Guests with Disabilities
Harvard offers a range of accessibility services, including braille programs, wheelchair rentals, van services and accessible ticketing options.
Parking & Van Services
Accessible Parking
Accessible parking will be available on College Class Day and Commencement at the Soldiers Field Park Garage on the Harvard Business School Campus, located at 111 Western Avenue in Allston.
Shuttle and Van Service
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.
Accessible 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.
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.
Graduate and Professional School Students
Graduate and Professional schools manage their ticket exchange locally.
Wheelchairs
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. 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.
Day-of Services
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.
Captioning
Open captions are provided on the video screens in Tercentenary Theatre. Closed captions are available on the live web stream.
ASL
American Sign Language interpretation 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.
ALD
Assisted Listening Devices are available in Harvard Yard for College Class Day and Commencement. Please visit the University Disability Resource Group tent, between Weld and Boylston Hall to collect an ALD.
Wheelchair Assistance
We 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.