Accessibility

ALA works to make sure that your experience will be a pleasant and accessible one. Below you'll find Annual Conference and McCormick Place features that will ensure accessibility measures for those in need.


  • We caption our main sessions, (e.g., Opening, Closing, President’s Program, Council Meetings, and other sessions, as requested by organizers).

  • Our shuttle bus company offers accessible buses. Instructions on how to obtain your ride are available in each hotel and in the convention center.

  • Leader animals of all kinds are welcome throughout the conference.    

  • We provide accessible sleeping rooms in our hotel block. Rooms for the deaf, blind, and attendees in wheelchairs will be made available.
     
    Just check the box on your housing form and an onPeak representative will contact you to make sure you are placed in an appropriate room.


Mobility Assistance

Based upon availability in each city, ALA maintains a limited number of wheelchairs and scooters on a first-come / first-serve basis for attendees that require mobility assistance.  ALA offers complimentary scooters to be used during regular session hours in the convention center.

Scooter pick up and drop off will be located in the McCormick Place Convention Center.  Please see the attendant for assistance. You will be asked to sign out and return the scooters daily with the attendant.  Any scooters returned past the closing time noted will be subject to a $25 fee.

If you would like to reserve a scooter prior to the show, please request one during registration or contact Conference Services Accessibility by email at [email protected], no later than May 26, 2023. Reservation requests cannot be taken after this deadline. However, additional scooters will be available onsite for use during the conference.

Scooter hours coming soon. 


American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters

Conference Services coordinates interpreting services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. To use the service, Interpreter requests should be made prior to conference attendance while registering or by contacting Conference Services Accessibility by email at [email protected], before May 26, 2023. 

An interpreter will also be on-call in the Conference Services Office in the Convention Center, Thursday through Monday.  Services are available on a first-come / first-serve basis.


Mothers Room

There will be a private and comfortable space allocated to nursing mothers in the Convention Center.



Entrances and Exits

McCormick Place has 4 designated drop-off points for taxis and cars that provide ramped curbs and automatic entry doors:
Lakeside Center (East Building) – Drop off at Gate 37 (car drop off at Gate 31); pick up at Gate 30
North Building – Drop off or pick up at Gate 22
South Building – Drop off or pick up at Gate 4
West Building – Drop off or pick up at Gate 40  


Meeting Rooms and Theaters

All meeting rooms and theaters are wheelchair accessible, except rooms E268, E269, E272A, E272B, E272C, E272D. (which are only available for limited use).


Parking

Accessible parking is available in Lot A (located on Martin Luther King Drive), Lot C (located underground in Lakeside Center) and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place parking garage.


Elevators

Elevators are located near the main entrances in all McCormick Place buildings, and near the main exhibit halls on all levels.


Hearing Impaired Services

TTY Phone access is available at the Security Command Center located in the North Building on Level 1. For more information, call our TTY number at 312-791-6505. Assisted listening transmitters and receivers are available free of charge on a first-come, first serve basis.


Service Areas

First aid stations, restaurants, retail outlets and drinking fountains are wheelchair accessible. Restrooms provide either accessible or ambulatory stalls.


Service Animals

Trained service animals are welcome at McCormick Place.


Signage

All McCormick Place public signs incorporate raised lettering and Braille.

Accessibility Sponsor

American Psychological Association Image