Accessibility FAQ
CHI PLAY 2023 is committed to providing an inclusive environment and we will do our best to accommodate requests for special assistance. This page describes the accessibility features of CHI PLAY 2023, 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, or if the conference arrangements as described are not enough to allow you to attend. We will work with you to the best of our ability, to make the conference accessible.
General
How do I communicate accessibility needs to CHI PLAY 2023 organizers?
The Accessibility & Equity Chair for CHI PLAY 2023 is Veen Wong whose goal is to ensure the conference is accessible to everyone. When you register for the conference, there will be a registration question labelled “Do you have a disability or require any access accommodations which require our awareness?”, where you can indicate your needs. The Accessibility & Equity Chair will follow up with you to clarify your needs. You can also contact Veen directly at any time by emailing accessibility@chiplay.acm.org.
Who do I contact if my question is not answered here?
If there is specific accessibility information you would like to see here, or if you wish to discuss any conference accessibility requirements, please contact our Accessibility & Equity Chair, Veen Wong by email: accessibility@chiplay.acm.org.
When is the deadline for accessibility requests?
The deadline for accessibility requests is October 01, 2023. If you need support, please inform us of your accessibility requirements/requests before this deadline. You can contact our Accessibility & Equity Chair, Veen Wong by email: accessibility@chiplay.acm.org.
What are expectations, around inclusivity, diversity, and harassment at CHI PLAY 2023?
We ask that all conference attendees respect individuals’ identities. Please use their stated names and pronouns. If you’re not sure – ask! Please see the Diversity & Inclusion Statement that reflects our commitment to a welcoming and safe environment. Additionally, please review expectations stated in the ACM SIGCHI Policy on Harassment and Discrimination.
Can a student volunteer assist me during the conference?
Yes, student volunteers will be available to assist attendees. If you will need volunteer assistance at the conference, please indicate this on your conference registration form.
What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?
If you would like assistance during presentation or have other accessibility requests please contact Veen Wong at accessibility@chiplay.acm.org by October 01, 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Will there be loud music, strobe lighting, spotlights, or other strong sensory experiences?
We have instructed authors to avoid these sensory experiences in their videos and presentations. Additionally, the video chairs will check for problematic content. However, your personal mileage may vary.
If you are concerned about this, please contact Veen Wong at accessibility@chiplay.acm.org as early as possible.
On-site
How do I get to the conference venue?
The UW Stratford campus is located at 125 St. Patrick Street in the centre of Stratford, Ontario, which is approximately 45 km (around 45 minutes by car) from the UW main campus in Waterloo, Ontario. It is also approximately 130 km from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Traffic around Toronto’s airport can be quite congested in the late afternoon and early evening, so please plan for extra time.
It is possible to travel to Stratford using public transit on either the Kitchener Line GO train running between Toronto and London, or the VIA Rail route running between Toronto and Sarnia. However the number of trains to the city each day is quite limited and seats on the VIA may sell out. It is recommended to research the schedules ahead of time to make your travel schedule, and consider a backup plan if flights are delayed to the point of missing the planned train.
If travelling to/from Pearson airport, it’s possible to make a reservation with one of the airport shuttle services such as https://www.stratfordairporter.com/. Booking for groups is usually possible.
See also this Google Maps link for the precise location of the Stratford Campus: https://goo.gl/maps/dQkc6m9rySQQNGLy9
Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair?
Yes, the conference venue will be accessible by wheelchair. There are accessible doors and entrances for wheelchair. So if you have your own wheelchair and wish to bring it to an event, you are welcome to do so.
Can I bring my service animal?
Yes, service animals are permitted the University of Waterloo Stratford campus. We remind all attendees that service animals are working animals, and ask that they refrain from petting, distracting, or otherwise preventing them from doing their job. We would ask that service animals are clearly identifiable.
Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?
Smoking indoors is prohibited on campus. Smoking is prohbited within 10 meters of any University of Waterloo building.
What food service will be provided?
During coffee breaks, attendees can expect light refreshments. For more specific questions or requests about food, please contact the accessibility chair Veen Wong at accessibility@chiplay.acm.org as early as possible.
What are the COVID measures at CHI PLAY 2023?
CHI PLAY acknowledges the ongoing risk of COVID infection and the challenge that this poses for vulnerable individuals. COVID measures will be decided in Fall 2023, and will support masking in the main space of the conference venue.
On-line
What is the conference platform and its accessibility like?
CHI PLAY 2023 will happen on Zoom and Discord. They offer dedicated pages for their accessibility features.
Will captioning be available?
The conference will provide closed captioning on the Zoom platform.
Important Dates:
Attendance
| From September 11th, 2023 | Regular Registration |
Full Papers (Journal Articles)
Work in Progress
Perspectives on Play
Student Game Design Competition
Interactivity Track
Connections Track
Doctoral Consortium
Student Volunteer
