A conference can adjust a great deal, and almost none of it can be arranged on the morning it is needed. Room allocation, seating, timing and printing are all decided in advance.
Ask before the conference. The earlier the request, the more can be done about it.
In MEDIMUN, a school applies on behalf of its delegates, so a delegate raises a request through their school director in the first instance. See School directors at the conference.
TODO FACT: Who at MEDIMUN handles accessibility requests, and is there a form or a named contact address?
TODO FACT: Is there a question about access requirements on the delegation application or the delegate assignment?
Anything that changes how you take part. Some examples.
You need a particular kind of seat, or a seat in a particular place.
You use a wheelchair, crutches, or need step free access.
You have a hearing or visual impairment.
You need written material in a larger size or in advance.
You have a medical condition that may need attention during the day.
You need to take breaks at particular times, or need somewhere quiet to go.
You need to take medication during the conference day.
You do not have to explain more than you want to. What matters is the adjustment you need, not the reason behind it.
Telling the conference something about your health is not the same as announcing it to your committee. Say who you are happy for it to be shared with when you make the request.
TODO FACT: Who is told about a delegate's access requirement, and are chairs told the requirement, the reason, or neither?
Seating in a particular part of the room.
A room reachable without stairs.
Text sent to you before the session so you can read it in your own time.
Permission to leave the room when you need to, agreed with your chairs in advance.
Somewhere quiet to go during a break.
TODO FACT: Which of these can MEDIMUN commit to, and is there a published list of what the venue can provide?
Most of what a delegate has to read exists in writing before the debate, which means it can be read at your own pace.
Research reports are published to delegates before the conference. See Reading a research report.
Resolutions are written and stored in MediBook, so the text can be read on your own device at whatever size suits you.
The chair sets a reading time before debate on a resolution. See Reading time.
In MEDIMUN, everything a committee is working on is in MediBook, on your own device. See What is MediBook.
Speaking in front of a large room is hard for many delegates, and harder for some. It is not the only way to take part well.
You can write and submit amendments without speaking. See Writing and moving an amendment.
You can do the work in lobbying, where the room is small and nobody is watching. See The lobbying process.
You can ask a chair, before the session, for a warning before you are called.
If you are unsure whether to tell your chairs that you find speaking difficult, tell them. A chair who knows will give you a moment before recognising you. A chair who does not know will assume you are ready.
If something is not working, say so on the day rather than at the end of it.
Tell a chair, a member of staff, or your school director.
If it is urgent or you feel unwell, see Emergencies and incidents.
If an agreed adjustment is not in place. Tell a member of staff at the register. Do not wait until the committee has started. It is far easier to fix before the room fills.
A roll call is taken at the start of every day and again after breaks. Tell your chairs in advance if you need to be out of the room at a set time. Your absence is then expected rather than reported. See Roll call.
A school director knows their delegates and the conference does not. Pass on what the conference needs to know when you assign your delegates, not when you arrive. See Managing your delegation.