The Bloomington Academic Advising Council is committed to providing an inclusive environment at our Spring Conference. We'll do our best to accommodate requests for special assistance.
To help you make an informed decision about whether the conference will be accessible to you, this page describes the accessibility features of the conference. Please contact us if your question is not answered here, or if the conference arrangements as described are not enough to allow you to attend.
Feel free to reach out directly at any time to one of the Profesional Development Committee Co-chairs for assistance.
For location accessibility questions:
Indiana Memorial Union website or call the IMU at 812-856-6381.
For other questions: Please contact the Professional Development Committee chair/co-chair.
If you're being dropped off at the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU), please know that the entrance to the IMU and parking lot can be confusing. There are limestone pillars and iron gates that mark the entrance to a circle drive at which you can be dropped off at the IMU hotel lobby entrance. Here are two pictures to orient you:
IMU Entrance
IMU Dropoff
It should be 50 steps or less to enter the building and walk to the elevator. The sidewalk has curb cuts from the parking lot to the hotel lobby entrance. There you'll find two doors: one revolving, one automated. The wall switch for the automated door is about one meter above the ground.
If you are driving yourself and need accessible parking, it is available in the pay lot to the east of the Indiana Memorial Union, as well as in the lots to the south of the Indiana Memorial Union. Be aware that in the lots to the south of the Indiana Memorial Union, there are metered accessible parking spots for visitors. The other accessible parking spots on this side of the building require an Indiana University parking permit, even if you already have a state-issued disability parking placard.
Along with the accessible entrance found at the IMU hotel lobby, there are two additional accessible entrances (both with automated doors) on the south side of the building. The first image below is the Whittenberger Auditorium entrance, and the wall switches for its automated door are about one meter above the ground. The Whittenberger Auditorium entrance is the closest entrance to the Georgian Room, where the conference will begin, and it is the closest entrance to the elevator that can take you down one floor to the Mail Level, where you can find the Tree Suites for breakout sessions. It takes approximately 60 steps to get from the Whittenberger Auditorium entrance (which puts you on the First Floor) to the Georgian Room. It takes about the same number of steps to get from the Biddle Hotel Lobby elevator, once it is on the First Floor, to the Georgian Room.
The second image below is the Alumni Hall entrance. It has vertical actuation bars that may be triggered by a wheelchair footrest. This entrance is also on the First Floor. More steps are needed to get from this entrance to the Georgian Room. 
Alternate IMU Entrance
Alumni Hall Entrance
NOTE: Between these two accessible entrances are the Bookstore entrances, which are not accessible. The wheelchair sticker on one door is actually pointing to the Whittenberger Auditorium entrance.
You will have the opportunity to have lunch on your own during the conference. Lunch options within the IMU are limited due to renovation of the dining areas in the IMU. Starbucks and the Tudor Room are in the IMU and will be open for lunch. If you would like to venture into downtown Bloomington for lunch, you may want to visit the City of Bloomington website to learn more about Bloomington's accessibility features.
This map of the conference space shows you the overall layout of the Indiana Memorial Union.
All planned conference events are on the First and Main Levels of the Indiana Memorial Union. If you want to take the elevator from the hotel lobby to the First or Main Level, you should press the button marked “M” in the elevator for “Main” or “1” for “First.” Conference activities will take place in the Georgian Room on the First Level, as well as the Tree Suites Meeting Rooms on the Main Level.
Please see our other FAQs for more details about wheelchair or power scooter access, restrooms, and walking and steps.
Yes, the conference will be accessible to wheelchair users. The hotel in the Indiana Memorial Union has a level entrance with an automatic door next to the revolving door. The route to the lobby elevators is level tile. These elevators are very small, though, and turning a wheelchair around may be difficult to impossible. A scooter user would occupy most of the elevator. Powerchair users may want to contact guest services at 812-856-6381 for possible accommodations.
When in the Georgian Room, there are restrooms labeled as accessible nearby. However, be aware that the closest accessible restrooms do not have grab rails. If you need grab rails, you can find them in the restrooms on First Level that are within the Tudor Room. You may use these restrooms, even if you are not eating in the Tudor Room.
There are also accessible restrooms on the Main Level near the Tree Suites. These restrooms each have an accessible stall with grab rails and lowered soap and towel dispensers which should be able to be reached from a wheelchair or power scooter. The women’s restroom near the Frangipani Room on the Main Level is equipped with a private lactation room.
Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome. Please do indicate on your registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference so that we can contact you about your animal’s needs before you arrive at the conference.
The conference area is relatively compact with level walking surfaces throughout. There are approximately 140 steps between the elevators from the hotel lobby to the farthest presentation room in the Tree Suites. All of the conference rooms are equipped with chairs, so standing can be kept at a minimum.
Presentations are not available prior to the event. Presentations will not be recorded. If you have additional questions, please contact the Professional Development Committee chair/co-chair.
All presenters have been asked to use a microphone. Microphones will be available in every session room. If your presenter is not using a microphone, please ask them to use the microphone or connect with the session facilitator.
The conference will provide beverages in the morning and an afternoon snack. Available items will be marked for their vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free/allergen contents.
You will have the opportunity to have lunch on your own during the conference. Lunch options within the IMU are limited due to renovation of the dining areas in the IMU. Starbucks and the Tudor Room are in the IMU and will be open for lunch. If you would like to venture into downtown Bloomington for lunch, you may want to visit the City of Bloomington website to learn more about Bloomington's accessibility features.
Indiana University is a smoke-free campus.
In case of emergency, call 911 for an ambulance. The nearest hospital is a nine minute drive away, according to Google Maps.
