Annual Conference Safety Information & Policies
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NAEYC EVENT CODE OF CONDUCT
NAEYC is committed to providing a professional, collegial, supportive, respectful, friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all participants and NAEYC staff regardless of a person’s race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, age, religion, disability status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical appearance, or other characteristic (“personal characteristics”) and any other legally protected classes.
Participants are limited to people 18 years and older. All participants, including, but not limited to attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, NAEYC staff, service providers and others are expected to comply with this Event Code of Conduct. NAEYC expects participants and speakers to uphold the professional and educational purposes of NAEYC and its events by respecting the rights, privacy, safety, and dignity of everyone.
Expected behavior:
- All participants are treated with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions
- Strive for inclusive, transparent, and open communication
- Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative in speaking and listening
- Do not appropriate knowledge shared during this meeting or future collaborations
- Acknowledge the contributions of others
- Respect the rules and policies of the Event
- Comply with the safety protocols prescribed by NAEYC and venues including protocols in place for COVID-19
- Respect all participants’ personal choices with respect to wearing a mask even if others do not wear one
- Participants will not bring any children under the age of 18 into the Event including the exhibit hall and session areas.
- To promote a safe community space of open conversation, attendees must refrain from photography, audio, and video recording in session rooms.
- Obtain speaker consent before posting session content online or on social media
- Support and respect the diverse identities and experiences of all participants
- Actively contributes to creating an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and safe
Unacceptable behavior:
Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated during any portion the Event. Unacceptable behavior includes but is not limited to:
- Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning speech or actions.
- Individual attacks on others
- Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability or other personal characteristics, including those protected by law
- Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm
- Inappropriate or repeated disruption of meetings or events
- Deliberate intimidation of others
- Presentations, postings, and messages that contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. NAEYC reserves the right to remove such messages and potentially ban sources of those solicitations
- Hate speech of any kind, including language that demeans, excludes, or threatens individuals or groups based on their identity
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events, particularly when related to the expression of diverse viewpoints
Reporting harassment to NAEYC:
Report harassment and disruptive behaviors to NAEYC staff at [email protected].
For immediate assistance during the event, please visit the NAEYC Headquarters office, which will be clearly marked with signage throughout the venue and will always have a designated staff person available to address safety concerns.
Violation of this Policy, as determined by NAEYC in its sole discretion, is grounds for any action that NAEYC deems appropriate, including but not limited to warning the offender, denying the offender access to an NAEYC Event and restrictions from future NAEYC meetings and events. NAEYC takes all reports of the Code of Conduct violations seriously and will promptly investigate any complaints received. NAEYC reserves the right to take whatever action it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, with respect to the investigation of any matters related to this Policy.
NAEYC affirms that creating a safe, inclusive environment is a shared responsibility. We are committed to taking proactive measures to ensure all participants, particularly those from marginalized communities, feel welcomed, respected, and protected throughout our events.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, WAIVER AND RELEASE as of July 1, 2025
NAEYC is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy environment for all of our Conference’s (the “Event”) attendees, presenters, exhibitors and staff (“Participants”), and working towards those goals with the Conference venues.
Certain safety/health considerations for attendance, together with all applicable laws, must be followed by in order to reduce the risks of exposure to highly contagious diseases. However, NAEYC cannot guarantee that Participants will not be exposed in public settings. NAEYC will continue to monitor and update safety precautions for the Event and coordinate with trusted national resources, state and local public health agencies, and venues. NAEYC reserves the right to modify these safety/health policies and at any time.
As a condition of my attendance as a Participant at the Event, I certify and agree that:
- I have not experienced (and will monitor the same) of any symptoms associated with highly contagious diseases currently or within the past five (5) days of the Event. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, and rash among others; and
- I have not been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of a highly contagious disease
- I will follow all instructions and safety precautions provided by NAEYC, venues, and any governing authorities during my attendance at the Event including the guidelines listed above. I understand and agree that my failure to do so may result in my being excluded from the Event without refund, reimbursement, or other remuneration.
- I understand that NAEYC’s Code of Conduct precludes children under the age of 18 from entering the Event space including the exhibit hall and session areas. I assume all risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense of any kind that may arise from allowing any child under the age of 18 in the Event space including the exhibit hall and session areas. I hereby waive, release, covenant not to sue, and hold harmless NAEYC, its affiliates, and their respective employees, agents, contractors, and representatives from any claims, liabilities, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto.
- I assume all risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury (including but not limited to, personal injury, disability and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense of any kind that I may experience in connection with attending, and I hereby forever waive, release, covenant not to sure, and hold harmless NAEYC, its affiliates, and their respective employees, agents, contractors and representatives from any claims, liabilities, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating there. By participating in the Event, to the fullest extent permissible by law, I am deemed to have given a full release of liability as described herein.
GENERAL CONSENT AND RELEASE FOR USE OF YOUR IMAGE
By registering, you agree and consent to the following terms which shall be deemed a General Consent and Release for Use of Your Image by you in order for, NAEYC, or anyone authorized by NAEYC, to record and use, as NAEYC may desire in its sole and absolute discretion, all recording and reproductions or depictions of such exhibitor’s, or attendee’s name, likeness, voice, persona, words, actions, and/ or biography, which NAEYC may make, including without limitation the right for NAEYC, or anyone authorized by NAEYC, to use such recordings, reproductions, or depictions in or in connection with any legitimate purposes, including for advertising, publicity, trade, and editorial purposes, at any time in the future in all media now known or hereafter developed, throughout the world.
NAEYC photographers, videographers, and conference staff greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.