Accessibility

The university does not have wheelchairs to loan. We urge guests with limited stamina or reduced mobility to bring a wheelchair to campus. Wheelchairs make it easier to cover distances from parking to the University Commencement, diploma ceremonies, and other events.

An interactive Yale campus map includes information about accessibility in Yale buildings. Click on the map or use the search navigation bar to find information about a building or area on campus. After selecting a building or area, choose the drop-down tab labeled “Accessibility” for details.

Wheelchair-accessible vans and other transit vehicles are on-call 24 hours a day on Commencement Weekend. To schedule a pick-up, call 203-281-5470, prompt 1. Please call at least 30 minutes prior to your desired pick-up time. Let the dispatcher know if you need an accessible van for a wheelchair or can be accommodated by a sedan or SUV.

Although shuttles are available to take Commencement guests to some diploma ceremonies, the streets surrounding Old Campus will be extremely congested. Guests of colleges and schools that are far from Old Campus may find it useful to bring a wheelchair for family members who have difficulty walking long distances.

Some professional schools reserve buses to take their Commencement guests to diploma ceremonies. They will communicate this information directly to their students. These buses will be parked on College Street, facing north.

There are designated accessibility drop-off areas for Sunday’s Baccalaureate and Class Day and Monday’s Commencement. Drop-off for guests with limited mobility can be made at the intersection of Elm and High streets and High and Chapel streets, which are closest to the reserved accessible seating area.  No special sticker is needed for drop-off, and ushers are available to assist.

Please note that street parking is extremely limited near the accessibility drop-off areas.

For Commencement Day, drop-off should be no later than 9:00 a.m. Streets surrounding Old Campus will be closed shortly after 9:00 in preparation for the academic procession, which begins promptly at 10 a.m.

Please budget 30 minutes to drop off guests, park your car, and return to Old Campus. You can access paid parking downtown in the York Street or Temple Street public parking garages. On-street parking during Commencement weekend is scarce and usually limited to two hours or less.

Old Campus is a mostly level, grassy area with accessible entrances on College, High, and Chapel streets. Guests requiring accessible seating and those who may need extra assistance, along with their accompanying family members, are invited to use a specially marked gate on High Street at Elm Street, near the Yale Post Office, to enter Old Campus. Registration is required to sit in the accessible seating area. 

Assistive listening devices are available for guests who are attending ceremonies on Old Campus. Attendees can request an assistive listening device from a volunteer in the accessible seating area.