CHI 2019 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 CHI 2019, 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 CHI 2019 organizers?
- Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?
- When is the deadline for accessibility requests?
- Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair?
- Will there be wheelchairs available for loan at the conference facility?
- How much walking or standing will be needed?
- What are expectations around inclusivity, diversity, and harassment at CHI 2019?
- What restroom facilities are available?
- Are children welcome at CHI 2019?
- Can I bring my guide dog?
- What resources are available for self-care and mental health at CHI 2019?
- Will there be an FM Assisted Listening system available?
- Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?
- What food service will be provided?
- What is the conference space like?
- How do I get to the conference venue?
How do I communicate accessibility needs to CHI 2019 organizers?
CHI values the diversity of our community, and aims to be an accessible and inclusive conference. Attendees are encouraged to mention any requests for accommodation upon registration for the conference. If you have any questions or concerns about accessibility, or any requests for accommodation (such as ASL translation, captioning, etc.), please contact the conference accessibility chairs at accessibility@chi2019.acm.org, and they will work with you to address your concerns. Note that some requests may require advance notice, so please submit accessibility requests as far in advance of the conference date as possible in order to give us adequate time to prepare.
Accessibility Chairs, CHI 2019:
Sunyoung Kim, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Edith Law, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Email: accessibility@chi2019.acm.org
Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?
For more detailed information about accessibility at the SEC, please check the venue accessibility information page, phone the venue information desk at 0141-248-3000, or email the SEC by filling out the form here.
If there is a specific accessibility information you would like to see here, or if you wish to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact our Accessibility Chairs by email: accessibility@chi2019.acm.org, and someone will respond to you shortly.
When is the deadline for accessibility requests?
The deadline for accessibility requests is 18th March 2019 (the extended conference early registration deadline). If you need support, please inform us of your accessibility requirements/requests before this deadline. You can contact the Accessibility Chairs, Sunyoung and Edith, by email: accessibility@chi2019.acm.org
Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair?
Yes, the conference venue will be accessible by wheelchair. The SEC (Scottish Event Campus) entrances are wheelchair accessible and feature access doors. So if you have your own wheelchair and wish to bring it to an event you are welcome to do so.
The SEC Centre has automatic doors at both the East and West entrances. The main doors in the SEC Armadillo have been widened to provide easier access for wheelchairs. Please contact a steward who will be pleased to open for you.
Every hall in the SEC Centre is at ground level, and the upper levels of the SEC Armadillo, Loch Suite and Seminar Suite are accessible by lift.
Will there be wheelchairs available for loan at the conference facility?
The venue do have a small number of wheelchairs available to borrow, but these are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that wheelchairs can only be borrowed for one event day at a time. Collection and drop off is at the following points:
- SEC Centre – cloakroom on the main concourse
- SEC Armadillo – from stewards in the ground floor lobby
- The SSE Hydro – the Information Desk across from main entrance
To advise the SEC of your intention to borrow a wheelchair in advance of your visit, please fill in the form here. Requests must be made 48 hours in advance of your event. If the request is not made within that time, it will be subject to availability on the day of your event.
How much walking or standing will be needed?
CHI 2019 will be held in the three different venues across the central SEC, Crown Plaza Hotel, and Armadillo. Therefore, you will have to walk a fair amount to travel across these venues. However, we will offer enough seatings in most areas where there is no existing setting offered by the venue itself. The indoor pathway between the SEC and Armadillo or Crown plaza is quite narrow and takes longer to travel than using an outdoor pathway. Thus, we recommend to use the outdoor pathway as long as weather permits (However, weather in May might be unpredictable). For more details, check out the SEC’s accessibility page.
What are expectations, around inclusivity, diversity, and harassment at CHI 2019?
We ask that all conference attendees respect individuals’ identities. Please use their stated names and pronouns. This year, this information is included right on attendees’ badges. If you’re not sure – ask! Please see the Diversity & Inclusion Statement that reflects our commitment to a welcoming and safe environment. Additionally, please review expectations stated in the ACM SIGCHI Policy on Harassment and Discrimination.
