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.
ACCESS AERA On-site Services Desk
Attendees with special needs are encouraged to visit the ACCESS AERA Services Desk located at Registration at the Hilton Union Square, Ballroom Level, Yosemite Ballroom. The service desk will be open during registration hours:
Friday, April 26, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27 – Tuesday, April 30, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 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 the AERA Comfort Room located Hilton Union Square, Golden Gate 2. Specialized reading devices for visually impaired attendees will be available. The on-site comfort room will be open the following hours:
Saturday, April 27, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 29, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 1, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 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 Hilton Union Square and will include visual signage on the door as a Gender Neutral Bathroom: All Genders Welcome. The bathroom will be located on the ballroom level across from Yosemite.
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 this private guest room in the hotel. The Headquarters office will be located at the Hilton Union Square, ballroom level, Executive Board Room.
ADA Shuttle for Persons with Disabilities AERA is pleased to offer a complimentary ADA shuttle service between the headquarter hotels from Saturday, April 27 – Wednesday, May 1. Shuttles will travel between the Grand Hyatt, Hilton Union Square, Hotel Nikko, Parc 55, Intercontinental San Francisco, Sir Francis Drake, and Westin St. Francis. Shuttles will depart approximately every thirty 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. The shuttle will operate approximately every 30 minutes from each hotel. 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:
Saturday, April 27, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 29, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 1, 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.
All presenters are encouraged to review Important Information on Accessibility of Session Presentations and Communication and Presentation Tips and Information for Presenting to People with Disabilities.