Disability-Related Accommodation

Overview
AALS is committed to making our meetings and events accessible to all of our attendees.
Please contact the AALS at disability@aals.org so that we may assist you with services that you need. The AALS phone number is 202-296-8851. The AALS Website is www.aals.org

Chemical Sensitivity
All AALS events are smoke-free and, as often as possible, held in smoke-free venues. Smoking is not permitted in any meeting or session rooms, business or networking events, or AALS-sponsored social events. Please be aware that some venues (i.e. off-site) may allow smoking in public areas. Cigarettes may be used in designated smoking areas as determined by the venue. 

Specific requests can be made to hotels within our block and the meeting venues that chemicals not be used in guest rooms on carpeting or other surfaces.

Nursing Mothers
AALS will provide a room with electrical power, a refrigerator and a locking door for nursing mothers who attend AALS meetings. Please visit the AALS Office for access to the room.

Meeting Room Setup
AALS hotels and meeting venues will be asked to provide adequate aisle space and cut-outs for persons with wheelchairs and other mobility devices in all meeting rooms and locations. Please note standard head tables (when used) include a podium and microphones on the tables and podium. If you are presenting and require additional accommodations (such as a ramp, or lavaliere microphone) please contact AALS at disability@aals.org in advance. Every effort will be made to set meeting rooms/locations to accommodate all attendees, both speakers and audience members.

Mobility Constraints
Because the AALS Annual Meeting has many sessions, there can be considerable distances between sessions. If you are a regular wheelchair user, we suggest you bring your chair with you to the meeting.

Taxi Service for those with Mobility Constraints
Registrants with mobility constraints who are unable to use AALS shuttle buses, may use a wheelchair accessible taxi to and from official AALS hotels. AALS will reimburse you for the taxi fares between official AALS properties. Please stop by the AALS Office with your receipts. 

Registration of Personal Aide/Companion
Should you require an aide or personal assistant to help navigate the AALS Annual Meeting, AALS will register your aide as a complimentary guest. Please contact disability@aals.org to register your personal aide (name, city and state is required for the badge) which can be picked up at AALS Registration. Personal aides may attend sessions, AALS sponsored meals, and access the exhibit hall. If you need AALS to arrange for an aide to help you navigate the meeting, please email your request to disability@aals.org or call (202) 296-8851 to outline the specific type of assistance required. In order to best accommodate your request, we ask that you notify us of your request as much in advance of the meeting as possible.

Hearing Impairment

Sign Language Interpreters
Attendees may request a sign language interpreter for the AALS Annual Meeting. Please email your request to disability@aals.org. We ask that you notify us of your request as much in advance of the meeting as possible.

Sign language interpreters are provided for AALS-sponsored events only. 

CART
Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) is a word-for-word speech-to-text interpreting service for people with a hearing loss or who would otherwise benefit from this accommodation.

CART will be provided for AALS-sponsored events only.

Attendees may request CART service for the AALS Annual Meeting. Please email your request to disability@aals.org. We ask that you notify us of your request as much in advance of the meeting as possible.

Accessible Transportation and Housing
All ADA-designated hotel rooms in the official AALS hotel block will be specifically set aside for individuals requesting them.