Accessibility guide for AHA24.

Hotels

All meeting hotels have accessible lobbies with at least one entrance with auto-slide doors; door-service personnel are available at other entrances. Thresholds and doormats are in compliance with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. Lobbies have marble floors and/or low-pile area carpeting. Elevators connect all levels of each property. Each elevator has a wheelchair-accessible keypad. Elevators either have audible announcements or Braille numerals beside each control button. Restrooms in lobbies and on meeting room floors are wheelchair accessible and have tactile signage.

All hotels have accessible registration desks or provide clipboards to guests to complete registration documentation. All hotels have accessible guest rooms. The number of such rooms at each property is noted in the listing below. Among other amenities, these rooms feature wheelchair-accessible doors, lever door handles, security peepholes, ample room space, grab bars in restrooms, low sinks with insulated pipes, accessible towel racks, and accessible mirrors. The following auxiliary aids are available at most properties: flashing fire alarm, doorbell, and telephone; vibrating alarm clock; closed-caption decoders; Braille signage; and TDD telephones.

Hilton San Francisco Union Square
The entrance at Mason Street has an auto-opener, and the entrance in the garage is fully accessible. The entrance at 333 O’Farrell Street does not have auto-openers.
Parking: Valet parking only; get in touch with the hotel about possible accommodations.
Guest Rooms: The hotel has 28 accessible rooms, of which 21 have roll-in showers.
Meeting Rooms: All meeting rooms are accessible. Access to the Yosemite rooms is via the Tower 2 elevators or wheelchair lift from the grand ballroom level. Use the Tower 3 elevators to access fourth and sixth floor meeting rooms. Accessible restrooms are located on the lobby, ballroom, and Grand Ballroom mezzanine levels.

Hilton Parc 55 San Francisco
The entrance at Cyril Magnin Street and Eddie Street has an auto-opener. Please note that the entrance at Mason Street and Ellis Street has stairs, with a lift for wheelchair access.
Parking: Valet parking only; get in touch with the hotel about possible accommodations.
Guest Rooms: The hotel has at least 10 accessible rooms, all of which have roll-in showers.
Meeting Rooms: All meeting rooms are accessible.

Accessible Transportation

Many of the region’s BART and Muni stations for rail, subway, trolly, or bus are wheelchair accessible. All BART stations are wheelchair accessible, with elevators or ramps at all stations and barrier-free boarding. Every bus has a lift or ramp that can be lowered to street level.

Wheelchair accessible, ADA compliant taxi vans with rear entry wheelchair ramps are available within the San Francisco metropolitan area and at San Francisco International Airport. Information on accessible transportation to and from the airport can be found at wheelchairtravel.org/san-francisco.

Scooter and wheelchair rentals are available by contacting ScootAround (888-441-7575) .

Service Animals Welcome

The American Historical Association is committed to making the annual meeting accessible. Service animals are welcome at all events, sessions, and venues. The ADA protects the right of people with disabilities to be accompanied by trained service animals in public places. Remember, not all disabilities are visible and service animals are not required to wear special equipment or tags. Service animals are working and should not be distracted without permission.

Fragrance

Please help us to accommodate attendees who are sensitive to fragrances by refraining from wearing scented products.

Sign Interpreting

Members with hearing impairment who will need sign-interpreting service at the AHA annual meeting must notify the AHA Headquarters Office and register for the meeting by November 1, 2023. The request should include the sessions they plan to attend. The AHA will secure the services of appropriate interpreters. The AHA will assume the cost for up to nine hours of sign language interpreting service per member.

An interpreter may also be provided upon request for the presidential address (Friday, January 5) and the annual business meeting (Saturday, January 6).

Assistive listening devices are also available on request.

Please contact Debbie Doyle at ddoyle@historians.org by November 1, 2023, if you would like to request an interpreter or assistive listening device.

Other Resources

US Department of Transportation’s New Horizons: Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability