 911 for an ambulance. We are still checking on the distance to the nearest hospital. If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact Siddharth Mehrotra, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Ruolin Wang at accessibility2023@cscw.acm.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.