Accessibility FAQ

NIME 2025 is committed to providing an inclusive environment and we will do our best to accommodate requests for special assistance. This page describes the accessibility features of NIME 2025, to help you make an informed decision about whether the conference will be accessible to you. 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. We will work with you to the best of our ability, to make the conference accessible.

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How do I communicate accessibility needs to NIME 2025 organizers?

The Accessibility Chair for NIME 2025 is Alexander Hunter, whose goal is to ensure the conference is accessible to everyone. After you register for the conference, there will be an online form with a question labeled "Do you have a disability or special need which requires our awareness?". In your response, please indicate any accessibility needs such as wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, or a guide. The Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to clarify your needs. You can contact them directly at any time by emailing Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au.

Who do I ask if my question is not answered here?

More information about accessibility at Australian National University is available on their accessibility information page.

Please contact Alexander Hunter on +61 (0) 407803329 or email Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au to discuss your specific needs with the venue directly.

If there is specific accessibility information you would like to see here, or if you wish to discuss any conference accessibility requirements, please contact our Accessibility Chair, Alexander Hunter by email: Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au, and someone will respond to you shortly.

Will sign language interpretation or captioning be available?

At this stage, the conference is not providing live sign-language interpretation. Automated captioning will be available on the remote stream of all conference events.

If you have would like to request sign language interpretation after 2 June 2025 (the deadline for early registration), a best effort will be made to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee that interpreters or captioners will be available.

What are the taxi and public transport options for getting to the conference venue?

From Canberra International Airport, the easiest way to get to the Australian National University is Transport Canberra (bus and lightrail)

Recommended options for getting to the conference include:

Bus and lightrail

  • Route: Canberra Airport terminal through to the City interchange
  • Pickup point: Please see details on https://www.canberraairport.com.au/transport/public-transport-and-shuttle-services Please note you will need a temporary MyWay+ Card - details can be found at https://www.transport.act.gov.au/tickets-and-myway
  • Cost: $5 or $2.50 with a valid concession card
  • Time: 20min
  • Wheelchair accessibility: Transport Canberra's easy access buses have no steps and are wheelchair accessible. All busses have: an extendable ramp, a wide front entrance, space in the bus to accommodate wheelchairs or prams. Please ask the driver to put down the ramp or lower the bus for you to get on and off the bus. Card readers are positioned at a relatively low height to support mobility access requirements. Please see https://www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/bus/accessible-travel for more details.
  • Walking and steps: Walking from the City bus interchange to the Kambri precinct is approximately 900m - see Google Maps for more detail: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1T3x8kZQd4y79uph7 There are no steps between the City Bus Interchange and the conference venue.
  • Service animals: Service dogs and other assistance animals are allowed in all public places. This includes cafes, restaurants, hospitals, public transport, taxis/rideshare, entertainment venues, shopping centres and hotels. They are not allowed in some places with restricted access, such as commercial kitchens and operating theatres. You do not need to carry ID or registration. A special coat or harness on your animal is optional.Please see this link for more details: https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/domestic-animals/assistance-animals
  • Phone: +61 2 6207 7611
  • Book: No booking necessary for public transportation.

Who can I ask about accessibility in Canberra?

For information about Canberra accessibility, including public transport, go to online accessibility information or contact Alexander Hunter at +61 (0) 407803329 or alexander.hunter@anu.edu.au.

Can a student volunteer assist me during the conference?

Student volunteers will be available to assist attendees with disabilities with navigation, meal service, or other accessibility needs. If you will need volunteer assistance at the conference, please indicate this on your conference accessibility registration form.

Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Personal care assistants do not need to register for the conference. Please indicate any personal assistants in the accessibility registration form.

What is the conference space like?

For the overall layout of the venue, please refer to this map of the conference space.

We are still working on a description of the conference spaces.

Please see our other FAQs for more details about wheelchair or power scooter access, provisions for presenters, restrooms, walking and steps, and facilities for assistance animals.

Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair or power scooter?

The conference will be generally accessible to wheelchair users. We are still working on a detailed description of wheelchair access. Both Kambri and the School of Music are fully wheelchair accessible with lifts available for activities not on the ground floor. Shadows Nightclub is unfortunately inaccessible via wheelchair or mobility scooter as attendees must climb a single flight of stairs.

If you are a presenter who uses a wheelchair, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements. Poster sessions will have space for a wheelchair to move between the posters.

For more information about wheelchair accessibility at Australian National University , please contact Alexander Hunter on +61 (0) 407803329 or Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au.

What are the restroom facilities like?

There are bathrooms with access options and gender neutral facilities in every building in Kambri Precinct. There is a parenting room in the Cultural Centre building 153 which includes a modesty feeding area, multiple baby change facilities as well as a double toilet bathroom for parents with toddlers or young children.

