Accessibility

IN-PERSON ACCOMMODATIONS
As one of the largest hotels in Chicago, the Hilton’s facilities are accessible for those with mobility issues, hearing impairments and other accessiblity needs. Features of the building that support accessibility for all of our attendees include:

  • Service animals welcome
  • Accessible showers with roll-in access
  • Closed captioning on televisions or closed captioning decoders
  • Digital alarm clock available with strobe light
  • Visual alarm for hearing impaired in rooms and public areas
  • Accessible swimming pool and exercise facility
  • Accessible restaurant
  • Accessible parking
  • Accessible public entrance
  • Accessible elevators with braille and lowered buttons
  • Wheelchair ramp for lobby/reception access
  • Braille room numbers

For additional information on the venue, you can review the floor plans with ADA directions here.

Wheelchair Escort Service
The Hilton has a complimentary escort service to help people in wheelchairs find their way. If you need this service, please contact registration@netrootsnation.org and we”ll ask an escort to be ready.

There are also house phones at the Hilton in all meeting and public spaces. If you dial 0, the 24/7 operator will transfer you to security to arrange a wheelchair escort to take you where you need to go.

Mobility Scooters
We will have four mobility scooters available for attendees to share, and you’ll be able to pick them up at the registration desk. We won’t charge you for this. But we’ll limit you to 2 hours at a time (and ask you to re-charge them, if they run low on battery).

If you need your own dedicated scooter, please arrange for your own rental. If you rent from Scootaround, which has provided us a promo code for a 10% discount off the $170 cost of the rental, just go to this link and enter the code Netroots2023.

Captioning
All keynotes and featured panels, plus about 30 other panels, will be live-streamed via our virtual platform, which offers both a mobile app and web-based platform with built-in captioning in 34 languages. Captions will automatically display for those watching live through the app and those watching an archived recording. In both the web platform and mobile app, captions automatically display the language that attendees set in their app profile settings (click here for info on how to change your settings). There is an up to 30-second delay on captions.

If you are attending in person and are in a session room of a panel that is being streamed and need captions, you may open the stream on your device to access closed captioning. We just ask that you mute your audio as to not disturb your fellow attendees.

Our keynote sessions will have live captioning on the stage screens, and our featured panels and select sessions will also have ASL interpreters.

In all session rooms, we will have reserved seating in the front of the rooms for those who need to sit closer to access captions, ASL, or be closer to the audio. Look for dedicated spaces labeled “Accessible Seating.” We ask other attendees to leave these spaces clear for folks needing accommodations. (Folks using accommodations are of course welcome to have a friend sit in these areas with them.) All panel and training rooms also have amplified sound, and all speakers have been asked to use microphones and repeat any audience questions that may not be picked up enough on mic.

We are not yet able to offer closed captioning or ASL in all 150+ sessions, but our tech and AV teams recommend Web Captioner, a free web tool, for individuals looking for captioning beyond the aforementioned sessions. Please note Web Captioner is only compatible with Google Chrome browser and requires permission to access your microphone. If you have additional suggestions for tools, please let us know.

Wellness/Quiet Room
Room 322 is dedicated as our Wellness Room. Special programming, including morning yoga and midday meditation moments, will be held in this room (check the schedule for times). When programming is not happening, feel free to use this space for a quiet moment as needed.

Session Room Accessibility
Each session room will have wide aisles and spaces in the front and rear of the room to accommodate wheelchairs, scooters or others needing a little extra space. In the back of some of the rooms, chairs will also be set apart for those wishing to maintain some social distance. Please be mindful of those spaces and do not crowd those who are sitting in those rows. 

Food and drink options/allergies
There will be water bottle filling stations throughout the Convention Center, so we encourage you to bring a water bottle with you to fill up as needed.

For those who follow a vegetarian diet, there will be vegetarian options among our hors d’oeuvres/snacks at the various receptions and snack breaks. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate every food allergy. However, for any meal or snack you may be served within the Convention Center, catering staff will be able to tell you if any of the foods you’re allergic are involved in the preparation.

If you want to have a nice dinner in the area, check out these suggestions for good vegan and vegetarian options.

If you have questions or an ADA-related need not addressed here, call or text the Netroots staff at (415) 737-6389 or email us at registration@netrootsnation.org so that we may assist you.


VIRTUAL ACCOMMODATIONS
All keynotes and featured panels, plus about 30 other panels, will be livestreamed via our virtual platform, Webex Events, which offers both a mobile app and web-based platform with built-in captioning in 34 languages. Captions will automatically display for those watching live and those watching an archived recording. In both the web platform and mobile app, captions automatically display the language that attendees set in their app Profile settings (click here for info on how to change your settings). Keep in mind there is a 30 second delay on captions.

The Webex web platform is compatible with assistive technology and has been updated to ensure that color contrast meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines; all icons are labeled; and images are enabled with ALT text. We’re also encouraging attendees to add descriptions when sharing images on social platforms or in the app.


ACCESSIBILITY TIPS FOR PRESENTERS
If you’re a presenter, here are some things to consider to make your sessions and handouts (if using) accessible:

  • Identify yourself by name before speaking. Not only is this helpful for persons with visual and auditory disabilities to identify who is speaking, it also helps captioners.
  • Speak clearly and slowly at a medium volume. 
  • Read out loud any important details and repeat back or read out loud any questions posed.
  • Use text that is high-contrast and in a large, legible font, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid italics and specialty or decorative fonts. Use an online color contrast checker.
  • Using slides? Describe images used in the presentation and read relevant text from the screen for people who have difficulty reading or seeing text and visual images.


COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
Our Community Guidelines offer tips on how to be inclusive of all attendees, including those with disabilities. A few important things to remember:

  • Identify yourself by name before speaking. Not only is this helpful for persons with visual and auditory disabilities to identify who is speaking, it also helps captioners. 
  • Speak clearly and slowly at a medium volume. 
  • Use “person-first” labels to ensure that people are not labeled with their disability (“person with a disability” instead of “disabled person” or “person who uses a wheelchair” instead of “wheelchair-bound”).
  • “Handicapped” has a negative connotation. Instead use “person with a disability.”