Accessibility

The AGES conference is a time to come together and weave connections across diverse fields and communities. We are especially excited to welcome those from the Child and Youth Care (CYC) as they join our Faculty of Education. At the conference, you will be able to engage with workshops, poster and paper presentations, round table discussions, panels, and keynotes.

Conferences can be demanding physically, cognitively, and socially. The types of sessions offered can involve a lot of high stimulation and sensory input. We have put together the following information to let you know about our accessibility considerations for this event.

Please see below for what we have considered for the accessibility of this event! If there’s something we’ve missed, we are more than happy to provide individualized accommodations as needed. You can contact our accessibility coordinator, Nora Loyst at nora.loyst@untappedaccessibility.ca

Accessibility features and known barriers

Event building (MacLaurin)

Getting to the building
The MacLaurin Building is located on the west side of campus, on the opposite side to the main bus loop. The closest parking lots are Lot E, followed by Lot 6. If you require more detailed directions or an accompanied walk to the building from a parking lot or a bus stop, please contact Nora at nora.loyst@untappedaccessibility.ca.

Building accessibility
The elevator is located in the A wing. There is both ramp and push-button access to the building in the A wing and the D wing. To access the D wing from the elevator, head left. There are two ramps through the breezeway, but they are somewhat steep and narrow.

Bathrooms
All-gender bathrooms are located on the first floor of the MacLaurin Building in the A and D wings:

  • MacLaurin Building A wing: A184, A185, A331, A333, A531, A533, A546
  • MacLaurin Building D wing: D108, D104

Conference space and workshop rooms

All conference rooms are located in the same vicinity of the same building.
Seating
Some rooms have all plastic chairs and separate tables, other rooms have rolling chairs with personal desk attachments. Each room will have different types of hard plastic chairs that conference attendees can select between depending on comfort and need. Soft seating can be made available by request.
Lighting
All rooms use fluorescent lighting, which can be dimmed or turned off by request.
Noise levels
To reduce cross-talk noise and minimize distractions, workshops will be delivered in separate rooms or consecutively. Poster presentations will occur simultaneously in the same room. Noise levels may be higher in these rooms.

Conference presentation materials

All conference materials including slides, posters, and paper presentations have been checked and optimized for WCAG contrast ratio, reading order, and font size and type. Digital copies of these materials can be made available by request.

Food and Drink

Please see the food and drink section of the conference home page to review what refreshments will be offered and learn how to request an accommodated meal if necessary. No alcohol will be served during the conference.

Social-emotional considerations

Dress-code
Wear what you are comfortable in! Some of the presenters may opt to wear business casual attire but there will be a range of formality. Casual dress is more than okay.

Expectations for socializing
During certain sessions, you may be invited to discuss with your colleagues, but participation is optional. During conference breaks and lunchtime, you are welcome to stay in the conference space to eat and socialize but this is optional. You are more than welcome to take your food elsewhere in the building if you need time to recharge, regulate, or for any other reason.

Respite room
We have booked a quiet, low-light respite space that can be openly accessed at any time during the conference hours. It is located on the third floor, in the Centre for Outreach Education (CORE) in MAC A347. You do not need to let anyone know you are accessing the space. There will be a variety of fidgets, art supplies, and a yoga mat available.

Accessibility supports

To ensure an inclusive and accessible conference, an Accessibility Coordinator, Nora Loyst, will be supporting presenters and attendees.

Contact us

Is there something we missed? We are more than happy to provide individualized accommodations as needed. You can contact our Accessibility Coordinator, Nora Loyst at nora.loyst@untappedaccessibility.ca or the AGES Coordinator, Yasmeen Barakat, at ages@uvic.ca.