Guests with Disabilities

Guests with Disabilities

 

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

Accessible parking will be available on Class Day and Commencement at the Soldiers Field Park Garage on the Harvard Business School Campus, located at 111 Western Avenue in Allston.  Please note that all parking is on first-come, first-served basis, and is in satellite parking areas. This parking will be available beginning at 6:30AM on Commencement Day. Guests with further questions on accessibility parking needs or accommodation please send an email to disabilityresources@harvard.edu to discuss.

SHUTTLE AND VAN SERVICE

Shuttle Service will pick up in the above mentioned parking locations on Class Day and Commencement. The routes then travel across campus every 10-15 minutes. The shuttles are accessible to guests using wheelchairs and other mobility devices. You can track shuttle service and get real time information on shuttle.harvard.edu. Guests with other shuttle questions can call 617-495-0400.

Van Service may also be available by request for transportation to areas not served by the shuttle. Please send an email to disabilityresources@harvard.edu with information on your request if you are interested in exploring Van Service for your visit.

Current Shuttle Map: Commencement Shuttle Service Map 

COMMENCEMENT ACCESSIBILITY MAP

Commencement Accessibility Map  This map includes general accessibility information, including the locations of the LED screens with captioning, accessible entry gates, ticketed accessible seating section, accessible toilet rooms, first aid stations, and the University Disability Resources Information table.

WHEELCHAIR RUNNERS

Alumni

University Disability Resources (UDR) will have staff at the gates to Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement. These staff will be providing wheelchair assistance (rides) from the gate to the guest’s seat in Tercentenary Theater, either to general seating or accessible seating. No reservation is needed for the wheelchair runner service.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

ASL is provided for the Commencement program at the ticketed accessible seating section in Tercentenary Theatre. Guests at Commencement needing ASL should exchange general seating tickets for accessible seating tickets. Please see the 2023 Accessible Seating Ticket information below on how to exchange. 

CAPTIONING

Open captions are provided on the video screens in Tercentenary Theatre. Please see the Commencement Accessibility Map for the locations of the screens.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING TICKETS

Accessible seating tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be distributed until all tickets are gone. In order to accommodate as many family members and friends with disabilities as possible in the reserved seating area, individuals with an accessible seating ticket will be permitted to have one companion accompany them into the accessible seating section. The companion must also have an accessible seating ticket. Harvard will make every effort to accommodate parents and guests without accessible seating tickets on Commencement Day, however accessible seating is limited and advanced planning is strongly encouraged.

Information on accessible seating tickets for Commencement 2023 are listed below by School.

HARVARD COLLEGE STUDENTS

Graduating seniors will be able to exchange a certain number of their general admission guest tickets for accessible seating tickets at Senior Desk in May. More details about Senior Desk (including location and timing) will be shared with seniors later this spring. One companion accessible seating ticket is available to each guest in the accessible section (as a replacement for a general admission ticket); however, when space is available, best efforts will be made to seat a limited number of additional guests (without accessible seating tickets) with the understanding that they may need to relocate if an accessible seating ticket holder needs the space.

For additional requests for accommodations, please email the University Disability Resources office at disabilityresources@harvard.edu or call 617-495-1859.

For more information on the Senior Desk - please visit: http://alumni.harvard.edu/college/undergraduates/graduation-information

GRADUATE and PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL STUDENTS

Graduate and Professional schools manage their ticket exchange locally. Please find below a listing of school Commencement websites.

BRAILLE PROGRAM

Please contact University Disability Resources at disabilityresources@harvard.edu 3 weeks (if possible) in advance of your arrival on campus in order to provide the necessary time to convert text to Braille.

WHEELCHAIR RENTAL

HARVARD COLLEGE: University Disability Resources has a limited quantity of wheelchairs which will be made available for courtesy loan to Harvard College undergraduates on a first come first served basis.  There is no cost for this loan. To request: please send an email to disabilityresources@harvard.edu. Pickup and drop off details will be provided upon confirmation. It should be noted, that our office does not have the staffing to provide pushers to accompany the wheelchairs. If you are looking for a longer term wheelchair loan (several days to a week), there are many local vendors also rent wheelchairs for a cost and they are listed below.

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS: Contact your school's Commencement Coordinator to see whether they may have courtesy wheelchair loans available. If not, please see the rental resource information below.

LOCAL RENTALS: There are a number of medical equipment rental companies in the local area. Wheelchairs, walkers and scooters may be rented from local vendors that provide short term loans for a cost. Family and friends needing such wheeled mobility aids are strongly encouraged to reserve necessary equipment well in advance of coming to campus.

1. Belmont Medical Supply
http://www.belmontmedical.com/
185 Belmont Street, Belmont, MA 02478
617-484-3888

2. Boston Orthopedic & Respiratory Equipment
http://www.bostonorthoresp.com/
175 Main Street, Charlestown, MA
617-337-5133 or (800) 854-6370

ACCESSIBLE LODGING

Most Boston-Metro hotels offer accessible lodging. Family and friends needing accessible lodging are strongly encouraged to reserve accessible hotel rooms as far in advance as possible.

CAMPUS ACCESSIBILITY MAP

To find useful information regarding accessible pathways and building entrances in a variety of areas, please visit the Harvard University Campus Map. This is an interactive map and offers various features such as:

  • Search Bar – (top of the page) – may be used to search building names or partial names.
  • Layers – (right side) – various layers can be selected to show a variety of information about Harvard.
  • Zoom – the map can be zoomed and dragged to view different areas of campus.

Questions? Email Harvard University Disability Services at disabilityresources@harvard.edu.