Accessibility Guide

We hope this guide will help in creating an inclusive experience for all our conference attendees throughout their time in Denver. If you have any questions about specific information shared in this guide, please don’t hesitate to contact us at educate@cof.org. A special thanks to our Accessibility Sponsor, Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates. 

In this guide:

Travel Accessibility for the Denver International Airport

Accessibility Services at the Airport

Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Program: The Denver International Airport has a partnership with the Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Program. The Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Program is a globally recognized initiative that aims to improve the experiences of individuals with invisible disabilities or conditions that may not be immediately apparent. Through the voluntary use of the Sunflower Lanyard, individuals can discreetly communicate their need for additional assistance and support. Attendees and care partners can obtain a Sunflower Lanyard from a Customer Service Agent at any of the four customer service information booths inside the airport. The booths are located in the terminal and in the center of each concourse.

Accessibility Services to and from the Airport

Ground Transportation: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all ground transportation companies to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Listed below are a few ground transportation companies suggested by the Denver International Airport. These companies pick up disabled passengers at curbside on Level 5, west-side of Jeppesen Terminal: 

• Metro Cab: (303) 333-3333 
• Mobility Transport Service: 24-hour advance notice required: (303) 295-3900 
• RTD access-a-Ride: (303) 292-6560

For more information about Accessibility Services at the Denver International Airport, please visit www.flydenver.com. 

Accessibility at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel

Navigating the Hotel

Leading Locally 2023 is at the Sheraton Denver Downton Hotel. There are two sides to this hotel: the Tower Building and the Plaza Building. Most of the activities and sessions presented during Leading Locally 2023 will be held in the Tower Building.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel has a Skybridge on the Second Floor of each building that allows attendees with the ability to transition between both buildings of the hotel.

However, we understand that some attendees may be uncomfortable with using the Skybridge. There are two alternative options to get between the two buildings. The first option is through the main hotel entrance on the Ground/Street Level. Attendees can take the elevator to the ground floor of the hotel and simply walk across the street to reach the other side of the hotel. The second option is through the Concourse Level in the Plaza Building. Attendees in the Plaza Building can take an elevator down to the Concourse Level, follow signs for the Tower Building, and take the elevator up to the Street Level of the Tower Building.

COVID-19 Precautions

The Council on Foundations will NOT require our attendees to test for COVID-19 or to wear masks throughout the conference. For those who prefer to wear masks, we will have a limited supply available at our registration desk for your convenience. In addition to masks, we will also have a limited supply of COVID-19 tests on-site. If you are experiencing symptoms or have concerns about your health throughout the event, simply approach any of our Council staff members at our registration desk, they will be more than happy to assist you in obtaining both a mask and/or a test.

Elevators

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is equipped with elevators on each floor, ensuring attendees have access to every level of the building. The elevator buttons are labeled with large numbers and feature Braille and raised lettering, providing assistance to visually impaired individuals.

In addition, all elevators within the hotel are designed to accommodate wheelchair users and each elevator is equipped with sturdy handrails, ensuring added safety and support for all guests.

Restrooms

Throughout the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, attendees will find multiple restrooms that are ADA compliant. These restrooms are equipped with features such as grab bars and accessible toilet facilities to accommodate the specific needs of our attendees.

In addition, there will be gender-neutral restrooms, ensuring that all attendees can feel comfortable and respected during their stay.

Accessibility Services for the Leading Locally Conference

Session Rooms

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

ASL/Language Services

We are excited to share that ASL Interpretation and CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) services will be available during all three of our Plenary Sessions.  In addition, we will also offer On-Demand ASL Video Remote Interpreting during our concurrent sessions. This service will provide attendees with remote access to real-time ASL interpretation. To reserve this service, we kindly ask attendees to email educate@cof.org. 

Audibility

Each concurrent session room will be equipped with microphones for our speakers. We have strongly encouraged all our speakers to utilize the microphones during their presentations, we hope this will 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 Council on Foundations Leading Locally 2023 PowerPoint Template. This template incorporates large font sizes and a simple design that we hope will enhance readability and ensure that the content is easily understood and followed 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 2023 Conference App, providing attendees with the flexibility to view them before, during, or after our sessions.

Quiet Rooms

We are providing specifically designed Quiet Rooms for the use of attendees throughout the conference. To ensure privacy, only one family will be allowed to access a quiet room at a time. If you would like to reserve a time slot for one of the quiet rooms, please visit the Leading Locally 2023 Registration Desk located in the Tower Building Foyer.

Meditation/Prayer Space

Our conference Meditation and Prayer Space is designed for attendees that are looking for a peaceful and quiet space to reflect, relax, or regroup during the conference. This room can be found on the Mezzanine Level of the Tower Building. Our meditation and prayer space will be available for all conference attendees from 7:00 a.m. MT until 5:00 p.m. MT daily. It is our intention to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that respects the diverse faiths and beliefs of all participants. We kindly request that all attendees honor the purpose of this space and contribute to its peaceful atmosphere by refraining from any disruptive or loud behavior.

Lactation/Nursing Space

We understand the importance of supporting our nursing parents, and we are delighted to provide a dedicated Lactation and Nursing Space to all of our conference attendees. This space will be designed to create a secure and comfortable environment for nursing or pumping throughout the duration of the conference. The Lactation and Nursing Space is equipped with a cozy chair, a table, and an electrical outlet to accommodate breast pump usage.  The Lactation and Nursing space can be found on the Mezzanine Level of the Tower Building and will be available for nursing parents from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. MT.