At 2017 Midwinter Meeting, talk to ALA about accessibility for people with disabilities

As part of an ongoing effort to improve its member experience, the American Library Association (ALA) will host a series of conversations at the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta.  

The focus of these 90-minute Kitchen Table Conversations will be on a key aspect of inclusion: accessibility for people with physical, mobility, visual, auditory or cognitive disabilities. All conference attendees are encouraged to take part, whether or not they use accessible services.

The conversations will explore how ALA can better create products, services and environments that enable people with disabilities to participate fully in the ALA community. ALA staff and member leaders will ask volunteers a series of open-ended questions about their experience with ALA. A note-taker will be present to record comments, but they will be kept anonymous.

The 2017 Midwinter Meeting will be held from Jan. 20 to 24 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta.

The Kitchen Table Conversations are open to all conference-goers, regardless of membership status, and will be held at the following times. All gatherings will take place in GWCC room B317.

• Sunday, Jan. 22, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 22, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 23, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 23, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Sign up to participate in one of the above sessions.

These Kitchen Table Conversations are part of ALA’s efforts to celebrate diversity and create a more inclusive culture throughout the association and library profession. Read the June 2016 report of the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

ALA has conducted Kitchen Table Conversations at previous national conferences; past topics have included ALA member communications, library advocacy and the ALA conference experience. Previous participants in these conversations have said they welcome the opportunity to sit down with other attendees to share their thoughts and ideas with ALA.