The School of Music has accessible bathrooms on the ground floor of the Peter Karmel Building and Level 4 of the Main Music Building. There are also bathrooms on level 5 in the Café.

What are the arrangements for presenters with accessibility needs?

We are still working on a detailed description of the stage design.

If you are a presenter who uses a wheelchair, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements. Poster sessions will have space for a wheelchair to move between the posters.

If you would like a student volunteer to operate slides or guide you onto and off the stage, or have other accessibility requests please contact Alexander Hunter at Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au by 23 June 2025.

Can I bring my guide dog?

Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at NIME 2025. There will be a relief area with water available. We welcome assistance dogs and can provide water bowls for them. Please ask staff for assistance. There are grassy areas out front of the School of Music and throughout the Kambri precinct. Please indicate on your accessibility registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference.

Can I attend the conference by robot?

NIME 2025 will not accommodate remote attendance by robot.

How much walking or standing will be needed?

We are still working on a detailed description of the walking demands of the conference. Most conference activities are in a single building, with some activities located in the School of Music, which is 600m away. Shadows Nightclub is located 1km from the main conference location.

We are still gathering information on walking demands of the offsite events. Shadows Nightclub is located 1km from the main conference venue. Conference attendants may choose to use Canberra’s public e-scooter network with more information available via this link: https://www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/e-scooters/shared-e-scooters

Note that helmets are legally required on e-scooters and bicycles in Canberra. Public e-scooters come with an attached helmet.

Please contact Alexander Hunter at Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be an induction loop in the meeting rooms?

Hearing Augmentation is available in all Kambri lecture theatres. Hearing loop receivers are available by request by emailing our accessibility chair.

The School of Music does not currently include any induction loop areas.

Will speakers and audience members asking questions be using a microphone?

Yes, microphones will be used for all speakers. Attendees with questions will be requested to use a microphone so that their question is more easily heard.

What food service will be provided?

We have a buffet dinner and coffee / snacks available at some breaks. Lunch is not provided but available for purchase at cafes around the venues. A map of food options on campus can be found via this link: https://kambri.com.au/wp-content/themes/kambri/img/2101_KambriMap_05-01.jpg

There is also a nearby supermarket on the west side of the School of Music building https://maps.app.goo.gl/NqJ9JaCTgzHx3MFZ9

Please get in touch if you have any specific questions about food at or nearby the conference. Dishes will be labeled. For more detailed information please contact Alexander Hunter at alexander.hunter@anu.edu.au. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate these clearly on your accessibility registration form.

Can the conference accommodate special dietary needs?

Yes. Attendees who indicate special dietary requirements on their accessibility registration form will be provided with special meals when the conference catering does not accommodate them. If you have a severe allergy please indicate this on your accessibility registration form. For more detailed information please contact Alexander Hunter at alexander.hunter@anu.edu.au.

Will the conference be a smoke-free environment?

The ANU has a Smoke-Free Policy that prohibits the use of all smoking products (tobacco product, herbal product, vaping, etc), anywhere, on all of the University's campuses, including buildings, properties, grounds, and workplaces. Shadows Nightclub is also a non-smoking area, as are all enclosed public spaces in the ACT.

Will there be loud music, strobe lighting, spotlights, or other strong sensory experiences?

Concerts at NIME involve loud music, stage lighting, and projected visuals. Where possible we have flagged performances that may have particularly intense sensory elements, however all performances should be considered to have a potentially high sensory impact. Please get in touch with the accessibility chair if you have any specific concerns regarding sensory impact at NIME.

Please contact Alexander Hunter at Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.

Will there be a designated quiet space at the conference?

We will provide quiet spaces at the conference but are still checking on availability. At the moment we can confirm a quiet space indoors in the corridor upstairs from Cultural Centre Foyer, and outdoors on the Kambri Central Lawns area or boardwalk near Sullivan's Creek. Please contact us if you are planning to attend the conference and may need such a space.

What if I have a medical emergency or health problem during the conference?

In case of emergency call 000 for an ambulance. 6km by car/bus (North Canberra Hospital) or 13km away (Canberra Hospital) If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact Alexander Hunter at Alexander.Hunter@anu.edu.au or ask any student volunteer. They will provide you with information about local doctors, specialists, chiropractors, etc. For non-resident attendees, buying travel insurance that covers medical expenses is strongly recommended as fees for emergency treatment can be very high.



This FAQ has been generated using the Accessibility FAQ Generator tool provided by ACM SIGACCESS. Event organizers are welcome to modify and reuse this template for other events. Please contact SIGACCESS for more information.