The OAH is committed to providing an inclusive environment and doing our best to accommodate requests for special assistance. This page describes the accessibility features of the OAH Conference on American History 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. We will work with you, to the best of our ability, to make the conference accessible.
We encourage you to contact us with your needs once you have registered for the conference at [email protected]. During registration however, you will be asked “Do you require special accommodations to attend this meeting?” If you say yes, we will contact you by February 1, but still encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to ensure we can address and accommodate your needs in ample time.
The OAH asks that all presenters take part in providing accessible space for the community. We instruct presenters with the following information:
- All rooms are equipped with microphones. Please use them. We have attendees that loop their hearing aids into the sound system to hear presentations. Please do not assume your voice carries and please do not ask people if they can hear you without a microphone, always assume a microphone is needed.
- Please speak clearly and try to avoid covering your mouth (unless there are mask mandates or you prefer wearing a mask)
- Please consider printing two large-print copies of your talk. Before your talk ask if any attendee prefer to read along with you. Access copies do not have to be word for word scripts but may include an outline, keywords, or Alt-Text for slide descriptions.
- Please keep power point slides simple with high contrast colors, sans-serif fonts and a minimum 36-point font.
- Include transcriptions for any audio or visual files you are presenting.
- Consider making your power point slide available digitally. These can be posted to the mobile app by emailing [email protected]
For more ways to make your session more accessible please see this article in MLA Profession.
For more information about accessibility at the New Orleans Marriott, please call 504-581-1000
Additional City Resources:
The conference will provide sign language interpreters for sessions if requested by any presenter by February 1. Attendees may request sign language interpretation or captioning access. Advance notice is appreciated so that we can ensure your full participation, please make your request as early as possible. After this date, a best effort will be made to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee that interpreters will be available.
Attendees may also request an audio induction loop to connect their hearing aids to the sound system.
Please note the plenary session and presidential address will be CART captioned.
Please emails [email protected] to request interpreters
Absolutely! We can provide you with a personal remote box that will wirelessly connect your hearing aid to the sound system. You can use this device while attending sessions.
Please email [email protected] by February 1 to secure this device.
Taxis
Cabs in New Orleans are affordable and easy to find, especially Downtown and in the French Quarter. Most standard cabs in the city have plenty of room for storing wheelchairs and significantly more wheelchair accessible cabs are being introduced to the city. Click here for a list of cab companies with wheelchair accessible options like ramps and lifts.
Buses
The New Orleans Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has incorporated necessary features and equipment on all buses to allow persons with limited mobility to travel comfortably.
RTA Bus features include:
- The capability for riders to “kneel,” or tilt closer to the curb
- Ramps that fold out to make a bridge between the bus and the curb
- Areas where wheelchairs can be secured
- Priority seating areas
- Automatic announcements for bus stops and permission to bring service animals on board for visually impaired passengers
Streetcars
The streetcar experience is also feasible for travelers with wheelchairs. The red streetcars that travel on the Canal Street, Riverfront and Rampart-St. Claude lines are accessible. (Unfortunately, the green streetcars on the St. Charles Avenue line are National Historic Landmarks and were not equipped for persons requiring mobility devices.)
Red streetcar features include:
- Lifts that elevate riders and allow them to board
- Areas where wheelchairs can be secured
- Priority seating areas
If you have a mobility limitation that prevents you from riding the standard bus or streetcar transportation system, you may qualify for paratransit rides. A bus or minivan will pick you up and drop you off at just about any location in New Orleans. Click here for more information on how to apply for the RTA paratransit system and click here for more information on riding the bus or streetcar with a mobility device.
A Word About Our City Streets
The good thing about New Orleans is that most of our attractions are in close proximity. The not-so-good thing is that roots from ancient Live Oak roots have caused some curbs and sidewalks in the city to become a tad bumpy and uneven.
Absolutely. Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Personal care assistants receive complimentary registration so they can access the conference. Please contact [email protected] with any further questions or to request a badge for an assistant.
