The following information can help you plan your attendance at the Civil Rights Summit. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please reach out to us.
The Summit will take place all day on Friday, September 25th, and Saturday, September 26th, 2026. Check-in for Friday's panels will take place from 9:00 to 9:30 AM, with speakers beginning at 9:30. The last panel will close at 6:00 PM on Saturday.
How do I get to the Summit?
The address of the Vermont State University campus is 124 Admin Drive in Randolph Center, VT, 05061. To reach campus, take I-89 to Exit 4. On the exit ramp, look for the sign pointing you to Vermont State University, which will send you up the hill and away from the McDonald’s/Mobil Gas Station. Travel about a mile to the intersection, and see the campus directly ahead. You have the right of way to proceed straight onto campus.
A map of the campus is available under "Venue Map," or you can visit an interactive version here.
Where should I park?
Visitor parking and parking for attendees with disabilities will be clearly marked at the VSU campus in Randolph, and we will have volunteers on site to direct you. The best parking for the Summit will be in Lot D. There will be overflow spaces in Lot C, and there are parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities in front of Judd Hall and the Administrative Center.
Parking is prohibited on campus roads, grassed areas or sidewalks; within six feet of any fire hydrant; fire lanes or fire exits; all loading or delivery areas; all curbs or areas marked with yellow paint; all parking spaces designated for specific persons or vehicles; all building entrances; or all “No Parking” areas designated by temporary or permanent signs or barriers. Any area that is not specifically designated as a parking area, either by signage or by parking stalls painted on the pavement, should be understood as a no-parking area.
Will meals be provided?
A light breakfast will be served both days, as well as a lunch catered by the university. Friday evening we will gather for appetizers and drinks provided by Fox Market and The Alchemist for a chance to network, relax, and hear from three Vermont comedians.
Where can I buy food near the summit?
There are a number of restaurants in Randolph and surrounding towns, including Saap, Oak and Iron, The Forge, and (a little further afield but worth the trip), Babe's Bar.
Where can I stay?
We have a block of discount rooms reserved at the nearby MyPlace Hotel in Randolph, right down the road from the Summit. These rooms will be held for $119 a night, and you can reserve them here. They will only be held though August 25, so be sure to reserve one quickly!
Is the Summit location accessible?
Yes. All areas of the campus used for the Summit (parking areas, Judd Hall, Conant Hall, and the Campus Center) are fully accessible, including both of the rooms where panels will take place. Judd Hall is down a short flight of stairs, but is equipped with an elevator. All classrooms and the auditorium in Conant Hall are fully accessible. The Campus Center is an 8-10 minute walk, on concrete sidewalks, from the buildings where panels will be held. Volunteers will be available to direct you and offer assistance if needed.
Can my assistance animal come with me to the Summit?
Service animals are welcome at the Summit. As stated in the HRC Rules, no owner or operator of a place of public accommodation shall refuse to permit a service animal in a place of public accommodation. Assistance animals other than dogs (or miniature horses which meet certain criteria) do not qualify as service animals under the Vermont Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act and may be excluded from a public accommodation.
Can I chestfeed, breastfeed, or pump at the Summit?
Of course. If you're looking for a quiet space, there is a lactation room in the Administration building, which will be open all weekend. You are welcome to use any spaces for this purpose.
Will ASL interpretation be provided?
If you would like ASL interpretation (either for in-person or remote attendance), please indicate that in your registration form, and we will work with interpreters to provide it!
Will any other language interpretation be provided?
If you require interpretation, please reach out to us and we will do our best to accommodate.
As autumn sets in, we know that COVID rates will continue to rise. The impacts of the ongoing COVID pandemic on disabled Vermonters, including those who now live with long COVID, are significant, as are the effects on people with chronic illnesses and people who are immunocompromised. The effects of COVID and long COVID, the breadth of which our public health community is still working to understand, fall disproportionately on communities already facing inequitable public health access.
We encourage attendees to test before the event, especially if you are experiencing sniffles, coughs, throat tickles, congestion, stuffiness, swollen glands, or any other symptom that can be associated with COVID or flu. We will provide masks at the event.
For resources on the intersections between COVID and disability rights, see here.
Is there wifi on campus?
Yes. You may use the network VSC-Guest, which is not password-protected.
How do I attend the conference virtually?
Once you register for the conference, you may download the free Sched app for all conference details. If you prefer not to download an app, you may simply access Sched via this website. Please note that remote panels will be hosted on Zoom, so if you do not have Zoom installed on your device, please do that as well.
Almost every panel will have a hybrid element, meaning some people will be in the physical space and others will be attending via Zoom. The Zoom link for each panel will be listed in the panel information on Sched fifteen minutes prior to the start of the panel. That link will take you out of Sched and into Zoom, where you will be able to participate in the conference. We will have a volunteer monitoring the Zoom chat during each panel to ensure that questions are heard.
I need to duck out for a phone call during the Summit. Where should I go?
The Campus Center will be open all weekend, as well as the Hartnett Library.
Do you provide child care?
We are sad to say that child care is beyond our capacity for this event. Many of the Summit organizers are parents of small children and understand the importance of making weekend events accessible for parents and caregivers, and are sorry that we haven't been able to meet this need. This year's conference will take place only on Friday and Saturday to make sure that we all have a weekend day to recover and spend time with loved ones during peak foliage!
Is there a cost to any of this?
No! Opening this discussion to the general public without cost is important to us. We are grateful to partner organizations who are helping us stretch our budget to host this conference, and hope to expand it in future years.
Emergencies and Urgent Care (open 24 hours):
Gifford Medical Center, 44 South Main St., Randolph VT 05060.
Phone: (802) 728-7000
