Annual Meetings 2018 hosted by SBL & AAR
 
Disability and Assistance

SBL and AAR members with disabilities or any attendees who may have difficulty getting around the meeting are encouraged to note this during registration, as well as on the housing section of registration if applicable. SBL and AAR will make every reasonable attempt to accommodate you by arranging services such as sign language interpreters, assigning accessible hotel room space, or through the SBL & AAR taxi reimbursement policy. Please contact Annual Meetings 2018 at information@annual-meetings.org if you have any questions.

Taxi Reimbursement SBL & AAR will reimburse attendees with disabilities for the cost of a private taxi or ride-share service to travel between official Annual Meetings locations, if needed. To receive the reimbursement, please submit all receipts with a letter detailing the nature of your disability, your departure point, and your destination. Only travel between official Annual Meeting locations (i.e., hotels and convention center) will be covered. Questions may be directed to information@annual-meetings.org.

Getting Around the 2018 Annual Meeting in Denver

Access to and between the Colorado Convention Center and Main Hotels

Most SBL and AAR sessions will be held in two locations—the Colorado Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency Colorado Convention Center. The Employment Center will be located at the Sheraton Downtown. Other Events and receptions will be primarily held at the Crowne Plaza Downtown, Embassy Suites Downtown, Grand Hyatt, Hilton City Center, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, and Sheraton Downtown.
Note that there are not any talking crosswalks (for those with visual disabilities) in the immediate area of our facilities.

Approximate Distances:

  • The Convention Center is 0.2 miles from the entrance (blue bear) to the rear, and 0.15 miles across
  • Embassy Suites (3), Hyatt Regency (7), Hilton Garden Inn (6), and Crowne Plaza (2) are all within 0.1 mile of each other
  • Entrance of the Convention Center (1) to Sheraton – 0.4 miles (8)
  • Entrance of Convention Center (1) to Grand Hyatt – 0.4 miles (4)
  • Entrance of Convention Center (1) to Hilton City Center – 0.4 miles (5)

Logistical Information about the Facilities

Within the Denver airport, if you find yourself on the main level (5), and need an elevator to get to the Transit Center (train to downtown), the best way to go is through the Westin, as the Transit Center is one level below level 5 and outside of the airport. More information is here: https://www.aarweb.org/annual-meeting/hotels-and-local-transportation-information.

The Convention Center has provided some information here: https://denverconvention.com/attend-an-event/accessibility-services on ADA services. Please note that the wheelchair rental mentioned in this link is only for rentals inside the Center. More information on rentals that can be taken outside is below.

Wheelchair or Electric Scooter Rental

Attendees who wish to rent a wheelchair or electric scooter for use during the Annual Meeting are welcome to contact the following providers to arrange for service. They suggest you make your reservation as soon as possible to ensure availability.

Mountain View Medical Supply (https://mvmsinc.com) has manual wheelchairs available for $20 a day or $30 a week. Motor scooters are available for $110. They will deliver it to you for a fee. You will need to call 1-800-873-7121 for reservations.

Aspen Medical (https://www.aspenmedicalsupply.com/index.htm) has manual wheelchairs available for $20/day or $50/week. Motor scooters are available for $150 for 3 days or $170 for a week. They will deliver it to you for a fee. You will need to call 1-720-322-0101 for reservations.

Onsite Accessibility Issues

Should you encounter an accessibility issue at the Annual Meeting, please notify the hotel’s front desk so they can get the issue resolved. You may also report the problem at the SBL & AAR Registration Desk (located outside of Hall A in the Convention Center) Friday 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday through Monday 8 am to 5:30 pm, and Tuesday 8 to 10 am, or email information@annual-meetings.org. Annual Meeting Program Accessibility

ASL Interpreter Services

SBL & AAR provide interpreter services for attendees who request ASL interpretation in advance of the meeting. To request interpreter service, contact SBL and AAR at information@annual-meetings.org no later than September 1 to ensure that SBL & AAR has sufficient time to arrange for appropriate interpreters. If members inform SBL & AAR about their anticipated attendance at particular sessions, SBL & AAR staff will coordinate with presenters and session presiders to secure advance copies of papers for interpreters.

Assisted Listening System

We can equip any conference meeting room with an assisted listening system. SBL & AAR will provide receivers to attendees who request them in advance. If you would like to make use of this service, please email information@annual-meetings.org by November 12. Accessible Presentations SBL & AAR encourages all presenters and presiders to make their presentations fully accessible to attendees with disabilities. The following guidelines suggest best practices for accessible presentations: https://www.aarweb.org/annual-meeting/guidelines-for-accessible-presentations.
Materials in Alternative Format Attendees who need materials in alternative formats should contact the presenters directly. If you need contact information, please email information@annual-meetings.org. If members inform SBL & AAR about their needs and their anticipated attendance at particular sessions, SBL & AAR staff will do their best to coordinate with presenters and session presiders to facilitate the availability of handouts or other session materials in alternative formats.
Accessibility for Presenters The room format for SBL & AAR sessions commonly includes a podium with a microphone designed for standing presentations. The AAR Plenary room, Convention Center Four Seasons Ballroom 1, and the SBL Plenary room, Convention Center Four Seasons Ballroom 4, will have a riser for the head table. The rest of the head tables will be on the floor. Presenters who need an alternative format (such as a tabletop microphone or podium) or who anticipate a problem with the riser should contact information@annual-meetings.org to arrange for appropriate presentation technology.
Sighted Guide or Mobility Assistance Attendees who need a sighted guide or other mobility assistance to navigate the Annual Meeting should email information@annual-meetings.org by November 12.

Volunteer to Assist Your Colleagues

Are you able to devote a few hours of your time at the annual meeting to assist a colleague? Please contact information@annual-meetings.org if you are able to serve as a sighted guide or to provide mobility assistance during a portion of the meeting.

Employment Center Accessibility

SBL & AAR is committed to maximizing accessibility for employers and job seekers who are making use of the Employment Center. SBL & AAR can arrange for a quiet booth, to minimize noise or distraction from adjacent booths, or may be able to arrange for a private interview room if space is available. If you need a quiet room or have other accessibility needs, please contact careers@aarsbl.org as soon as possible so that we can adequately accommodate you.

Status of People with Disabilities in the Profession Committee

AAR has a Committee on the Status of People with Disabilities in the Profession (PWD), which works to assure the full access of people with disabilities within the Academy and to advance their status within the profession. This year, the PWD Committee will sponsor the special topics forum below:

  • “Whose Crisis? Opioids, Chronic Pain, and Religious Responses,” Monday 9 to 11:30 am in Convention Center 210/212.
The committee will host a luncheon, “Connecting Conversations,” on Monday 11:45 am to 12:45 pm in Convention Center 205/207, immediately after the session "Whose Crisis? Opioids, Chronic Pain, and Religious Responses.” Registration for the lunch costs $13 and is limited to 60 people. Advanced registration is required and can be done while you are registering online. If you have already completed registration, contact reg@aarweb.org.

 

The committee will also hold a pre-conference workshop, “ Integrating Religious and Disability Studies” on Friday, from 1 to 5 pm in Convention Center 210/212. Registration for the workshop costs $40 and is limited to 30 people. Advanced registration is required and can be done while you are registering online. If you have already completed registration, contact reg@aarweb.org.