CONVENTION CONTACTS

The Rhetoric Society of America is committed to ensuring that all RSA events create and maintain a welcoming atmosphere for all its members so that all may benefit fully from its events. If at any time you have a question or need assistance, please visit the Registration Desk for assistance or call/text RSA Executive Director Leslie Dinauer at 401-575-6458 (between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm) or email [email protected].

General inquiries: [email protected] 

Lisa Flores, Conference Co-Chair, [email protected]

Registration Desk Location

The Registration Desk will be located on the Plaza Level next to the Atrium.

Room Designations 

• Quiet Space: Located in Boardroom West in the 3rd Floor Conference Area.
• Lactation Room: Located in Boardroom East (unavailable Saturday 8:00 am – 11:00 am; please see registration desk for an alternate location at this time). There is
• All-Gender Restrooms: All-Gender restrooms will be well-marked and available on every level of the conference area. Please contact [email protected] for information.

Recommendations for Attendees

• Consider wearing a well-fitting mask. RSA does not require that you wear a mask, but many conference attendees are high-risk, and attendees will be taking a wide range of transportation options to get to Portland. Please be aware that people with certain sensory or cognitive conditions may find it difficult to wear a mask. Therefore, if you are able to do so, consider masking for the benefit of all attendees. 
• Please maintain a safe distance when removing your mask. Masks can render speech inaccessible for Deaf persons and persons with hearing loss who rely on lip reading, and attendees may need to remove their masks when speaking into a microphone or engaging in conversation.
• Limit perfumes and highly fragrant toiletries. Unscented and low-fragrant toiletries make our shared space more accessible for attendees with chemical sensitivities. Please opt for unscented soaps, hand creams, and hand sanitizer if bringing them into the conference space.
• Pack allergy-friendly snacks when possible. Please be mindful of attendees with food allergies, such as tree nuts, peanuts, and shellfish, and conditions like celiac disease that can make sharing condiments and utensils risky. Airborne allergic reactions are rare, but people can also experience adverse reactions to contamination on surfaces.

CART

• The plenary sessions – The Keynote Address on Friday evening and Presidential Address and Awards on Saturday evening – will have auto-captioned CART.
• If you would like captioning in your sessions, we will have a limited number of Wordly.ai caption devices available at the Registration Desk. These devices will capture the speech of presenters in any session you attend, and send captions directly to your phone or other mobile device (as well as to others in the same room, if they would like to access them). If this is an option you would like to use, please contact [email protected] before May 1, 2026 to ensure we can have the equipment ready for you. You may also ask at the Registration Desk upon arrival to see if there are devices available.

Recommendations for Presenters

Access copies:

• Format recommendations: Use sans serif fonts (e.g., Aptos, Calibri) as opposed to serif fonts (e.g., Times New Roman, Georgia) and avoid unnecessary decorations. Word documents (.doc and .docx) are generally easier to adapt to an accessible format than pdfs.
• Upload access copies. You can upload digital copies of your script, slides, and other materials through the Whova app. You should have received an email from Whova (to the email you used when you submitted) with a URL to access this capability from your computer (not your phone). If you do not have a script, a one-page handout with sources that include proper names and specific terminology can be beneficial for interpreters and captioners.
• Use a QR code for access copies. A common issue presenters run into when creating access copies is that presenters may make revisions to their conference presentations prior to their presentation but after uploading/printing their access copies. If you fear that this will be an issue you may run into, consider adding a QR code to your access copies on a slide as a way of providing audience members with an access copy of your presentation. This site features a QR code generator.
• Bring printed copies when possible. Consider bringing a few hard copies of your script to distribute at the beginning of your session. When printing hard copies, we recommend that you bring 6 copies in 12-point font and 4 in 18-point font.

Presentation Slides:

• Design slides with accessibility in mind. For visual presentations, body text should be at least 18pt, and headings should be at least 24pt. Use sans serif fonts (e.g., Aptos, Calibri, Arial) instead of serif fonts (e.g., Times New roman). Employ strong color contrast (dark text on a light background) to ensure legibility. Consider using WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to check for color contrast. 
• Use typographical features like underlining, italics, and bolding to emphasize important points.

