Accessibility Information
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.
When you register for the conference, there will be a registration question labeled "Do you require special accommodations to attend this meeting?" Please indicate "yes" if you have any accessibility needs such as wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, or a guide. We will follow up with you by February 1 to clarify your needs but encourage you to contact us as soon as possible by emailing meetings@oah.org.
For more information about Sheraton Boston's physical features of their accessible rooms, common areas, or special services relating to a specific disability, please call +1 617-236-2000.
If you need to contact someone at the OAH, emal hselby@oah.org or call 812 855 7311.
The OAH has partnered with Aira to make the conference more accessible for blind and low vision attendees. Aira is a service that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality to connect blind and low-vision people to highly trained, remotely-located agents. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence.
As an Aira Access Location, the 2022 OAH Conference on American History will provide free limited access to Aira agents within the conference facility. Providing this service for a conference is new for both Aira and the OAH. As we both learn how to navigate this service within the conference environment we ask users to be aware of some limitations. To make the service available, Aira had to use a geofencing method to isolate the OAH Annual Meeting. For this reason Aira will only be available within the Marriott Wardman Park, and in order to determine costing, Aira also had to limit the number of hours Aira Agents will be available to the OAH. As each communication should last no more than 5 minutes we expect the number of hours to be sufficient for our blind and low vision attendees but request that only those with need access this service.
To learn how an Aira Access Location works we invite you to to watch this video.
To sign up for your Aira account visit aira/io.app and sign up as a guest.
If you have any questions about this service please email hselby@oah.org
For more information about Washington, D.C. accessibility, including public transport, visit the Disabilities Commission. Email disability@boston.gov or call their office at 617-635-3682.
The conference will provide sign language interpreters if requested by any attendee by February 1. 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 email meetings@oah.org to request interpreters.
The Blue Line Subway is your best connection to the Orange Line at State Street Station. This route is the best option for transportation to Back Bay.
For service from Logan Airport using the Blue Line, board free Massport shuttle buses (Route 22, 33, or 55 to "MBTA Blue Line") outside your terminal. The Massport shuttle buses, which have storage space for luggage, will drop you off directly in front of Airport Station where you can purchase your CharlieTicket at the ticket machines inside the station's lobby. Insert your CharlieTicket in the turnstyle to access the station platform.
The Blue Line runs from approximately 6:00AM to 12:30AM every day of the week.
Taxi service is available throughout the city. From Logan International Airport to most hotels in Boston and Cambridge, current fares are approximately $25-$35.00, one way. You may also book online or call 617-410-7500
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 meetings@oah.org 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, third, and fifth 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 in the South Tower as the doors in the North Tower are not as wide, or call the hotel directly to ensure you receive a room best suited for your needs.
If you are presenting at the conference please contact meetings@oah.org so we can insure access to risers.
Please call 617-236-2000 and ask to speak to the front desk manager for more infromation from the hotel.
Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at the OAH Annual Meeting. Please email meetings@oah.org if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference so we can ensure a relief area with water available.
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. There are several walking tours that will require 1 - 3 hours of walking. Most bus tours include a walking portion.
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 not included in breakout rooms but speakers will be 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 meetings@oah.org .
We will make every effort to accommodate dietary restrictions for paid meals only. Please email meetings@oah.org.
Yes. The hotel adheres to a strict smoke-free policy.
In case of emergency call 911 for an ambulance. The nearest hospital is 0.4 miles away (Boston Medical Center). Within a 2 mile radius there is also Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts New England Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. 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.
