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Getting Real 2024. April 15-18. Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Banner.

Accessibility Information

At Getting Real, we believe accessibility is critical. Our team is working to ensure that all participants are able to access our events and programming. Our staff and volunteers are undergoing accessibility training and our accessibility coordinator, Emily Voorde, is available to assist our patrons with navigating the program online and in person. If you would like to request additional accessibility services for the conference, including assistance registering by phone, please email conference@documentary.org.  

A phone number will be made available to assist guests needing online and on-site assistance throughout the duration of the event. Please view our accessibility plan below. If you’d like to request additional access support for the event, please let us know by Friday, March 29, 2024. We will make every effort to fulfill requests after this date. 

We welcome and encourage all feedback and suggestions in our efforts to provide an environment where everyone can participate in the way that works best for them. Please check this page again as we get closer to the event as we will update accessibility notes as plans unfold.

Service Animals: Guests with disabilities and their trained service animals are welcome at all Getting Real events. While we will reserve seats for guests with a range of disabilities, staff and volunteers can assist anyone in finding the best seat for them with space for their animal to sit comfortably.

Access Support & Personal Care Attendants: Disabled guests whose access includes bringing an access support person or personal care attendant can do so at no additional charge. In order to register you and your support, please email conference@documentary.org.

COVID-19: While Getting Real ’24 will not require testing nor masking, attendees are encouraged to do so. 

Casual Dress Code Policy: Comfortable, practical clothing is welcome!

No/Low Scent Policy: We ask all guests who are joining us in person to arrive using no to low scented products. This means refraining from using perfumes, lotions, detergents, oils, and hair products with strong fragrances. We will supply scent-free soap pumps in each restroom and ask visitors to wash strong scents off as best as they can if they do attend having used any strongly scented products. Strong scents can trigger people with severe allergies, asthma, migraines, and people going through chemotherapy. Exposure can result in dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, irritation, and additional harmful reactions for people who are sensitive. 

No Strobe Lights: We ask that speakers and attendees refrain from using strobe lights during Getting Real ‘24.

Speaker, Staff, and Volunteer Training: We have shared a list of best practices in accessible event design, facilitation, and disability etiquette with Getting Real speakers, staff, and volunteers. Our staff will be available to take and incorporate additional feedback we receive during the event as new access learnings or adjustments need to be made.

About the Online Experience 

This year we will be using Eventive as our conference platform. For certain online events tagged as “RSVP-only,” you must select “RSVP” for the event to reserve a spot. All other events marked “Livestreamed” will be available to view the live stream on the Eventive platform during the event and for asynchronous viewing for 30 days after April 18.  

ASL & CART Captioning (Online & In-Person)

We will have American Sign Language (ASL) and CART captioning at all session produced by the Getting Real staff. They will also be available during select breakout sessions. To request ASL and CART in additional breakout sessions, email conference@documentary.org. For any requests made after Friday, March 29th, we will do our best to fulfill but will not be able to guarantee based on staffing capabilities.

During the in-person events, the ASL interpreters will be well-lit on stage near presenters and seating will be reserved close to the interpreter. CART captioning will also be displayed on the screen.

Venue Information - Little Tokyo

Getting Real ’24 will occur across 3 venues in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles: 

  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown: 120 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
  • The Japanese American National Museum: 100 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
  • The Japanese Cultural and Community Center: 244 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012


These venues are all located within a ¾-mile radius of one another and are accessible via level sidewalks.

Getting to Little Tokyo

Transit: All three venues are accessible via the Little Tokyo / Arts District Metro stop off of the A line and the E line. The Little Tokyo / Arts District stop is accessible via elevator. While infrequent, Metro elevator outages and servicing can be monitored online. 

Drop Off Areas and Stair-Free Entrances: 

  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown: The Doubletree has a covered-semi-circular driveway off of S Los Angeles St which can be used for private vehicle, taxi, and taxi drop-offs. The driveway opens onto the main lobby of the hotel through a stair-free entrance.
  • The Japanese American National Museum: Curbside drop-off should occur at the corners of N. Central Avenue and 1st St. and N. Central Ave serves as a pedestrian thoroughfare. Stair-free, paved access is available via JANM’s main entrance which is located off of N. Central Avenue. 
  • The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center: Curbside drop-off should occur at the corner of E 3rd St and San Pedro St. Stair-free access is available immediately off of San Pedro St via a brick-paved plaza. The brick work is level and well-maintained. 