Session considerations: 

• Use the microphones provided in conference rooms. If you are presenting or asking a question, using a microphone—even if you speak loudly—improves access for many others in the room. Consider designating someone on the panel to repeat questions if there is not a microphone available.
• Describe relevant visual information during the presentation and include image descriptions when applicable. Images that are added just for visual interest don’t need to be described, but charts, graphics, and relevant images should be contextualized. On the rhetoric of audio descriptions for visual information, see Price and Bahls’s “The Rhetoric of Description.”
• Consider enabling captions if your presentation includes any videos. This can be done using Microsoft PowerPoint in Presentation Mode. You can also enable captions on Zoom.
• Consider providing a speaker description. Prior to presenting, consider providing the audience with identification information like name, pronouns, title, relevant physical information, and institutional affiliation. If the presentation includes dialogue, it is important to identify each speaker each time they speak. Speakers should re-introduce themselves by stating something like, “Marie from Syracuse University here again…” before making a comment. If there are two people with the same name at the same institution, add a differentiating piece of information like “…researching disability rhetorics.”
• Consider checking in with your audience from time to time. Throughout your presentation, it can be helpful to check in with your audience to ensure your pacing and volume reach everyone in the space.

Projectors

• Most rooms will have a projector and screen. If you are in a room with a projector and screen, and wish to use it, you will need to bring your own laptop, and although there will be some adapter cords available, we strongly recommend you bring your own laptop-to-projector HDMI cord, especially if you have a Mac.

Wayfinding Information

Virtual tour of hotel: https://visitingmedia.com/app/properties/2388/all-assets-share?asset=142825 (Duniway Portland and Hilton Portland Downtown) 

Hilton Downtown Portland

921 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204

The Duniway

545 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97204

General Information

The conference is divided between two main buildings (Duniway Portland Hotel and Hilton Portland Downtown). These buildings are not connected, and attendees must exit through the lobby and cross TWO crosswalks at SW 6TH Avenue and SW Taylor ST to access the other building. This is an uncovered, busy intersection with curb cuts and audible pedestrian signaling.

A note for those who use mobility aids: Many conference spaces, hallways, and most guest rooms contain carpet flooring. Please be aware that Skylie II, located in the Hilton, is elevated above the rest of the Skyline rooms by 2 steps. There is a ramp accessible from the foyer.

The Hilton Portland Downtown has a confirmed stair-free, well-lit path to its main entrance on SW 6th Avenue. The main entrance is step-free and has automatic doors. Elevators are located within the hotel and have 48-inch-wide doors. The hotel’s conference space spans four levels — we will use the Ballroom Level, Plaza Level, and 3rd Floor Conference Level — all of which are served by elevator. Elevator entrances are located about 90 feet from the hotel entrance.

The Duniway’s main entrance is located on SW Taylor Street, between SW 5th and SW 6th Avenues. The main entrance is step-free. As a building completed in 2002, it was constructed after the Americans with Disabilities Act took effect and should reflect accessible design standards at the entry. Elevator entrances are located about 90 feet from the hotel entrance and serve all conference levels.

Accessible Restrooms – Both the Hilton Portland Downtown and The Duniway have accessible restrooms available to conference attendees on each conference level at both hotels. A restroom on each level will be designated as All Gender.

Hotel Parking – Please note that when using valet parking, the closest access points to curb cuts will be about 6-10 feet from the valet zone.

Hotel Valet Parking Hilton Downtown Portland Entrance off SW 6th Street, on-site valet parking is available for $55/day. Duniway Portland Valet Parking off Taylor Street, on-site valet parking is available for $55/day. Self-parking available off Taylor Street next to the Duniway Hotel (525 SW Taylor St. Portland, OR) for $33/day. Handicap spots are available with a state-approved placard (at least 3 available).