What restroom facilities are available?
All three buildings of the SEC have accessible toilets within easy access on the ground floor. In addition, there are accessible toilets on every level in the SEC Armadillo. Radar keys for accessible toilets are available from stewards, or may be purchased from the Information & Business Centre in the SEC Centre and the Information Desk in The SSE Hydro.
Are children welcome at CHI 2019?
CHI 2019 values that many attendees are parents and caregivers and provide various options to support attendance at CHI 2019 by attendees with families, including a child pass, on-site childcare (room M3/4), and a nursing room (M2). For more information about childcare options and child passes, please visit the child care nursing room page. For any further questions about accommodations for caregivers, please contact Louise Barkhus, the CHI 2019 Family Chairs, at childcare@chi2019.acm.org.
Can I bring my guide dog?
Yes, service animals are permitted within the SEC. We remind all attendees that guide dogs are working animals, and ask that you refrain from petting, distracting, or otherwise preventing them from doing their job. We would ask that assistance dogs are clearly identifiable around the campus. Facilities are available for assistance dogs on request.
What resources are available for self-care and mental health at CHI 2019?
We are planning to have a desensitization room available at the exit of Hall 4 (the exhibit hall). Also, the SEC has several secluded areas on the mezzanine where people can withdraw if they want to. In addition, there will be life streaming for those who need to take breaks in their hotel rooms during sessions. Please ask the accessibility chairs if you need to utilize these services.
Will there be an FM Assisted Listening system available?
The SEC’s Box offices have induction loop systems. Induction loop systems are also available in all Loch Suite and Seminar Suite rooms. The stalls in the SEC Armadillo are also equipped with induction loop systems, but operation is dependent on each, individual event or performance so provision can vary. For more information about the availability of induction loop systems at the venue please email the SEC’s Information Desk.
Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?
In accordance with legislation in Scotland and SEC Ltd company policy, smoking is prohibited in all internal areas of the venue.
What food service will be provided?
During coffee breaks, attendees can expect light refreshments such as: coffee, tea, water, juice, pastries, fruits, nuts, and some of the special foods that Glasgow has to offer, depending on the day. During receptions, a variety of options have been selected to accommodate the diverse dietary needs of the CHI community, and in consideration of dietary requirements indicated on registration forms.
For more specific questions or request about food, please contact Brooke Daley (bdaley@executivevents.com).
What is the conference space like?
For the overall layout of the venue, please refer to this page. Keep an eye on this website for specific CHI 2019 maps that will show areas of the venue that are relevant to attendees. Print programs will contain copies of these maps.
We also have a collaborative annotation map to highlight important accessibility characteristics about the conference venues and hotels, such as step-free routes and accessible bathrooms, or even to refine current details on the map. You can annotate on it to help others find the relevant information they need.
The main conference venue is the SEC. The venue has multiple escalator and elevator options. Please see our other FAQs for more details about wheelchair access, restrooms, walking and steps, and facilities for assistance animals.
How do I get to the conference venue?
The SEC is located just outside Glasgow city centre in the west-end. The campus is accessible by numerous transport options.
Train: Low level trains run frequently between Glasgow Central and Argyle Street stations and the Exhibition Centre station. On disembarking at the Exhibition Centre, a lift is available to take you to street level. A covered walkway connects the station to the campus.
Driving: The main car park of the SEC is the multi-storey at 10 Stobcross Road, G3 8YW, which is operated by City Parking LLP. View a map and directions. The operator can be contacted through the operator’s website if you need more information about parking for ‘blue badge’ holders.
For more details, check out the SEC’s website here.
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This FAQ has been generated from a template provided by ACM SIGACCESS. Event organizers are welcome to modify and reuse this template for other events. Please contact SIGACCESS for more information.
