Women's & Gender Studies Consortium

2026 Accessibility

Accessibility in the Memorial Union

ACCESS GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTERS AND PARTICIPANTS FOR THE WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES CONSORTIUM CONFERENCE 2026

“There is a good feeling after and while you are experiencing access intimacy. It is a freeing, light, loving feeling. It brings the people who are a part of it closer; it builds and deepens connection.” Mia Mingus, Access Intimacy: The Missing Link 

The WGSC Conference is committed to ensuring accessibility for everyone interested in learning, presenting, and being in community with one another at our spring conference. We continue to make changes to improve the user experience for everyone and apply the relevant accessibility standards. Please read the following information carefully, as it will assist us in caring for one another during our time together in April.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stephanie Rytilahti, director of the WGSC and conference co-chair, at srrytilahti@wisc.edu,       

 

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PRONOUN RIBBONS

This conference is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment for people of all identities.  How you choose to identify in terms of gender, race, socioeconomic status, dis/ability, sexuality, religion, and other aspects of your identity is your choice, and you may choose to disclose or not disclose. We provide pronoun ribbons for participants who wish to make their pronouns visible to others. We will have they/them/theirs; she/her/hers; he/him/his; and an option for attendees to write in their own pronouns.

Pronoun ribbons are located at the registration desk directly across from the Great Hall on the fourth floor of Memorial Union.

BATHROOMS

A gender-neutral bathroom is a bathroom that anyone of any gender can use. The Memorial Union has gender-neutral single-occupant family bathrooms, which are also ADA compliant, on the second and fourth floors. Please see diagram below for all remaining restrooms.

FRAGRANCE FREE SPACE

This is a fragrance-free event. For the health and safety of facilitators and participants, please come fragrance-free to this event. That means not having any scented products on your body, hair, or clothes.

Learn more about fragrance-free events from the Fragrance-Free Femme of Color Genius resource and Rachel Rose’s Beginner’s Guide to Fragrance and Chemical Sensitivities.

If you are able, please take a moment to wash off any scented products in the restroom.

PHYSICAL ACCESS

There are exterior ramp-accessible entrances to the Memorial Union on the east and west sides.  All floors of the Memorial Union are accessible by elevator. There are elevators on each side of the wall for the fourth floor/Great Hall event offerings that bookend the restrooms as well. There are lifts on the second and fourth floors. Please see the diagram below with “Lifts” and “Elevators” labeled in red.

LACTATION ROOM

The lactation or “Health” room is room #1210 near the bathrooms on the first floor. The room is equipped with chair, side table, sink, mirror, hand dryer, and outlet, and is lockable from inside.

To gain access, contact the information desk on the first floor in person or call 608-265-3000.

FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS

For all conference-related meals and snacks, the Memorial Union catering team will provide vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options. However, there will also be food options available that contain animal products, gluten, and nuts. The first floor of Memorial Union also offers an array of dining options.

COVID RESOURCES

Open-air access is available on a balcony behind the registration area on the fourth floor. Open-air dining is available on Tripp Deck off of Tripp Commons dining hall and off the Profile Room that contains the buffet lunches. We also have N95 masks available at the registration desk.

SERVICE ANIMALS

Per University of Wisconsin-Madison’s service animal policy, service animals are welcome in all spaces of the Memorial Union.

TRANSPORTATION

If an ADA compliant transportation option is needed, Union Cab has ADA compliant taxis that are designed for users of wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Union Cab appreciates advanced notice if a customer needs an ADA compliant taxi, particularly in very late or very early hours of the day. Call them at 608-242-2000.

For public transportation options, Madison Metro Bus has accessibility information. Bus fares must be purchased with exact change. Adult fare cap prices for a single ride is $2 with a maximum of $5 per day. Reduced fare cap price for a single ride is $1 with a maximum of $2.50 per day.  More information about pricing can be found at Metro Transit City of Madison.

PARKING

The closest hourly parking lot is Helen C. White (Lot 6) at 600 N. Park St. with visitor parking on the upper level only. This garage is directly across the street from Memorial Union. The next closest public parking is the Lake and Johnson St. Ramp (Lot 46) at 301 N. Lake St., as well as the City of Madison State St. Campus parking garage at 430 N. Frances. Please see this interactive map for parking spot availability and directions for these and all surrounding university lots.

Drivers with State of Wisconsin disabled permits or DIS and VET plates may park in the City of Madison’s parking stalls.

SEATING

There will be reserved spaces for wheelchair users and seating for companions at all events. Chairs both with and without arms will be available for most spaces. Chairs without arms are 24×18 inches.

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GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL PRESENTERS

  • Provide self-visual descriptions as part of your introduction (describe yourself and background). For an example, Disability Pride Madison does so from the 2021 WGSC Conference.  
  • Present at a comfortable pace that makes accurate ASL interpretation possible. 
  • When asking questions during Q&A, speakers should identify themselves so audience members know who is speaking. Make sure to repeat the question asked before answering it.
  • Only one person should speak at a time.  
  • Presenters should plan to bring five copies of their papers, even if it is in draft form, for the use of attendees who wish to follow the written text. Presenters who use handouts should prepare some copies in a large-print format (sans-serif font, 16-point type size). Presenters should indicate whether they want their papers and handouts returned.
  • When speaking, position your face at an angle that allows participants to read your lips. Avoid speaking while facing away from the audience or while looking down at papers or screens.
  • Please describe any PowerPoints or other visuals.
  • If you are planning on showing video during your presentation, caption/subtitle your video or have transcripts available.
  • Consider making it possible for attendees to obtain an electronic version that allows for type size adjustments or use of text readers (creating audio from written text).

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTERS

  • Speakers and moderators should always verbally repeat questions or statements made by the audience (whether spoken or in the chat). 
  • Provide an access document containing a script of your talk or a list of common nouns (proper nouns especially) that occur in it. Emeritus Professor of English and Gender and Women’s Studies at UW-Madison Dr. Ellen Samuels provides an example of an access document for her own presentation.
  • Make sure all activities are accessible to all bodies. Be prepared with modifications if necessary. 

IF INCORPORATING SLIDES INTO YOUR PRESENTATIONS