CSCW 2024 Accessibility FAQ

CSCW 2024 committed to providing an inclusive environment and we will do our best to accommodate accessibility requests. This page describes the accessibility features of CSCW 2024 to help you make an informed decision about whether it will be accessible to you. 

Please contact the Accessibility Chairs, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Tiffany Knearem, and Arthur Theil accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org if your question is not answered here, or if the conference arrangements as described are not adequate 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 event organizers?

Accessibility needs are best communicated through the conference registration form under the question “Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?”. If you have additional needs that were not specified during the registration process, please contact the Accessibility Chairs, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Tiffany Knearem, and Arthur Theil as soon as possible at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org. 

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

Contact the Accessibility Chairs, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Tiffany Knearem, and Arthur Theil at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org.

Will sign language interpretation or captioning be available?

Sign language interpreters or captioners could be available upon request if requested by any attendees during the early registration period. Please identify your interpretation needs on the registration page under the question “Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?” and an Accessibility Chair will contact you. Requests should be made prior to October 9th, 2024. If you make your request after this date, we will try our best to accommodate you, but we cannot guarantee that interpreters or captioners will be available.

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

Please see the page Getting Around.

The hotels are not easily walkable from the conference. There will be buses to and from the hotel at the beginning and end of each conference day. 

Can a volunteer assist me during the event?

Yes, student volunteers will be available to assist attendees with disabilities with navigation, meal service, or other accessibility needs. If you will need student volunteer assistance at the conference, please indicate this on your conference registration form. Please include details about your needs in the registration form under the question “Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?” and an Accessibility Chair will contact you to coordinate assistance.

Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Personal care assistants do not need to register for the conference. However, if you plan to bring a personal assistant, please inform us and provide information about your personal assistant when you register for the conference. Note that this should be limited to only one personal assistant per person. 

What is the event space like?

The overall layout is available on the map via this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SzIP1DNBmT0uEk4-TxvBQaAX6hXksVTS/view?usp=drive_link

The presentation spaces are flat (floor level).

The main conference center door has a motion sensor, and secondary doors have a pull/push handle. For some events, there will be someone at the entrance who can assist with entering / exiting the room. If you will require additional support, please contact the Accessibility Chairs, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Tiffany Knearem, and Arthur Theil at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org.

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.

We will provide an evacuation plan closer to the start of the conference.

Will the event be accessible by wheelchair or power scooter?

Yes, the event will be accessible to wheelchair users. The main door has a motion sensor, and secondary doors have a pull/push handle, and assistance can be available for these doors.

What are the restroom facilities like?

Restrooms will be available in the venue space. There will be accessible restrooms available. We will provide more information on the location of restrooms and accessibility features closer to the start of the conference. There will be a designated all-gender restroom. 

What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?

The stages in each presentation room are flat (floor level). For any request, including but not limited to having a stool on stage, a wireless microphone, a volunteer to operate slides or guide you onto and off of the stage, or ASL interpretation, please contact the Accessibility Chairs, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Tiffany Knearem, and Arthur Theil at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org.

Can I bring my guide dog?

Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome, and must be properly identified and equipped with their cleaning implements. Please contact the Accessibility Chairs, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Tiffany Knearem, and Arthur Theil at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org to indicate if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the event. We will then share the location of a pet relief area and water station.

Can I attend the event by robot?

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

How much walking or standing will be needed?

CSCW will take place throughout the entirety of the convention center with the exception of the room “Talamanca 2”. Images of each space with specifications can be viewed on the venue website at https://costaricacc.com/espacios/.  

There will be seating available at coffee breaks and on-site social events. 

Session rooms will have 64 seats (smallest) to 1200 seats (largest). There will be designated seating available for wheelchair users.  

Please contact accessibility co-chairs at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org. as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be an induction loop in the meeting rooms?

No. If you need hearing support, please request it via the conference registration form under the question “Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?”. If you have additional questions, you can contact the Accessibility Chairs at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org.

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 venue will offer options to purchase food. There will be vegan and vegetarian options available. We will have more information to share about food options closer to the start of the conference.

If you have special dietary needs or would like more detailed information, contact the Accessibility Chairs at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org 

Can the event accommodate special dietary needs?

We are still working with the venue to finalize meal choices. If you have a severe allergy or special dietary need, please indicate it on your conference registration form under the question “Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?”. 

Will the event be a smoke-free environment?

The entire event will be in a no-smoking area. Smoking is permitted only outside of the perimeter of the conference center.

Will masks be required at the event?

No, Masks are not required but attendees may wear masks if they choose. Please bring your own mask as the conference will not have masks to provide to attendees. 

Will the event space be ventilated?

The event will be indoors, and there will be opportunities within the CSCW area to go outside for fresh air.  

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

In general, we do not anticipate strong sensory experiences. However, the poster session might be noisier than the paper sessions. There is also a possibility that we will have a music event, but that has not yet been confirmed. 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.

The conference will have a quiet room. 

Please contact the Accessibility Chairs at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be a designated quiet space at the event?

Yes, there will be a designated quiet space at the conference. We will provide details on the location of this room closer to the start of the conference.  

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

In Costa Rica, you can call 911 for emergency services, including for ambulances, police, and fire. You can also call 118 for fire and rescue services or 128 for medical emergencies.

There will be a medical service on-site that attendees can utilize. If you require non-urgent medical care, please reach out to any volunteer who will endeavor to assist you. If there is any information you would like to provide in advance (e.g., best practices for responding if you have a seizure), please feel free to contact the Accessibility Chairs at accessibility2024@cscw.acm.org.