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.
We encourage you to contact us with your needs once you have registered for the conference at meetings@oah.org. 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 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 meetings@oah.org
For more ways to make your session more accessible please see this article in MLA Profession.
For more information about accessibility in Los Angeles, including public transport, visit the Department on Disability. Email DOD.Contact@lacity.org call their office at 213-202-3452.
Additional Resources:
The conference will provide sign language interpreters for sessions 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 emails meetings@oah.org 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 meetings@oah.org by February 1 to secure this device.
Taxis
Outside of major attractions, hailing a cab in Los Angeles can be difficult. Call a taxi company or download the app called “curb”, formerly “Taxi Magic”, to schedule a pick up in advance. Taxis in Los Angeles are typically metered and charge by the mile. You can also use popular ride-sharing services, like Uber or Lyft, to get around.
They are easily available and relatively cheap (depending on the time you are traveling and where), so make sure to download your preferred service to your phone before your trip. Please remember, Los Angeles traffic can get pretty jammed during rush hour so give yourself some extra travel time when getting to and from attractions at peak hours.
The closest stop to the hotel is 7th Street/Metro Center Station and is served by the light rail, heavy rail and by the bus rapid transit.
The Los Angeles Metro is affordable, relatively easy to use, and services most of Los Angeles County and its top attractions. The public transit system consists of Metro Buses, DASH Buses, and Metro Rail Trains.
To ride these buses, trains, and subways, we recommend purchasing a reusable TAP Card. These are easily available at TAP machines located within the bus or subway stations. You can load a preset cash value onto the card and travel across all three systems as needed. It's also super easy to add extra cash to your TAP Card.
Tickets
Tickets are available as:
- One-way trips for $1.75 (Add 75¢ if riding the J Line (Silver) or Express Bus Lines 460, 487, 489, 501, 550, and 577)
- 1-Day Pass: $3.50
- 7-Day Pass: $12.50
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 lobby level and second floor. All conference rooms are accessible by escalators and elevators. All meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible.
An ADA elevator is located next to the front desk and can fit wheelchairs and scooters. Guests can access levels 1-6 via the elevator.
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.
ADA elevators are located next to the front desk and can fit wheelchairs and scooters. Guests can access levels 1-6 via the elevator.
If you are presenting at the conference please contact meetings@oah.org 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 +1 213-624-1000
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
Guest Room Accessibility
- Accessible Vanities
- Adjustable Height Hand-Held Shower Wand
- Bathtub Grab Rails
- Close Caption TV
- Hearing Accessible Rooms and/or Kits
- Lever Handles on Guest Room Doors
- Lowered Deadbolts on Guest Room Doors
- Lowered Electrical Outlets
- Lowered Night Guards on Guest Room Doors
- Lowered Viewports in Guest Room Doors
- Mobility accessible rooms
- Non-slip Grab Rails in the Bathroom
- Roll-in Shower
- 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 meetings@oah.org if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference so we can ensure a relief area with water available.
The hotel is pet friendly but pets may not be left alone in a guest room.
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 not included in breakout rooms for questions but speakers are 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 please contact hotel security who will call 911 for an ambulance if needed. The nearest hospital is the PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital 0.8 miles awayor the St Thomas Hospital Group 0.3 miles away.
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.