Sidewalks: Attendees are encouraged to travel by foot between venues. Sidewalks in Little Tokyo are level, crosswalks are well-marked and managed with pedestrian lights, and curb cuts exist at each intersection.

Accessible Parking: Metered parking is available throughout Little Tokyo is free of charge after 8 pm. Additional covered and uncovered parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout Little Tokyo, including at the DoubleTree. Valet parking is available at the DoubleTree for an additional cost. 

About the Space

Venues: All of the spaces being used across the three venues for Getting Real ‘24 are accessible via stair-free access. Elevators at the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Japanese American National Museum will be available for guest use and are independently operable without staff assistance. 

Theaters: Two theaters will be used during Getting Real ‘24 - the Aratani Theater at the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center and the Democracy Forum at the Japanese American National Museum. Wheelchair accessible seating is available at both venues. 

At the Aratani Theatre, wheelchair accessible seating can be found at the front of the house. At the Democracy Forum, wheelchair accessible seating can be found at the front and at the back of the house. Given the Democracy Forum’s stadium-seating design, accessible seating at the back of the house can be accessed by taking the elevator to the second floor. 

Volunteers will be on hand to assist guests to find appropriate seating that meets their accommodation needs. 

Flooring: The majority of the spaces’ floors are low pile carpet or concrete. The Isamu Noguchi Plaza at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center is level, well-maintained brick.

Quiet Room: A low-sensory quiet room will be made available during Tuesday and Wednesday in the DoubleTree by Hilton. Additional information about the location of the room can be found during check-in or by asking a volunteer or staff member on-site.

Restrooms: Accessible, gender neutral restrooms are available in all three event spaces. At the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and at the Japanese American National Museum, central restroom doors will be propped open to ensure access. 

Food & Beverage: Food and beverage provided throughout the event will be available on waist-height tables. If you need additional assistance accessing or transporting food and drink during the conference, please locate a volunteer or email conference@documentary.org. 

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available during the Opening Night Reception. 

Isamu Noguchi Plaza: The Isamu Noguchi Plaza at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will be used for Monday night’s Opening Reception. The brick plaza is level and well-maintained. 

Volunteers: Volunteers will be available across all three venues to assist should you need assistance with directions, accessibility, or anything else. 

Inclusion Resources Created by FWD-Doc

FWD Doc Film Event Accessibility Score Card - attendees can use the survey to audit events and assist collect access-data as requested by the organizers. Event planners can use it as a baseline to organize access.   

FWD Doc Engagement Packet (in association with the BFI Doc Society fund) - This downloadable PDF contains resources aimed at filmmakers, commissioners, funders, buyers, decision-makers, business affairs and exhibitors, and includes templates for use across the industry. Pages 04-31 highlight concepts like Ableism, models of disability and inclusion, and intersectionality. Pages 32-73 highlight resources and tips for the industry including how to collaborate with the disability community and access tips for creating deliverables and producing film festivals 

FWD Doc Changing the Narrative of Disability in Documentary Film: A Toolkit for Inclusion & Accessibility (in association with Doc Society & Netflix) 

Best Practices to Create Access as an Attendee

  • State your name before you speak (“This is *name*...”). This allows attendees, interpreters, and captioners let people know who is communicating.
  • Speak at a comfortable pace, and not too fast. Session moderators will let you know if you need to adjust how you communicate to best support interpreters, captioners, and other attendees
  • Avoid ableist and additional oppressive, outdated language. Recognize that some terms ingrained in main-stream spaces (ex: cr*zy, l*me, ins*ne) are very harmful. Visit Self-Defined, for a holistic list of terms to understand harmful implications and to work on removing them from your daily life. Also avoid euphemisms when discussing disability.  

Additional Online Access Considerations:

  • Introduce yourself with your name, pronouns, and a brief visual description (if you have your camera turned on). 
  • Recognize that creating accessibility is an active, collective, and dynamic process. People’s access needs vary from person to person and day to day. Help us strive to create an environment where we all feel responsible to respond and adapt to people’s changing needs.
  • Please be patient when technology issues arise. Many people, including conference staff and volunteers, will be using this technology for the first time. We will communicate who to contact if you need assistance using Eventive as we get closer to the event.