ICFA and October Conference Policies

Conduct

The IAFA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. Harassment includes but is not limited to offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, or religion; deliberate intimidation, stalking, unwelcome following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or ejected from the conference at the discretion of the IAFA Executive Board, which reserves the right to take any appropriate action, including formal legal proceedings in accordance with United States Federal laws.

To download or read our full Code of Conduct Procedures, click here: Current Code of Conduct procedures Revised June 2018.pdf

Netiquette

As with in-person meetings, all aspects of the IAFA Code of Conduct will be in effect for interactions on any media (meetings software, email, social media) that is prompted by the programming offered at IAFA online confernces. Please read our full Netiquette here.

Accessibility

ICFA is committed to being an accessible conference that supports the varied needs of our members. We understand how important it is for our attendees and panelists to feel comfortable and welcome.

The conference is held at the Orlando Marriott Lakeside Hotel. Members should be aware of the following:

• The hotel has a number of mobility accessible rooms, which include full deaf alert systems. Members can select rooms with roll-in showers or handle-grip tubs (please note that the tubs are generally available only with rooms with single king sized beds.) Most of the mobility accessible rooms are not equipped with refrigerators; if you have medication that needs to be refrigerated, please contact the hotel in advance to arrange for a refrigerator in your room, or contact ICFA staff for assistance.
• Mobility accessible rooms are limited and may sell out. All nearby hotels contain at least eight mobility accessible rooms per hotel.
• The main hotel registration desk is not fully accessible.
• The hotel does not have a disabled accessible restroom on the second floor, where some panels are held.  Two elevators provide access to the disabled accessible restrooms on the ground level.  Many panels are held in in the hotel’s ballroom event area, which has fully accessible restrooms.
• The hotel’s lunchtime restaurant/bar area is divided by stairs. Members can reach the ground floor area directly, or reach the top area through a long access ramp off to the side of the bar.
• Following Florida law, service animals are allowed for guests with disabilities.
• The hotel’s complimentary shuttle service is not wheelchair accessible. Boarding this service requires climbing three steps.
• Although a sidewalk does lead away from the hotel, it does not fully connect to other sidewalks offering access to local restaurants and overflow hotels. The curb cut from this sidewalk to the street is tilted and may cause issues for heavy power chairs and mobility scooters.  The curb cut from the main guest parking lot into the hotel is narrow and may cause issues for heavy power chairs and mobility scooters. The curb cut from the parking lot by the main ballroom area is fully accessible; that, and the main lobby entrance, are recommended entrances for wheelchair users.
• The hotel pool has a lift; although labeled self-operating, guests will need the assistance of hotel staff to use it.
• The Marriott hotel currently uses fluorescent lighting in most of its meeting rooms. The restaurant and bar area use a mix of LED and fluorescent lighting.

The Orange County Lynx Bus service and all theme park buses are wheelchair accessible. Most services will require wheelchair users to use the complimentary seatbelts/straps.  Many Orlando taxis offer roll in wheelchair service; please alert the taxi service when making your reservation.  The Marriott hotel will be able to assist you with finding accessible taxi services.

Please note that ACCESS Lynx is not available at this time to out of state residents.

Our banquet menus have been selected to offer a broad variety of foods, including clearly labeled vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options.

At this time, financial restrictions preclude us from offering ASL interpreters or captioning. We welcome any suggestions on how we can improve accessibility for members in this area.

Proposals

VICFA Submission Rules: VICFA Submission Rules Updated 9-16-22.pdf

ICFA Submission Rules: ICFA Submission Rules updated 9-16-22 2.docx

Refunds

The ICFA will not issue refunds for conference registration and associated fees after February 1; instead, cancellations after this date will receive a credit that may be used within 2 years for a future conference. Exceptions may be appealed to the Board.

BIPOC Caucus Events

The BIPOC Caucus hosts both Counter Space and Brave Space events. Brave Space is a type of conversation intended to regulate and dignify an exchange of vulnerable questions and sensitive answers about racial bias and the pain of transforming traditions of privilege into shared opportunities, among other topics that have to do with race and ethnicity in historically colonized spaces and contexts. Brave Space conversations take place in the Counter Space under BIPOC Caucus supervision.

Brave Space conversations respect these Rules of Engagement:

1. Questions and comments are directed to the moderator; the questioner may specify to the moderator for whom the question or comment is intended.

2. The moderator repeats or rephrases the question or comment and directs it to the panelist(s) indicated.

3. Any panelist(s) and audience member(s) who would like to respond to the question or comment may indicate to the moderator that they would like to respond.

4. Any panelist(s) and audience member(s) who would like to withdraw from further interaction may announce or indicate to the moderator this intention and withdraw from further discussion of the topic or from the entire conversation, without explanations about such withdrawal or pressure to resume discussion.