Accessibility

If you have questions about accessibility or wish to request specific accommodations, please write workshops@nasw.org prior as early as possible and no later than October 24. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests and provide reasonable accommodations for meeting events.

Our conference app
Whova will be your gateway to the conference, whether you are attending virtually, in-person, or both. Within 48 hours of registration, you will be able use the app or the Whova web portal to see who’s coming, view the program, connect with speakers and attendees, set personal meetings, start your own discussion groups, and more.

Whova is offered both as an app and a web-based platform. The best functionality will be found with the app. Approximately 48 hours after registration, visit the app or the Whova web portal and enter the email with which you registered for the conference. If this is your first time using Whova, click "Sign Up." If you have used Whova before but cannot remember your password, click the forgot password link.

After the conference, attendees can use Whova to access selected, recorded sessions for up to 3 months. Sessions that will be recorded and/or livestreamed are noted in the program.

Accessibility: In-person venues

Marriott Raleigh City Center
Friday's pre conference sessions and the opening reception will take place at the Marriott Raleigh City Center. For more information about the physical features of the Marriott's accessible rooms, common areas, or special services relating to a specific disability please call +1 919-833-1120.

Raleigh Convention Center
Saturday and Sunday's sessions will primarily take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, which is across the street from the Marriott. We will be using the North Hallway, the 300 series of rooms on the Main (300) level and a portion of the ballroom on the Ballroom (400) level. Download the Raleigh Convention Center Accessibility Toolkit for a map that includes doorway measurements, sink heights, gender neutral restroom locations, and other helpful usability information. The Convention Center provides lactation pods, sensory bags, and a number of other features. Learn more at raleighconvention.com/accessibility.

Hotels
The main conference hotels will be the Marriott Raleigh City Center. All conference hotels maintain ADA accessible guest rooms that can be reserved upon request. For more information about the physical features of the Marriott's accessible rooms, common areas, or special services relating to a specific disability please call +1 919-833-1120.

Trips and Tours
Accessibility considerations for each offsite event or tour is noted in the within the event description of the program. An ADA assistant rate is available for an accompanying assistant when registering.

Accessibility: Virtual platforms
Once the conference starts, you will “enter” every virtual session by connecting from Whova.

For most sessions, Whova will seamlessly join you with a Zoom session with the click of a button, a method that makes it easy on you and difficult for Zoomraiders. Zoom is a platform that many already have a comfort with. In addition, it’s accessible with a screenreader, can have keyboard-only navigation enabled, and users can change their background for reasons of privacy or fun or personal preference. For full accessibility options on Zoom, please visit zoom.us/accessibility. We will provide live, machine captioning of sessions held in Zoom, which will be the majority of virtual sessions. We realize that this is not a perfect solution. Sessions that are recorded will be re-captioned as needed before release onto the site for post-session viewing. Zoom offers answers to common troubleshooting questions here.

We will also be using Remo for an event or two. For Remo, please be sure to enter the event using the email with which you registered for the conference. View Remo's troubleshooting tech tips and accessibiltiy tips. Like Zoom, Remo is a video presentation platform. Unlike Zoom, Remo allows attendees to move around a virtual conference center and talk to others any time there is not a presentation going on. When you join a table or a move to a new table, you are included in a video chat with up to 5 other attendees at the same table. Curious or want to take a tour ahead of time? We will not be using all of features. The chat, camera, and mic controls are similar to Zoom’s set up. Two important tips for Remo: Make sure that you are using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari for compatibility and note that if you enter an event once the presentation has started, your mic and camera will be automatically turned off and you will simply see the presentation.

Children and caregivers
ScienceWriters2024 welcomes working parents to our professional conference, as well as individuals who are at the conference to assist with childcare or assist attendees with disabilities.

To help maintain a professional, disturbance-free environment, children under 18 must be under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or other caregiver at all times. Each attendee takes full responsibility for any children and caregivers that accompany such attendee. We require that all children and caregivers be registered and wear a badge or wristband at all times. Children and caregivers must adhere to all conference policies, including the Code of Conduct and any COVID-19 or other safety policies. Children (of any age) are not permitted at receptions, tours, field trips, or offsite or limited attendance events.

Strollers, baby carriers, or similar devices are permitted in session rooms as long as they do not block aisles or emergency exits. Breastfeeding and pumping spaces are available at our conference, and some local hotels offer childcare services.

From time to time, the ScienceWriters conference, NASW, CASW, and its sponsors and partners may use photographs, video, and/or audio recordings of conference events in promotional and educational materials online and in print. By virtue of their attendance, all conference attendees, visitors, caregivers, and parents or guardians of children agree to the use of their likeness or their children’s likeness in any such materials.

$35 = ADA assistant rate (all events that attendee is registered for)
$35 = Children aged 6-17, 5 and under= free
$50 = Caregiver accompanying registrant to conference sessions