For the overall layout of the venue, please refer to this map of the conference space.
The Exhibit Hall and several breakout rooms are located on the second and third floor. All conference rooms are accessible by escalators and elevators. All meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible.
The conference is accessible to wheelchair and scooter users, however if you are staying at the hotel please request an accessible room to ensure you receive a room best suited for your needs.
If you are presenting at the conference please contact [email protected] so we can insure access to risers.
For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms, common areas or special services relating to a specific disability please call +1 504-581-1000
Accessible Hotel Features
- Property has elevators
- Self Operating lift or a sloped entry in hotel swimming pools
- Service Animals are Welcome
Accessible Areas with Accessible Routes from Public Entrance
- Accessible Entrance to On-Site Pool
- Entrance to On-Site Business Center is Accessible
- Entrance to On-Site Fitness Center is Accessible
- Main Entrance is Accessible
- Meeting Spaces are Accessible
- On-Site Restaurants are Accessible
- Room and Suites Access through the Interior Corridor
Guest Room Accessibility
- Accessible Vanities
- Adjustable Height Hand-Held Shower Wand
- Bathtub Grab Rails
Bathtub Seat - Closed Caption TV
- Deadbolts on Guest Room and Suites Doors
- Electronic Room Key
- Flashing Door Knockers
- Guests in mobility-accessible rooms may inquire about lowering the bed height
- Guest Room and Suites Doors Self-Closing
- Hearing Accessible Rooms and/or Kits
- Lever Handles on Guest Room Doors
- Lowered Deadbolts on Guest Room Doors
- Lowered Viewports in Guest Room Doors
- Mobility accessible rooms
- Non-slip Grab Rails in the Bathroom
- Roll-in Shower
- Safety Chains and/or Latches on Guest Doors
- TTY/TTD Compatible
- Toilet Seat at Wheelchair Height – Toilet for Disabled
- Transfer Showers in Guest Rooms
Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at the OAH Conference. Please email [email protected] if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference so we can ensure a relief area with water available.
The hotel allows only service animals on the premises.
Walking will be required between sessions within the hotel. All rooms will have seating available, should all seats be taken please flag a host to bring you a chair. All tours include a walking portion and will use public transport.
Yes, all rooms are fashioned with microphones for all speakers, and all speakers are requested to use them. If they are not using them please ask them to do so. Microphones are mostly included in breakout rooms for questions but speakers are asked to repeat questions from the audience.
The conference will provide food at receptions, breakfast, and paid luncheons. Dishes will be labeled. We can make adjustments for dietary needs for paid meals only. For more detailed information or if you have special dietary needs, please contact [email protected] .
We will make every effort to accommodate dietary restrictions for paid meals only. Please email [email protected].
The OAH asks that all presenters take part in providing accessible space for the community. We ask presenters to do this by:
- All rooms are equipped with microphones. Please use them. We have attendees that loop their hearing aids into the sound system to hear presentations. Please do not assume your voice carries and please do not ask people if they can hear you without a microphone, always assume a microphone is needed.
- Please speak clearly and try to avoid covering your mouth (unless there are mask mandates or you prefer wearing a mask)
- Please consider printing two large-print copies of your talk. Before your talk ask if any attendee prefer to read along with you. Access copies do not have to be word for word scripts but may include an outline, keywords, or Alt-Text for slide descriptions.
- Please keep power point slides simple with high contrast colors, sans-serif fonts and a minimum 36-point font.
- Include transcriptions for any audio or visual files you are presenting.
- Consider making your power point slide available digitally. These can be posted to the mobile app by emailing [email protected]
Yes. The hotel adheres to a strict smoke-free policy.
In case of emergency please contact hotel security who will call 911 for an ambulance if needed. The nearest hospital is the University Medical Center New Orleans (1.0 miles).
If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact OAH Staff at registration or information desk. For non-resident attendees, buying travel insurance that covers medical expenses is strongly recommended as fees for emergency treatment can be very high.