Accessibility Guide

Welcome to Leading Locally 2025 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota! This guide is designed to support attendees with disabilities and various access needs, helping to ensure a welcoming and inclusive experience throughout your time at the conference. If you have any questions or accessibility needs not addressed here, please contact us at conferences@cof.org. 

In this guide:

Travel Accessibility

Hotel and Conference Accessibility

Travel Accessibility

Accessibility Services MSP Airport

MSP Airport is committed to accessibility for all travelers. Services include: 

• Accessible Transportation: Wheelchair-accessible taxis, ride-shares, and public transit options are available. Visit the airport's accessibility access page for full details. 
• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program: MSP participates in this program, which supports those with nonvisible disabilities. Individuals can discreetly communicate their need for additional support by using a sunflower lanyard, available at information booths in Terminals 1 and 2. 
• Skycap and Wheelchair Services: Available at all terminal entrances. We recommend requesting assistance through your airline in advance. 

Additional Airport Accessibility Features: 

• Accessible restrooms and family/companion care rooms 
• Visual paging monitors and TTY phones 
• Skycap and wheelchair services (request in advance through your airline) 
• Elevators with Braille signage and auditory signals 
• For more information, please visit the MSP Airport’s accessibility page: https://www.mspairport.com/airport/accessibility 

Accessibility Services to and from the Airport

Ground Transportation: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires all ground transportation companies to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Below are some options available at MSP Airport: 

• Accessible Taxis: Wheelchair-accessible taxis are available at both terminals. Please request upon arrival or book in advance. 
• Metro Transit: All buses and light rail trains are wheelchair-accessible. The Blue Line offers a direct route from MSP to downtown Minneapolis. 
• Metro Mobility: A shared-ride public transportation service for certified riders with disabilities. Learn more at: Metro Mobility 

Onsite Accessibility

Navigating the Hilton Minneapolis

Leading Locally 2025 will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis in downtown Minneapolis. 

The Hilton Minneapolis offers ADA-compliant amenities throughout the hotel, including accessible guest rooms, elevators, entrances, and meeting spaces. There are multiple elevators with Braille, raised lettering, and audible cues to support individuals with visual impairments. The elevators are equipped with sturdy handrails and spacious interiors to accommodate wheelchair users. 

All conference session spaces are located on the main event floors of the hotel and are accessible by elevator or ramp. 

Session Rooms

All session rooms and aisles have been designed to be wheelchair accessible to ensure easy mobility for all attendees. Each session room will have designated spaces to accommodate wheelchairs comfortably, and we will also reserve seats in the first row for visually or hearing-impaired attendees. 

ASL/Language Services

ASL Interpretation and CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) services will be available during all four of our plenary sessions.

Audibility

Each concurrent session room will have two microphones for our speakers. We have strongly encouraged all speakers to use the microphones during their presentations to create an environment where every attendee can fully engage and participate. 

Slides and Session Materials

To ensure consistency and accessibility in our presentations, all speakers have been encouraged to utilize the Leading Locally 2025 PowerPoint template. This template incorporates large font sizes and a simple design to enhance readability and ensure that the content is easily understood by all attendees.

Our speakers were also given the opportunity to submit additional session materials for attendees to review. These materials can be conveniently accessed through our Leading Locally App, providing attendees with the flexibility to view them before, during, or after our sessions.

Quiet Rooms

• Brain Break Room: When you need to step away from the conference, stop by the Brain Break Room, Boardroom 3 on the 3rd Floor. While you’re there, you can enjoy coloring pages by local artist Briauna Williams, fidget toys, and puzzle games, along with soft furniture, cozy blankets, and low lighting.
• Nursing Room: The hotel has provided a dedicated room to create a secure and comfortable environment for nursing or pumping throughout the conference. The Nursing Room is located next to the elevators and restrooms in the lobby of the hotel. The room will be available for nursing parents daily from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. CT. Please see hotel staff at the front desk for access.