Commencement Information for Disability Accommodation

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Reasonable accommodations will be made for graduating students and/or guests with disabilities upon advance request. Assistive listening devices can be provided and special seating for wheelchair users and/or persons with low vision are available based on site seating arrangements. The commencement is normally interpreted for the deaf.

A limited amount of accessible parking spaces will be made available in the Parking Lot. The pre-marked accessible parking is indicated by signage and the International Symbol of Access. Additional parking allocated for the commencement event will be coned off, with security personnel supervising the entrance and exit of the designated additional parking area. All vehicles parking in pre-marked accessible parking stalls will need to have proper state licenses and handicapped permits. Parking in the coned area is on a first-come, first-served basis.

If special arrangement, need for accessible parking, or disability related services are required, please contact the Disability Services Office (DS) at (808) 933-0816 (Voice), (808) 933-3334 (TTY), uds@hawaii.edu (email). Advance notice is requested for any arrangement or service request. Upon notification, the DS Office will contact the requestor via phone, mail or preferred contact method for confirmation of request.

The DS Office will inquire of the specific disability, or related information, to ensure that the appropriate accommodation will be provided. Once the information is obtained from the DS Office, the requestor may assume that this information is on record and that future contact in the form of a notification letter will be sent to the requestor around mid April (for Spring Commencement), or mid November (for Fall Commencement). Please contact the DS Office to make arrangements for earlier notification, or to have the notification letter sent to another party, other than the student making the request.

The notification letter will contain a map of the graduation facility that includes areas for early entry of commencement site, wheelchair seating and accessible rest room facilities, an early entrance pass, and/or a parking pass for the handicapped parking area. The person with the disability will need to have the early entrance pass to enter the commencement site prior to the designated time for general public entry. General entrance for the public generally begins at least 30 minutes prior to the graduation ceremony; however, it is advisable that persons with disabilities begin queuing 45 to 60 minutes prior to entrance for favorable and pre-assigned seating. Once the general public begins entering, wheelchair seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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