Food & Dining

Hilton Portland Downtown — HopCity Tavern & HopCity Market

• Located on the lobby level 
• HopCity Tavern serves breakfast and dinner; American gastropub menu with locally sourced ingredients
• Vegan and vegetarian options available
• HopCity Market offers grab-and-go snacks, baked goods, and Starbucks coffee throughout the day

The Duniway — Mayrose Restaurant & Coffee Bar

• Located on the lobby level 
• Mayrose serves breakfast and dinner; American brasserie menu with locally sourced ingredients
• Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available
• Mayrose Coffee Bar serves espresso drinks and pastries each morning
• Weekday breakfast: 6:30–10:30 AM | Dinner: 4:30–11:00 PM
• Weekend breakfast: 7:00 AM–1:30 PM
• Wheelchair accessible; reservations accepted
  • Hours may vary on conference days — call ahead to confirm: (503) 412-1800

Nearest Hospitals

Portland Family Clinic

800 SW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

2 min (0.4 mile) via SW Taylor ST

OHSU Hospital (Open 24 Hours)

3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239

8-10 min (1.9 mile) via SW Broadway and SW Sam Jackson Park Rd

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center (Open 24 Hours)

2801 N Gantenbein Ave, Portland, OR 97227

9-12 min (2.9 mile) via I-405 N

Drug Stores

CVS – 640 SW Broadway – 1 min (0.2 mile) via SW Taylor St. & SW 6th St.

Walgreens Pharmacy – 2103 W Burnside St – 6 min (1.2 mile) via SW Taylor St. and SW

A Note on In-Room Food & Medication Storage

The Duniway

• All guest rooms include an in-room espresso and tea maker and a mini refrigerator
• The mini refrigerator is a standard beverage fridge and may not be suitable for all medication storage needs — attendees with specific temperature requirements for medications should contact the hotel directly before arrival to confirm suitability or arrange alternative storage
• Microwaves are not available in standard guest rooms

Hilton Portland Downtown

• All guest rooms include a coffee and tea maker
• Mini refrigerators and microwaves are not confirmed as standard room amenities
• Attendees who need a mini refrigerator — for medications, medical supplies, or dietary needs — should contact the hotel directly in advance to request one; availability cannot be guaranteed

For Both Hotels

Attendees who need to heat food should plan to use the on-site restaurants or nearby dining options, as microwave access in guest rooms is not available at either property

Additional general travel and accessibility information about Portland

Additional Accessibility Resources for Traveling to Portland

The following resources provide detailed information about accessible transportation, hotels, attractions, dining, and airport services. We encourage all attendees with disabilities or access needs to review these sites before traveling.

Accessible Portland — Travel Portland

travelportland.com/plan/accessible-portland

The official Portland visitor guide includes a dedicated accessibility section covering:

• Accessible public transportation, including the MAX Light Rail and Portland Streetcar, both of which are wheelchair accessible. Ride-share services, including Uber and Lyft are required to have wheelchair-accessible vehicles, available through an “Access” mode in their apps.
• Accessible parking: city parking, including on streets, is free for those with the light blue or “W” placards for wheelchair users.
• Adaptive bike rentals through the Adaptive Biketown program, offering hand-powered bikes, foot-powered bikes, and multi-user bikes.
• Information on accessible attractions, trails, performing arts venues, and sensory-friendly experiences throughout the city.

Wheel the World — Portland Accessibility Guide

wheeltheworld.com/accessible-travel/usa/oregon/portland

• Wheel the World is a verified accessibility platform that has conducted on-site assessments of hotels, restaurants, and activities in Portland. Their Portland guide includes:
• Verified accessibility data collected on-site, including measurements, entrances, pathways, restroom details, and transportation information. 
• Detailed hotel listings with specifics including room entrance dimensions, bed and closet heights, bathroom access, toilet and shower measurements, lobby and common space access, and breakfast area accessibility.
• Listings for accessible restaurants and activities with verified accessibility information.

Portland International Airport (PDX) — Accessibility

flypdx.com/Accessibility

Portland International Airport has a strong reputation for accessibility. Their dedicated accessibility page covers services across several categories:

• Mobility assistance, including free wheelchair assistance available by calling 503-460-4300
• Vision support for travelers who are blind or visually impaired and their service animals
• Hearing support, including services to ensure Deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers receive announcements and travel alerts
• Accommodations for non-apparent disabilities, including “hidden disability” sunflower lanyards, a 24/7 sensory room near gate D10, and both pre- and post-security service animal relief areas
• Support for caregivers, families with infants and children, and language access services