Accessibility and Inclusion Resources
The American Educational Research Association is committed to offering an accessible environment for persons with disabilities. The Association strives to support persons with special needs while they are attending the Annual Meeting.
Special Needs Requests
During the registration process, please check the appropriate box to request special needs. This includes requests for sign language interpreting or any other special assistance.
For your hotel reservation, if you require an ADA compliant room, please contact housing customer service at email: [email protected] or phone: 800-262-9974 or 404-842-0000. Housing opens mid-December.
ACCESS AERA On-site Services Desk
Attendees with special needs are encouraged to visit the ACCESS AERA Services Desk located at Registration at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 200, Hall E Lobby. The service desk will be open during registration hours:
Wednesday, April 2, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 3 – Sunday, April 6, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Monday, April 7, 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
On-site Comfort Room
During the Annual Meeting, persons with disabilities who desire a place to relax are invited to visit one of the AERA Comfort Rooms located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100, Room 107A and the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Level 3, Room 301. Specialized reading devices for visually impaired attendees will be available. The on-site comfort rooms will be open the following hours:
Thursday, April 3, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Friday, April 4, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 7, 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Inclusion AERA is committed to welcoming to all of our community. Gender neutral bathrooms are an important part of making the AERA Annual Meeting more inclusive. A gender neutral bathroom will be available in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100, adjacent to Room 123, and the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Fifth Level, adjacent to Room 501. There will be visual signage on the door as a Gender Neutral Bathroom: All Genders Welcome.
Lactation Room AERA will provide a private lactation room for nursing mothers. If you require use of this room, please come to the AERA Headquarters Office to ask for assistance accessing a private guest room in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown hotel. The Headquarters office will be located at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Level 100, Room 126B.
ADA Shuttle for Persons with Disabilities
AERA is pleased to offer a complimentary ADA shuttle service between the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the headquarter hotels from Thursday, April 3 – Monday, April 7. Shuttles will travel between the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Courtyard Downtown Philadelphia, and Loews Hotels. Shuttles will depart approximately every 30 minutes and will loop continuously throughout the day. AERA signs will be posted at all boarding sites identifying the location as an AERA Access Shuttle pick-up and drop-off site. Look for shuttle signs at the entrance of each hotel for exact pick-up and drop-off locations. The shuttle will operate during the following hours:
Thursday, April 3, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Presenting to Persons with Disabilities
AERA is committed to building a culture of inclusion of people with diverse abilities. The roles of presenter, chair, discussant, and organizer are integral to creating inclusive sessions. The Association encourages participants to follow some basic guidelines to enhance the accessibility of presentations and communication. Session organizers and chairs are asked to emphasize the importance of these guidelines to all participants in sessions (e.g., presenters, chairs, discussants) in advance of the Annual Meeting and, when necessary, in guiding the conduct of the session itself.