Accessibility

C19 Conference Accessibility Guidelines

C19 is committed to making its conferences as accessible as possible for all participants, especially during the global pandemic. To this end, following the principle of universal design, we provide guidelines to help create a safe and inclusive environment in the panels. While we have concentrated on improving access for attendees with temporary or permanent disabilities, both visible and invisible, many of the guidelines will benefit all conference participants. If you have questions, or need additional accommodations, please contact our Program Chair.

Masking

Given the most recent CDC guidelines, presenters who wish to do so may unmask to give their talks with the consent of the other panelists. We ask that all other panelists remain masked when not presenting or speaking and sit at a distance (of at least 6 feet) from unmasked presenters.

Room Technology

All conference rooms will be equipped with podiums, microphones, and sound systems to aid the amplification of speakers, in addition to Wi-Fi and LCD projectors with computer interface for image and sound projection. Reasonable accommodations will be made for participants who find themselves unable to travel and must present virtually. However, these accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the Program Committee and Panel Chair and the assistance of the Panel Chair or another panelist who can set up the necessary technology and in the conference room. We will not be able to provide technical support staff for virtual participants.

Panels

Panel chairs, in consultation with their panelists, should ensure that participants adhere to the following guidelines. 

1. Maintain space for two wheelchairs at the front of each conference room, near the door. Ensure that the area and a path to it remains clear. 
2. Remain alert to potential access barriers for people who use mobility aids like canes, or who have difficulty walking. Please keep aisles and areas around doors clear.
3. When possible, make available a few paper accessible copies of talks, some preferably in large-print (font size 18). Avoid decorative or overly stylized fonts and use black text on a white background.
4. For visual presentations, ensure that images are easily viewable from all points of the room. Refer clearly to the slide headings and briefly describe any images. In preparing visual presentations, practice color-blind awareness by using contrasting colors and textures. If a film or video clip is shown, turn on subtitles if they are available. 
5. Designate spaces in the front row for those who may need to read lips, see CART/ASL interpreters, or who simply need to be close to presenters to best hear and see presentations. Make room for visually-impaired participants who may need to sit near the front to better view presentations.
6. Presenters should pace their speech and not speak too quickly so that their presentations can be accessed by (for example) those with cognitive impairments, real-time caption devices, or ASL interpreters. When a projector is not in use, it should be shut down to reduce background noise. 
7. All presenters should use microphones and the Panel Chair or Respondent should repeat questions from audience members through the microphone during the discussion period.