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Conference accessibility should be a universal concern

Nature Cell Biology volume 26, page 309 (2024)Cite this article

In this piece, I share a personal encounter that underscores the glaring gaps in conference accessibility and challenges faced by disabled academics. I reveal historical biases and resistance to change and propose ways to transform conferences into more inclusive spaces, ensuring that all scientists can fully participate in the scientific discourse.

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Acknowledgements

I thank all the inspirational disabled scientists that I have come across at conferences. There will be no unconsented disclosures of anybody’s disability here, but you know who you are. At every conference we accessibility-needing folks magically find each other to support in the hardships and to provide a venting space. You have inspired me, helped me to stay sane and educated me, and many of the sections of this document are inspired by what I learned from you. I also thank the organizers of the recent NewPI in Cell Development (https://www.celldev.org/) conference, especially F. M. Davis, an inspiring and formidable new principal investigator. This was the first meeting I have attended that re-imagined conferences and made drastic changes to the format, starting the conversation about what we can improve. F. M. Davis gave me the inspiration and courage to write this piece and cast a helpful editorial eye over the finished product.

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  1. ISMIB, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Urszula Lucja McClurg

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  1. Urszula Lucja McClurg
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Correspondence to Urszula Lucja McClurg.

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The author has no competing interests aside from being a disabled academic who will personally benefit from conference accessibility improvements.

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McClurg, U.L. Conference accessibility should be a universal concern. Nat Cell Biol 26, 309 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-024-01346-6

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