Access

I just uploaded my (many, many) slides to the NCTE Connected Community site after viewing the Access Committee's 7 minute video on create accessible materials.  It seemed literally the least I could do to create at least a gesture towards accessibility for all those scholars wanting access but unable (or struggling) to make sense of the conference during the chaos of the meeting itself. And in an important nod to Universal Design, I benefit because I've often felt overwhelmed and sat through a presentation I had not really wanted to because, well, I had made it to session G18, and who knew where session G8 really was anyway?

Not that I did not find hypothetical session G18 valuable. It just wasn't what I had been seeking.

That said, there were only 2 sets of materials, mine and Elizabeth Tomlinson's Client Proposal and Project Assignment Sheet for session A26 listed under Professional and Technical Writing. Tammy and Stacy Nall have their panel's materials posted. G33-- The Stories We Tell: Narratives, Institutional Discourse, and the Public Documents of Writing Centers. They are under Writing Programs (Writing Centers). Only 61 total resources listed at first. Now there are 68! Yay!

It seems the least we can all do is put our presentations, even in draft form, up on the NCTE site. Jay Dolmage and the CCCC Access Committee have made this useful Accessibility guide available as well. 

Last Minute Downtown Indy Hotels

You waited until now to book your room? Oh, that roommate thing didn't work out? Well, check this out:

Hotels

Tripadvisor has current reviews of the 17 major downtown hotels and 3 B&Bs. If downtown Indianapolis were a clockface, the Convention Center would sit at its center. Nine to 11 is the Museum Campus.  At 11 is Marriott Place. It consists of four hotel brands: The new JW Marriott was built for the Superbowl, and glows Colts Blue. It has a large lobby bar for meeting up as well as a sports bar. Connected to the JW by a second floor bridge is a Courtyard, Fairfield, and Springhill Suites.

The Marriott and Westin are at high noon. Embassy Suites, Hyatt Regency, and the Conrad Hotel are at one o'clock. The Conrad is on Memorial Circle, the center of the city, and there are only 4 Conrad Hotels in the US (26 worldwide). At three o'clock is the Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, and Omni Severin. The Omni is in the old train station, and you can sleep in an old train! At four Crowne Plaza at Union Station Hotel.

At six, directly south of the convention center, is Lucas Oil Stadium. Southwest of the Stadium at 7 is Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Suites, and Staybridge Suites. 

I have no idea if there are rooms available in an of these. Really. I'm not a travel agent. But ...

While these are all walking distance to the conference venue. On the rare occasions when we stay overnight in Indy, we have enjoyed the Indianapolis Marriott North, which has limited availability as I write this. The Marriott site recommends numerous properties to the northwest, north, and northeast of downtown, requiring a bus ride or drive downtown, in Carmel, Fishers, Castleton, or near the Airport. The bonus for staying near the airport? Take a free hotel airport shuttle to the terminal, then board public transportation headed downtown, the #8 buss, for $1.75.