Accessibility FAQ

IUI 2021 is committed to providing an inclusive environment and we will do our best to accommodate requests for special assistance.

This page describes the accessibility features of IUI 2021 to help you make an informed decision about whether the conference will be accessible to you. Please contact us if your question is not answered here, or if the conference arrangements as described are not enough to allow you to attend. We will work with you to the best of our ability, to make the conference accessible.

In light of the current state of world affairs, we're still in the process of determining some event details, and we will update the information on this page as necessary.

This FAQ has been generated using the Accessibility FAQ Generator tool provided by ACM SIGACCESS. Please contact SIGACCESS for more information about the FAQ Generator.

In recognition of IUI 2021 being held completely virtually, we have modified several of the questions.

• How do I communicate accessibility needs to IUI 2021 organizers?
• Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?
• Will captioning or sign language interpretation be available?
• Can a student volunteer assist me during the conference?
• What is the conference space like?
• What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?
• Can I attend the conference by robot?
• How much walking or standing will be needed?
• Will speakers and audience members asking questions be using a microphone?
• What food service will be provided?
• Will there be loud music, strobe lighting, spotlights, or other strong sensory experiences?
• Will there be a designated quiet space at the conference?
• What if I have a medical emergency or health problem during the conference?

How do I communicate accessibility needs to IUI 2021 organizers?

The Accessibility Co-Chairs for IUI 2021 are Michael Moore and Seth Polsley, whose goals are to ensure the conference is accessible to everyone.

At the time of registration, there will be a question “Do you require any accommodations in order to participate in the conference?” In your response, please indicate any accessibility needs such as sign language interpretation or a guide. The Accessibility Chairs will follow up with you to clarify your needs.

We ask that you provide your accommodation requests directly in the registration form at the time of registering as we cannot guarantee providing specific accommodations, although we will do our best. You may contact the Accessibility Chairs at any time if you have questions.

Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?

If there is specific accessibility information you would like to see here, or if you wish to discuss any conference accessibility requirements, please contact our Accessibility Chairs, Michael Moore and Seth Polsley by email: accessibility2021@iui.acm.org, and someone will respond to you shortly.

Will captioning or sign language interpretation be available?

We will work with presenters to provide captioning throughout all conference presentations. If requested by attendees during the early registration period, we will work to provide a team of sign language interpreters. Please make your request as early as possible. Our Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to discuss your needs in more detail. After March 5, 2021 (the deadline for early registration), a best effort will be made to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee availability.

Can a student volunteer assist me during the conference?

Student volunteers will be available to assist attendees with accessibility needs. If you will need volunteer assistance at the conference, please indicate this on your conference registration form.

Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Personal care assistants do not need to register for the conference.

What is the conference space like?

We will be using the Whova event platform to manage most conference events, and sessions themselves will be held in Zoom. After exploring many different platforms, we have elected to use Whova and Zoom for their interconnectivity and accessibility support. If anyone needs help navigating this virtual conference, we will make student volunteers available to provide assistance.

What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?

Presenters will be asked to provide pre-recorded versions of their talk, as well as be available on Zoom for synchronous question-and-answer sessions or other conference events.

If you have other accessibility requests please contact Seth Polsley and Michael Moore at accessibility2021@iui.acm.org by March 5, 2021 (the early registration deadline).

Can I attend the conference by robot?

IUI 2021 will be held fully virtually through Whova and Zoom, so you can attend entirely remotely through your personal computing devices.

How much walking or standing will be needed?

Since the conference will be held remotely, the specific environment of standing or sitting will be up to you and your personal setup.

Will speakers and audience members asking questions be using a microphone?

Question and answer sessions will be held using Zoom, and we will encourage all attendees to test their audio setup through Zoom in order to be more easily heard.

What food service will be provided?

At this time, we do not anticipate being able to provide food service during breaks or meals. Since the conference is completely virtual, you will be left to your own devices for meals.

Will there be loud music, strobe lighting, spotlights, or other strong sensory experiences?

Participants and presenters will be requested not to use flashes or strobe effects. Please indicate on your registration form if there are specific items you would like to know about in advance as we are still gathering some details regarding the sensory experience of the conference.

Will there be a designated quiet space at the conference?

We will provide a virtual space in the conference for meditation or quiet space.

What if I have a medical emergency or health problem during the conference?

In case of emergency call your local emergency support number (911 in the United States). You may contact Accessibility Co-Chairs Seth Polsley and Michael Moore at accessibility2021@iui.acm.org or ask any student volunteer in order to inform the conference.