CHAViC is committed to creating an environment that welcomes all people and caters to their access needs. The AAS library and the Goddard-Daniels House are wheelchair accessible. There are accessible parking spaces located outside of both buildings. There is also a wheelchair available upon request at the AAS library reception area for onsite use.
Antiquarian Hall has four gender neutral, single-occupant restrooms on the first floor and one on the second floor. Two of the first-floor gender-neutral restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The Goddard-Daniels House has two gender neutral and accessible restrooms on the first floor.
Although our seminar schedule is busy, we have built in 30-minute rest periods each morning and afternoon. We will also offer rest periods following transitions in location, such as between the AAS library and the Goddard-Daniels house. Participants are encouraged to rest as needed throughout the seminar. There is an orientation room in the AAS reception area, which has a door that can be closed. Please ask an AAS staff member for quiet spaces as needed.
During sessions, we welcome participants to make themselves comfortable in the Learning Lab. You may want to move around, stand up, lie down, go out and come back in, stim, knit, talk quietly with a neighbor, write or record notes, or engage in another way that feels appropriate to you. Please be aware that some activities, such as knitting, may be limited while working with archival collections. There will be a long table on the side of the Learning Lab for those who prefer to sit farther away from other participants.
As we will share meals together during the seminar, we encourage participants to notify AAS staff of any dietary allergies or food preferences using the questionnaire which will be distributed before the seminar. Non-alcoholic beverages and beer and wine will be offered during the Sunday reception and Thursday evening pizza party. While at the AAS library and the Boston Athenaeum, consumption of food and drink must be limited to designated spaces.
The seminar will be fragrance-free. We will work with building management to ensure that the products used to clean our spaces are free from scents and other chemicals. We ask that participants avoid colognes, perfume, scented lotions, fragranced hair products, and/or similar products on the days of the seminar.
Finally, please be aware that we will be discussing some challenging topics during the seminar. We will read, discuss, and view archival materials and museum items related to enslavement, colonization, violence, death, inequity, incarceration, institutionalization, racism, sexism, poverty, disease, and war, among other topics. We urge participants to discuss any concerns about engaging with these materials and topics with seminar leaders ahead of time. You are also welcome to disengage with seminar sessions as needed.