Accessibility - Annual Meeting

Accessibility

Commitment to Accessibility

AALS is working to ensure every attendee’s experience will be enjoyable and accessible. AALS commits to making our meetings and events accessible to all attendees.

To ensure full inclusion and equitable participation, we have asked all AALS sections, member and fee paid law schools, affiliated organizations, sponsors, and exhibitors to host off-hotel outings in spaces that are physically accessible. This includes venues that accommodate mobility devices, provide clear signage, and offer accessible restrooms and entrances.

Requesting Accommodations

To give us time to plan, please make requests before December 2, 2025 whenever possible. During the meeting, AALS staff will be available at the registration and information desks.

Feedback & Additional Requests

Below are features in place to support and encourage an inclusive and welcoming environment, but this list is not comprehensive. We understand that people have diverse needs and aim to provide an inclusive experience for everyone. Please reach out to AALS Accessibility with any questions or to make arrangements in advance.

Presenters with Disabilities

Presenters who are unable to attend the in-person Annual Meeting due to a disability may request to present their session virtually.

To make arrangements, please contact [email protected] and include details about your session and your request. Early notification is encouraged to ensure appropriate planning and technical support.

Housing

Accessible guest rooms are available within the AALS room block and are offered at the same rate as standard hotel guest rooms.

If an attendee chooses to upgrade their ADA-accessible room, for example, to a club level or a room with a premium view, the rate may vary. These upgrades are subject to the same pricing adjustments as standard rooms.

Getting Around

Local information on accessible taxis, sidewalk conditions, public transportation and sightseeing tips are available on the New Orleans and Company Accessibility webpage.

Airport 

For those flying, the local airport provides accessibility information for arriving and departing passengers: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Conference Maps

Before the conference begins, maps will be posted on the website clearly noting elevators and ramps within the conference facility.

Wheelchair & Mobility Devices

Because the meeting has numerous concurrent sessions, there can be distance between sessions. If you are a regular wheelchair user, we suggest you bring your chair with you to the meeting.

Meeting Room Setup

AALS will ask hotels to provide adequate aisle space and cut-outs for individuals with wheelchairs and other mobility devices in all meeting rooms. Please note standard head tables (when used) include a podium and microphones on the tables and podium. If you are presenting and require additional accommodations (such as a ramp, or lavaliere microphone), please contact AALS at [email protected]  in advance. Every effort will be made to set meeting rooms/locations to accommodate all attendees, both speakers and audience members.

Hearing Support Services

Sign Language Interpreters

Attendees may request a sign language interpreter for the meeting. Please email your request by December 2, 2025.   Sign language interpreters can be provided for AALS-sponsored events only.

CART

Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) is a word-for-word speech-to-text interpreting service for people with hearing loss or who would otherwise benefit from this accommodation. Attendees may request CART service for the meeting. CART can be provided for AALS-sponsored events only. Please email your request  by December 2, 2025.

Transcripts

AALS audio records many sessions during the Annual Meeting based on request from the moderator of the session. Recordings are made available on https://am.aals.org after the conclusion of the event.

If you would like a written transcript of a specific session, you may request one by contacting AALS. Please include the title, date, and time in your request. Allow several days for processing and delivery of the transcript after the conclusion of the meeting.

Other Access Needs

Chemical Sensitivity

All AALS events are smoke-free and, as often as possible, held in smoke-free venues. Smoking is not permitted in any meeting or session rooms, business, or networking events, or AALS-sponsored social events. Please be aware that some venues (i.e., offsite) may allow smoking in public areas. Cigarettes may be used in designated smoking areas as determined by the venue. Specific requests can be made to hotels within our block and the meeting venues that chemicals not be used in guest rooms on carpeting or other surfaces.

Nursing Parents

AALS will provide a room with electrical power, a refrigerator, and a locking door for nursing parents who attend AALS meetings. Please visit the AALS Information Desk for access to the room.

Registration of Personal Aide/Companion

If you require a personal aide or assistant to help navigate the workshops, AALS will register your aide as a complimentary guest. To register your aide, please contact [email protected] and provide the following details for their badge: Full name, city and state of residence.  Their badge can be picked up at the AALS Registration Desk during the Annual Meeting.

Personal aides are welcome to attend sessions and AALS-sponsored events. If you need AALS to arrange for an aide to assist you during the meeting, please email your request to [email protected] and include details about the type of assistance required. To help us best meet your needs, we encourage you to submit your request as far in advance of the meeting as possible.

What more can we do? Please let us know we are happy to hear from you at AALS Accessibility.

Accessible Housing

ADA-designated hotel rooms in the New Orleans Hilton and Loews hotels are available for individuals requesting them. Please notify the hotel of your request with as much advance notice as possible.

Accessible Hilton Riverside Hotel Features

The following Hilton Riverside accessible amenities:

  • Accessible business center
  • Accessible concierge desk
  • Accessible elevators
  • Accessible exercise facility
  • Accessible guest rooms with mobility features with entry or passage doors that provide 32” of clear width
  • Accessible hotel restaurant
  • Accessible meeting rooms
  • Accessible parking spaces for cars in the self-parking facility
  • Accessible public entrance
  • Accessible registration desk
  • Accessible route from the accessible public entrance to the accessible guestrooms
  • Accessible route from the accessible public entrance to the registration area
  • Accessible route from the hotel’s accessible entrance to the meeting room/ballroom area
  • Accessible route from the hotel’s accessible public entrance to at least one restaurant
  • Accessible route from the hotel’s accessible public entrance to the business center
  • Accessible route from the hotel’s accessible public entrance to the exercise facilities
  • Accessible route from the hotel’s accessible public entrance to the spa
  • Accessible route from the hotel’s accessible public entrance to the swimming pool
  • Accessible swimming pool
  • Accessible transportation with advance notice
  • Assistive listening devices for meetings upon request
  • Closed captioning on televisions or closed captioning decoders
  • Doorbell w/Audio/Strobe Alert
  • Grab bars in bathroom
  • Lowered emergency evacuation instructions
  • Phone Audio/Vibrate/Strobe
  • Roll-in Shower
  • Room Accessible by Request
  • Service Animals Welcome
  • TTY for guest use
  • Van-accessible parking in the self-parking facility
  • Visual alarm for hearing impaired
  • Visual alarms for hearing impaired in hallways
  • Visual alarms for hearing impaired in public areas

Accessible Loews Hotel Features

The following Loews Hotel areas are accessible:

  • Public entrance
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the registration area
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the accessible guestrooms
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the restaurant
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the meeting room/ballroom area
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the fitness center
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the swimming pool
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to the business center
  • Route from the hotel’s public entrance to spa
  • Registration desk
  • Public restrooms
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Swimming pool
  • Business center
  • The following Loews Hotel areas may not be fully accessible (call hotel for more information):
  • Concierge desk
  • Additional accessibility information for Loews Hotel:
  • Accessible guest rooms with mobility features have doorways that provide 32” of clear width
  • Hotel’s valet parking accepts vehicles specially outfitted for wheelchair users
  • Accessible guest transportation with advance notice
  • Hotel has a TTY for guest use
  • Hotel provides assistive listening devices for meetings upon request
  • Guest room TVs have closed captioning or closed caption decoders provided
  • Service animals are welcome
  • Signage is provided for permanent rooms and spaces have Braille and tactile characters
  • For guests who are blind or have low vision, hotel employees will read printed/visual information and provide verbal directions to areas of hotel