Learning Key NASPA Accessibility Features

NASPA attendees can have one or more types of disability. For example, such as physical, sensory, cognitive, mental health, and learning disabilities. We have put together a small overview of features we provide. Let’s ensure we are all doing our part as we begin the countdown to our BIG gathering in the BIG EASY! 

As NASPA prepares for the Annual Conference in New Orleans, our team is dedicated to ensuring every attendee can fully participate, regardless of individual needs. Below, we outline the key features and accessibility accommodations we’ve planned to make this year’s conference a welcoming experience for all. 

Creating a Self-Care Room

For attendees who experience sensory overload, neurodivergent needs, or mental health concerns, overstimulating environments can lead to physical and mental fatigue, anxiety, and emotional distress. This dedicated room allows individuals a place to recharge mentally and physically. 

Contrary to popular belief, NASPA is not just for extroverts! NASPA’s team is intentional about ensuring that the conference is accessible for introverts and those who prefer quieter and contemplative spaces. To support attendees needing a break from sensory stimulation, our self-care space offers a de-stimulating and calming environment. Mental wellness is crucial for a successful conference experience, as it supports focus, emotional resilience, and the capacity to engage fully. Without access to such a space, participants may struggle with continuous participation, limiting their ability to benefit from and contribute to conference events.

Features include dimmed lighting, soft touch items, calming music, and more to suit the diverse needs of neurodiverse individuals and other attendees who may just need a break from the loud, electric, hustle and bustle that the conference experience is known for.

Offering a Gendered Spaces for Inclusive Belief Practices

Attendees from various faith backgrounds or those requiring privacy for prayer can observe their practices comfortably. Without access to such spaces, participants may face a choice between religious observance and full conference engagement, which could detract from their overall experience. For years now, NASPA has provided mats and separate gender prayer rooms for attendees requiring gender-specific spaces for worship and reflection. These rooms ensure that individuals of all faiths feel respected and supported. 

To honor the diverse spiritual and personal needs of our community, NASPA offers both gender-neutral restrooms and single-sex prayer rooms. We provide gender neutral bathrooms for everyone to have a safe and judge-free bathroom experience. When ya’ gotta go, ya’ gotta go! 

Supporting Mothers, Mother-Scholars, and Caregivers

NASPA recognizes the pressure mothers and caregivers feel when they do not have the proper  tools to provide for their children. The needs of caregivers are considered during the conference. We provide nursing rooms at both the convention center and host hotels, giving mothers a private and comfortable space for cleaning their tools, breastfeeding and/or pumping to name a few. 

Every conference hotel offers a dedicated nursing room, providing private, hygienic spaces where mothers and caregivers can pump, breastfeed, or care for mothering-related needs. These quiet rooms allow attendees to manage breastfeeding or pumping needs without stress or discomfort, helping them balance caregiving with conference participation. Without these accommodations, mothers might struggle to care for their child’s feeding needs and may be forced to miss key events and may even experience emotional distress.

Providing Mobility Accommodations

Moving around in this world is difficult when leadership takes their body privilege for granted. Attendees with physical disabilities, chronic pain, or mobility limitations benefit from spaces that allow for smooth and independent navigation. Our accessible hotel rooms and conference areas feature amenities such as roll-in showers, wider doorways, and step-free access points to reduce physical strain and increase ease of movement. 

Our accessibility team often considers how anxiety-producing it may be to feel pain, shortness of breath, or even stiffness in public.  When mobility accommodations are lacking, attendees may find it physically taxing or impossible to participate, reducing their conference experience. To keep all attendees included, we ensure that both the Convention Center and our host hotels offer these supportive measures to attendees with mobility needs.

Observing Accommodations for Sight and Hearing Limitations

Visual and hearing impairments can make it difficult to engage with standard conference materials or follow spoken presentations. To support these needs, we provide ASL interpreters, real-time captioning, and presentation materials with high-contrast visuals. These tools ensure that participants with sensory needs can follow discussions, ask questions, and contribute to the sessions. 

Without these resources, individuals may experience exclusion and reduced access to important conference content or collective experiences. Conference attendees can register for ASL interpreters for sessions to ensure full access for those with hearing limitations. Captioning services will also be provided during sessions, specifically in the keynote and large audience sessions. Additionally, the NASPA Accessibility Committee is excited to offer evidence-based recommendations for presenters, ensuring they are mindful of audience members with visual impairments. Presenters will have access to templates with accessible fonts and high-contrast colors, making it easier for all attendees to read and analyze visual content.

NASPA’s Annual Conference Accessibility Planning Process

So now that you know some of the features we offer at the national conference, here’s a behind the scenes look at the planning process for our accessibility efforts. Here’s what’s built into our conference planning process:

Auditory

Keynote and plenary sessions will have live captioning. 

NASPA contracts with a provider for ASL and CART services to ensure individual attendee accommodations are met during breakout sessions. 

Speakers will use microphones for all sessions.

Mobility

All meeting and event spaces are accessible to wheelchair and scooter users. 

Elevators are marked, and NASPA staff will assist in navigating to your next session or meeting.

Visual

The conference schedule and information are available with the My NASPA App. 

The My NASPA App is compatible with mobile devices and screen readers. 

A PDF of the program book will be available upon request. 

All visual information presented during sessions will be communicated verbally.

Making Accommodation Requests

If you recognize a need to request accommodations for the Annual Conference Complete your Annual Conference registration. 

Supporting a Safe and Respectful Environment

By making these accommodations and resources available, NASPA Annual Conference 2025 has a renewed dedication to nurturing leadership and cultivating harmony while simultaneously breaking barriers to accessibility.  

We encourage everyone to take advantage of these offerings and help us ensure that the conference is inclusive for all participants. Together, we can build a conference where everyone is respected, supported, and empowered to succeed.

To learn more about how NASPA’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion is reflected throughout the Annual Conference 2025, click here.