Accessibility and Inclusion

BCCE 2026 is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, respectful, and welcoming conference experience for all participants, whether attending in person, remotely, or in a hybrid mode. Our goal is to reduce barriers to participation and support meaningful engagement across a wide range of needs, identities, institutional contexts, career stages, and time zones.

We recognize that accessibility is not one-size-fits-all. If you have questions or accommodation needs, we want to hear from you early so we can plan responsibly and respond thoughtfully.

Requesting Accommodations

If you require accommodations in order to participate fully in BCCE 2026, please indicate your needs during registration (preferred), or contact the conference team directly. We encourage early requests whenever possible, especially for needs that require coordination with campus services or vendors (e.g., captioning, interpreting, assistive listening).

Contact for accessibility questions and requests:

  • Email: [ACCESSIBILITY EMAIL / CONTACT FORM LINK]
  • Subject line: “Accessibility – BCCE 2026”
  • Please include: (1) your name, (2) how you plan to attend (in person/remote), (3) the accommodation requested, and (4) any timing constraints.

We are committed to working with participants in good faith. While not every request can be guaranteed, we will communicate clearly about what we can provide and what alternatives may be available.

In-Person Accessibility 

We are working with UW–Madison venue partners to support in-person accessibility, including:

  • Accessible entrances and routes between major conference spaces
  • Accessible seating options in session rooms
  • Accessible restrooms in or near conference buildings
  • Clear signage and wayfinding to support navigation
  • Room-specific information to help attendees plan (e.g., layout, microphone setup)

As venue details are finalized, we will post building-specific accessibility information here:
 👉 Campus accessibility details
 👉 Conference building list + accessibility notes (link)

Remote and Hybrid Accessibility

BCCE 2026 is designed as a hybrid conference, with participation pathways that support both real-time and asynchronous engagement.

In-person and remote will include:

  • Live-streamed in-person sessions (symposia and community conversations)
  • Global remote symposia organized across time zones
  • Hybrid poster sessions that enable interaction among in-person and remote participants around the same posters
  • On-demand access to recordings of symposia and community conversations, close-captioned for asynchronous accessibility 
  • Multiple channels for engagement, including chat, Q&A, and discussion features within the conference platform

👉 Learn more: Remote Participation

Session Accessibility and Communication

We are implementing conference-wide practices to support accessible participation in sessions. These include expectations and guidance for presenters and session facilitators focused on communication clarity, audio access, and inclusive interaction.

Audio and Microphones

To support participants who are hard of hearing, in large rooms, or joining via hybrid modalities:

  • Speakers must use microphones in session spaces
  • Facilitators will be encouraged to ensure audience questions are asked into a microphone or repeated into a microphone when needed

Captioning and Readable Materials

Where feasible and appropriate, we will provide guidance and tools to support captioning and readable presentation materials, including:

  • recommendations for slide readability (font size, contrast, non-color-dependent meaning)
  • best practices for describing visuals aloud
  • guidance for sharing slides or materials in advance when requested

👉 Presenter Accessibility Guidelines (link)

👉 Session Facilitator/Organizer Guidelines (link)

Food, Dietary Needs, and Allergies

We are committed to supporting participants with dietary needs for medical, religious, and personal reasons. Because campus dining and catered events can vary in what is feasible, we are taking a proactive approach to planning.

  • Dietary needs will be collected during registration
  • Where meals are included, we will share menus in advance, including ingredient/allergen information when possible
  • We will work to ensure there are clearly labeled options and practical alternatives for common restrictions

If you have a severe allergy or a complex dietary need, we encourage you to contact us early so we can discuss realistic options and planning.

👉 Dietary needs and food information (link)

Spaces and Facilities

BCCE 2026 will provide and/or clearly identify the locations of key supportive spaces, such as:

  • Lactation spaces
  • Quiet/restorative space (for sensory or self-care needs)
  • Gender-inclusive/single-stall restrooms
  • Interfaith prayer/meditation space

👉 Facilities and supportive spaces list + locations (link)

Transportation and Wayfinding

We are working to reduce barriers related to navigation and mobility across conference spaces. Depending on venue layout and distances, this may include:

  • clearly communicated accessible routes between buildings
  • volunteers to help guide you to your next location
  • mobility assistance / shuttles around campus locations
  • improved wayfinding resources (maps, building photos, “you are here” cues, and plain-language directions)

👉 Conference map and navigation resources (link)

Safety and Support

Information about how to get help during the conference (including where to go and who to contact) will be clearly posted prior to the meeting and reiterated on-site and in the conference platform.

We will provide:

  • a centralized contact method for conference help (and how it is staffed/used)
  • guidance for urgent needs during conference hours
  • links to relevant campus safety resources

👉 Conference help and safety resources (link)

BCCE 2026 also follows the ACS Volunteer and Participant Code of Conduct, which includes reporting pathways and a non-retaliation policy.

Ongoing Improvement

We view accessibility and inclusion as ongoing work. We welcome feedback before, during, and after the conference to help us improve both the attendee experience and the systems that support it.

If you have suggestions for how BCCE 2026 can better support participation, please contact:
 👉 [ACCESSIBILITY EMAIL / FORM LINK]