Our goal is to make Ubicomp/ISWC 2017 accessible and inclusive for anyone who would like to attend. Below, we provide a list of specific steps that we are taking to make the conference accessible. We encourage attendees who have specific accessibility related questions, or simply want to know more about the current arrangements, to contact the accessibility chairs (accessibility-2017@ubicomp.org).
- Venue : The conference venue has been reviewed for full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure easy access for the widest range of abilities. The conference hotel (Grand Wailea in Maui, Hawaii) has multiple ADA guest rooms that can be booked specifically by those who need them. More detailed information can be found under the “Attending” section of this website.
- Companion Registration: Full access for an accessibility-related assistant (e.g., Personal Care Assistant, Interpreter, etc.) will be provided at no cost. Please indicate this request during your own registration (under the Special Accommodations section) so we can follow this up.
- Proceedings : We expect that all final camera ready submissions, including supplementary content, will be accessible, and are providing support and guidance in order to help facilitate this. We ask for authors to please note the accessibility guidelines provided in the submissions process.
- Videos and Demonstrations: Guidelines for providing accessible videos and demonstrations can be found at the accessibility presentation guidelines page, and authors are encouraged to follow this.
- We are aware that every individual’s needs are unique, and in the interest of making Ubicomp/ISWC 2017 an enjoyable and informative experience for all, we are ready and willing to make every effort to accommodate all participants. For any individual accessibility-related concerns or requests (e.g. logistics, transportation, materials access, etc.), please contact the accessibility chairs at accessibility-2017@ubicomp.org. All requests made will be strictly confidential to the accessibility chairs, with no further communication about your disability or circumstances taking place without your expressed permission.
Accessibility Q & A
Who is this Q and A for?
We are prepared to make reasonable adjustments and accommodations, or otherwise take steps to ensure that people with disabilities can take part in the conference. This Q and A is for anyone with accessibility needs.
What do you mean by ‘a disability’?
A disability is any impairment or condition that places an individual at a substantial disadvantage in relation to one or more daily life activities. This includes mobility, hearing and visual impairments, as well as a number of conditions that might be less immediately obvious as a disability (e.g. Mental Health Conditions, Specific Learning Disabilities, Autism, Chronic Illness, Cancer, HIV amongst other all fall within this definition).
What can I request?
In short, we are willing to take all steps that are possible to include people with disabilities at Ubicomp/ISWC2017. It is important that all participants that have special requests announce those to us with their registration as it may require additional time on our side to provide the requested support. Some examples are shown above. This includes anticipatory steps we are taking in advance of the conference to ensure accessibility takes place for as many of our attendees as possible without the need for a specific request.
Does this include travel and accommodation?
We have ensured that the conference hotel has a number of ADA-compliant rooms that have appropriate facilities for those people who may need them. While we cannot pay additional travel and accommodation costs in and of themselves, there are a wide range of Educational Charities that you can apply for, or other grants (including our Student Travel Grants). It is also possible your academic institution will be obliged to cover your travel and accommodation costs under the law, given the career development and educational opportunities intrinsically tied to attendance at a world-leading conference in this field. You are encouraged to register and begin planning as early as possible both for funding and logistical purposes – if you are ultimately unable to attend due to a disability-related reason, we will fully refund your registration fee.
How do I request a reasonable adjustment or accommodation?
Please indicate your request on your registration form as you register for the conference. We aim to approve most requests within two weeks of receipt, although if further investigation or consultation is required, this may take longer.
I have a complex request for a reasonable accommodation. How will you decide upon whether or not this can be honoured?
In short, we will generally honour a request if it is possible for us to do. The more notice we have the better, and the more likely we would be able to find an effective implementation of your request that fits with any competing challenges that also apply to our conference. We may need to consult with ACM and more widely in order to fully investigate such a request, in which case we would ask your permission to do so.