How do I communicate accessibility needs to SIGDOC 2023 organizers?
The Accessibility Chair for SIGDOC 2023 is Sherena Huntsman, 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 that impacts your access to ACM conferences, special interest groups, publications, or digital resources?”. 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 sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu.
How do I communicate accessibility needs to SIGDOC 2023 organizers?
The Accessibility Chair for SIGDOC 2023 is Sherena Huntsman, 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 that impacts your access to ACM conferences, special interest groups, publications, or digital resources?”. 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 sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu.
Will face coverings (masks) be required?
Although face coverings will not be required for conference attendees, we highly recommend the use of facial coverings. The nature of conference attendance brings together people from different locations and with different experiences and needs. To mitigate the risks associated with bringing people together in close quarters, we recommend attendees wear face coverings when possible. Thank you for considering the safety of all conference attendees.
Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?
More information about accessibility at Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown is available on their accessibility information page. Please contact them directly to discuss your specific needs: (407) 841-1000.
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, Sherena Huntsman, by email: sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu, 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 (until September 25, 2023). Please make your request as early as possible. Our Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to discuss your needs in more detail. After September 25, a best effort will be made to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee that interpreters or captioners will be available.
CART services will be available for the workshops and the keynote speakers. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) describes CART services as “the instant translation of the spoken word into English text using a stenotype machine, notebook computer, and real-time software.” The text produced by the CART service can be displayed on an individual’s mobile device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
What are the taxi and public transport options for getting to the conference venues?
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located about 13 miles from the conference hotel. More information about MCO’s accessibility services is available here. Taxi and rideshare services are available from Terminals A, B, and C. If arriving at Terminal C, bus and train services require taking a shuttle to Terminals A and B.
- Taxi: Average transport time to/from downtown Orlando varies with traffic from between 25–45 minutes. Average fare is $55-60. More information about taxi connections, including pick-up locations and contact information for individual companies, can be found on the airport website.
- Rideshare (Uber and Lyft): Average transport time to/from downtown Orlando varies with traffic from between 25–45 minutes. Rates vary depending on demand; a range of $30-50 is likely.
- Bus: The Lynx bus system lines 11 and 51 runs from MCO to/from the Lynx Central Station in Downtown Orlando about twice an hour between 5 am and 11:30 pm. The closest stop on the 11 to the hotel is Rosalind and Central (across the street from the hotel); the closest stop on the 51 is Robinson and Rosalind (about 0.4 mi from the hotel). The fare is $2. Average transport time is between 40-50 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Train: The SunRail train does not go directly to the airport, but may be accessed by Lynx bus via the Sand Lake Station. Cost is $2 (includes Lynx transfer). The Church Street Station is the closest stop to the conference venue (about 0.6 miles away). More information is available here. Note that SunRail does not run on weekends.
The Orlando Amtrak station is located about 1.5 miles south of the conference venue. See Amtrak’s website for more information about accessibility and connections. Connections can be made to the conference venue via taxi, rideshare, or Lynx bus.
If parking a personal vehicle at the conference hotel, daily parking rate is $22. Note that the Orlando metro has a toll road system (including State Roads 408, 417, 528). The I-4 Interstate is free but does have a central toll express lane.
What are self-parking arrangements at the conference?
Self-parking is located in the surface lot directly across Pine Street from the hotel (on the corner of Pine and Rosalind). Take a ticket upon entering the parking lot. Hotel guests should bring the ticket to the front desk when checking in to receive a parking voucher which they can use for unlimited exit/re-entry at a cost of $22 per day. Non-overnight guests may find that the day rate in this surface lot or the parking structure just east on Pine Street are more economical, but this rate doesn’t include exit/re-entry privileges. Metered street parking is available in the neighborhood south and east of the hotel, but note that City of Orlando parking enforcement staff tickets quickly for overstaying metered time.
Who can I ask about accessibility in Orlando, Florida?
For information about Orlando’s accessibility, including public transport, go to Visit Orlando Accessibility page.
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 or email Sherena Huntsman at sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu. We will need to know the number of attendees needing assistance in order to organize our volunteer planning.
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.
What is the conference space like?
