Accessibility and inclusivity are central values for the WordPress project, and top priorities in every decision we make for WordCamp DC. We, the organizers, work to make the event open to everyone in our community — and comfortable for all, too.
This post lists the welcoming features you can expect at WordCamp DC in March. It will be updated as planning details are finalized in the weeks ahead.
If you feel we’re missing anything, or have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Mobility
The event venue is wheelchair accessible on all floors, with elevators in the center of conference activity.
In each session room, we will ensure there is ample space for wheelchairs to maneuver, as well as reserved seating and reserved companion seating with a good view of the stage.
Session room doors may be closed during talks, but you are free to come and go as you wish. There will be volunteers on hand in each room to help open and close doors if you need assistance. Volunteers will also help ensure passageways are clear of obstacles throughout the day.
In addition, all restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Venue maps will be posted online before the conference to make navigation easier.
Live captioning
Once again this year, we plan to have CART service (Communication Access Real-time Translation) in every speaker and workshop session, Friday through Sunday. With CART, live-transcribed captions of all speakers are projected along with slides on screens, so anyone can follow along.
In addition, seats up front will be reserved for anyone who needs them to better hear the audio or see the screen.
For parents
There is a room available for nursing, feeding, changing, or otherwise caring for infants or young children in private throughout the day. It is just off the main conference space, and any volunteer can show you the way.
There is not a childcare facility at the conference, but children of all ages are welcome to come along with a parent or responsible adult. In addition, we also love having school-age children participate in camp as volunteers and attendees. If you have questions about bringing your young ones to WordCamp, the parents and conference veterans on our organizing team are happy to advise, just drop us a line.
Bathroom facilities
All bathrooms at the venue are wheelchair accessible.
A gender neutral restroom will be designated.
Boxes of life essentials are located in all bathrooms. They contain sanitary products and are available for anyone to use. Please let an organizer or volunteer know if you need anything or if it needs to be refilled.
Quiet space
If you need a break from the bustle of a busy WordCamp, we will have a quiet room set aside. It is available at all times on speaker sessions days.
For the benefit of your fellow campers, do not use this space for conversations or phone calls or any noisy activity, and avoid eating or spraying perfume. If you need to do work or take a phone call, there will be other spaces available.
Code of Conduct
Our community expects everyone to treat each other with respect and professionalism. We take our Code of Conduct seriously. All attendees, speakers, volunteers, and sponsors agree to abide by it when they register, and this is re-emphasized in pre-conference communication. Violations will not be tolerated.
If you would like to report an incident or concerns, organizers trained to discretely handle any issues are on-site and visible at all WordCamp-related events. Any volunteer or info desk can also easily find an organizer for you, or reports may be filed anonymously online.
The food
We provide lunch and snack on all days of the conference, and strive to make the menu as friendly as possible to all common diets. We also do special orders or deliveries when needed.
When we’re closer to the event, we’ll post online the menu of the available food. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know when buying your ticket.
Additional accommodation
If you need any other accommodation to participate and feel at ease during WordCamp, please select ‘yes’ to the accessibility needs question during registration, and we will follow up with you personally.
If you need ASL interpreters or a sighted guide, let us know when buying your ticket so we can make arrangements. We are happy to assist, but please note that it takes time to hire a licensed professional, so we ask you to submit requests no later than two weeks before the event.
