Services & Accommodations

The Geological Society of America strives to create a pleasant and rewarding experience for every attendee and is committed to providing universal access to our meeting.

Below you will find specific information on a variety of topics to assure your needs are met. If you have other requests that are not addressed below, please feel free to contact us (meetings@geosociety.org).

Information on accessibility at the Oregon Convention Center

Services & Accommodation Requests

If you would like to talk with someone to request accommodations (e.g., sign language interpreters, alternative formats) please check the box during the registration process and a GSA staff member will follow up with you. Advanced notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Dietary

If you have dietary considerations and have registered for a ticketed event, field trip, or short course that includes a meal, please check the Dietary box during the registration process. Gluten free (GF), vegan (V), and vegetarian options will be available. For all other requests GSA Meetings Dept. staff will follow up with you after you have registered for the meeting. After 27 Sept., we cannot guarantee the availability of a special meal.

Self-Care Room

This multi-purpose room can be used to carve out space for you to nap, meditate, or get your mind away from a state of anxiety into a state of relaxation. The room will be available Sat.–Wed., 9–13 Oct., 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center. To access the room please stop by the GSA Registration area for a key to and location of the room.

Animals

The Oregon Convention Center does not allow animals into the building except for service animals.

Nursing Suites

The OCC provides two Mamava nursing suites that are ADA-compatible, private, secure, and equipped with standard AC power outlets. The nursing suites are located near the A and E Meeting Rooms on Level 1. All Mamava suites come with a Bluetooth SmartLock that syncs with Mamava’s mobile app. Download the app at mamava.com/mobile-app. You may also request a door code for entry from the OCC receptionists in the Administration Office on Level 2 and by calling +1-503-235-7575.

Assisted Hearing Devices

GSA has assisted hearing devices, Williams Sound PockeTalker, available for use during the meeting. Please visit the Annual Meeting Staff Office in OCC to check one out. All you’ll need is an ID.

Communications Access Realtime Translation

GSA is partnering with Visible Voices to provide their Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services for all the live-streamed sessions. CART is an instant translation of the spoken word into English text. The text then appears on a laptop, monitor or other display depending on the environment. CART requires the skill of a trained stenographer with the ability to write at speeds of up to 225 words per minute with 98 percent accuracy.

A private, secure nursing pod in a convention center setting.

The Oregon Convention Center provides two Mamava nursing suites.