The conference will be held on the first floor of the Embassy Suites Downtown in Orlando. A floor map of the venue (not to scale) is below. The keynote sessions will be held in San Juan I & II. The poster session will be held in San Juan III. Paper and panel sessions will be held in Eola 1, Eola 2, Eola 3, and San Juan III. Registration will be in the San Juan prefunction area to the left of the hotel entrance, which is off of Pine Street. Men’s and Women’s restrooms are located on the first floor. As of early September, the conference committee is working on arranging a hospitality suite that could be used as a gender-neutral restroom. We will have more information about this nearer the conference start date. A set of both Men’s and Women’s restrooms is located on the first floor. Two individual gender-neutral restrooms are located on the second floor, just to the left of the elevators above the San Juan ballroom.
If there is an emergency during the conference, attendees using wheelchairs, power scooters, or needing assistance, will be escorted by conference organizers
Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair or power scooter?
Yes, the conference will be accessible to wheelchair users. The Embassy Suites Downtown, the conference hotel, is the conference venue, and the surrounding streets are wheelchair accessible.
For the hotel, several wheelchair-accessible and ADA-compliant rooms are available. We recommend you book your room as soon as possible to reserve your room. For more information about wheelchair accessibility at Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown, please contact them directly to discuss your specific needs: (407) 841-1000.
If there is an emergency during the conference, attendees using wheelchairs, power scooters, or needing assistance, will be escorted by conference organizers.
The Thursday evening Ignite Talks and social event is in the Orange County Regional History Center, which is approximately 1-½ blocks (0.1 mile) from the conference venue at 65 E. Central Blvd. If you would like assistance to or from the venue, please let us know when you register. This venue is wheelchair accessible.
What are the restroom facilities like?
A set of both Men’s and Women’s restrooms is located on the first floor. Two individual gender-neutral restrooms are located on the second floor, just to the left of the elevators above the San Juan ballroom.
What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?
If you would like a student volunteer to operate doors or have other accessibility requests, please contact Sherena Huntsman at sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu.
Can I bring my guide dog?
Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at SIGDOC 2023. There will be a relief area with water available. All of the conference venues welcome service animals. Please indicate on your registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference.
How much walking or standing will be needed?
The conference will require minimal walking as all sessions are on the first floor, as are meals and restrooms. The conference rooms are between 40 and 60 feet from the elevator. Seating in rooms will include chairs in lecture-style seating as well as round tables.
Hotel guests will have breakfast included with their rooms. Lunch will be provided on Thursday and Friday. Dinners are on your own. See our local area guide for nearby dining suggestions.
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?
Lunches will be provided to attendees buffet-style on Thursday and Friday. Dishes will be labeled. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate these clearly on your registration form.
Hotel guests will receive breakfast as part of their hotel registration.
Can the conference accommodate special dietary needs?
Lunch will be served buffet-style, and we will include at least one vegan and one gluten-free entree with each lunch offering. If you have a severe allergy, please indicate this on your registration form and we will attempt to label foods with this ingredient. However, the hotel can not guarantee that food will not come into contact with allergens.
Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?
The entire conference venue is a non-smoking area. Those wishing to smoke will need to do so outside the building.
Will there be loud music, strobe lighting, spotlights, or other strong sensory experiences?
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 Sherena Huntsman at sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.
Will there be a designated quiet space at the conference?
There is no designated quiet space at the conference. Attendees are welcome to use lobby and atrium seating, but we anticipate there will be some foot traffic through these areas.
What if I have a medical emergency or health problem during the conference?
In case of emergency, call 911 for medical assistance, including an ambulance.
The nearest urgent care facility is CareSpot Urgent Care, located about 2 miles from the Embassy Suites at 2323 S. Orange Ave. The nearest emergency room is Orlando Health/Orlando Regional Medical Center, also located about 2 miles from Embassy Suites at 29 W. Sturtevant St. Both facilities are accessible by the #7 Lynx bus, or by taxi or rideshare service.If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact Sherena Huntsman at sherenahuntsman@boisestate.edu (435-224-3373 for emergencies during the conference) or ask any student volunteer. For non-US resident attendees, buying travel insurance that covers medical expenses is strongly recommended, as fees for emergency treatment can be very high.