General information and resources can be found on WheelchairTravel.org.
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 comply 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 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. Additional information about accessible sleeping rooms is available through Maritz, the AHA’s housing service.
New Orleans Marriott
Parking: Valet parking only; contact the hotel about possible accommodations. Max height 5’9″.
Entrances: The Porte Cochere entrance is accessible; the Canal Street entrance has an ADA lift.
Meeting Rooms: All meeting rooms are accessible via elevator.
Other Information: There are ADA lifts for the pool.
Sheraton New Orleans
Parking: Accessible self-parking and valet parking. Max height 6’5”.
Entrances: The main accessible entrance is the Motor Court entrance off Canal in between Camp and Magazine.
Meeting Rooms: All meeting rooms are accessible via elevator.
JW Marriott New Orleans
Parking: Valet parking only.
Entrances: Both the Canal Street and Common Street entrances are accessible; Canal requires a room key for access.
Accessible Transportation
Much of the public transportation system in New Orleans is accessible, including standard New Orleans Regional Transit Authority buses, the Red Streetcars, and some Green Streetcars. See New Orleans & Company’s Accessible New Orleans guide for additional information, including a list of cab companies with accessibility options.
Scooter and wheelchair rentals are available by contacting ScootAround (888.441.7575) or Mobility City (504.380.9031).
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.
Health and Safety
The AHA and our meeting hotels are working together to follow public health best practices to make meeting attendance as safe as possible. We expect that all attendees will have been vaccinated for COVID-19 by the time of the meeting (and received a booster if possible). Attendees should comply with all health and safety rules and guidelines established by the AHA, the CDC, the conference hotels, and the local government. Masks are welcome for those that wear them. See historians.org/ampolicies for the latest information.
Fragrance
Please help us to accommodate attendees who are sensitive to fragrances by refraining from wearing scented products.
Sign Interpreting
Attendees with hearing impairment who will need sign-interpreting service must notify the AHA and register for the meeting by November 1, 2026. 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 attendee.
An interpreter may also be provided upon request for the presidential address (Friday, January 8) and the annual business meeting (Saturday, January 9).
Assistive listening devices are also available on request.
Please contact annualmeeting@historians.org by November 1, 2026, to request an interpreter or assistive listening device.
Other Resources
US Department of Transportation’s Traveling with a Disability