This year, the MCLS conference will be hosted at Gallaudet University, the only bilingual American Sign Language-English university dedicated to the higher education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. To ensure the inclusion of the Gallaudet community as well as respect the linguistic environment of Gallaudet, all presentations will be interpreted in ASL and captioned in English. This will ensure maximum accessibility for all our MCLS members.  

For other helpful tips about Gallaudet and accessible communication, please see the Venue Information page.

Illness and COVID-19
For the safety and well-being of all attendees at our conference, we kindly ask that you adhere to the following guidelines regarding COVID-19 or any illness: Please do not attend if you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 or are awaiting test results, we request that you refrain from attending. Throughout the conference, please maintain good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer provided. Free masks are available at the entrances of most Gallaudet buildings and at the registration table. Please respect individual comfort levels regarding personal space and masking. Thank you for working together to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Making Presentations Accessible and Available
We are requesting that all presenters submit a close to final copy of their presentation (talk, lightning talk, poster) at least 48 hours before their scheduled presentation. This will ensure that low vision individuals and any attendee will have the possibility to read materials on personal devices. Further, this will allow sign language interpreters working during the talk and posters sessions to become familiarized with the content and jargon. This is critical to ensure proper interpretation.

Venue Accessibility 
A low stimulation room will be available to attendees who might need a quiet space during the day. This space will not be a meeting room but a space to retreat from the hustle and noise of the conference halls. Anyone wanting to focus or simply relax will be welcome to use the space. 

To ensure dietary options that meet various restrictions, vegan, gluten free and regular (meat + dairy) sandwich options will be available during the lunch breaks. 

All spaces will be wheelchair accessible and within a few minutes walk from each other. Only one conference hall will be further away, requiring a 5 to 7 minute walk. Dorms will be further away on campus requiring up to 10 minutes walk. We will try our best to secure a golf cart if requested.

We are also happy to provide a nursing space upon request.

If you need any other accommodation, please contact the MCLS organizers at mcls.conference.2024@gmail.com

During registration, you will be given the opportunity to indicate whether you will need any specific accommodations (e.g., a golf cart, nursing room) as well as your dietary restrictions to make sure we may offer appropriate amounts. We will also provide additional space for any other accommodation requests.