Comic-Con Deaf and Disabled Services

The largest panels (Hall H, Ballroom 20, Room 6BCF, Room 6DE, Room 6A, Indigo Ballroom, and the Masquerade) will already have ASL interpreters scheduled.

For a smaller panel, an interpreter may be requested at the Deaf Services desk in Lobby A. As always, the scheduler will try to accommodate all requests.

Deaf seating areas are available in the larger Program rooms and have YELLOW-back chairs. These seating sections are reserved for deaf attendees only. A Deaf Services sticker is required to sit in these sections. Stickers are available at the Deaf Services desk in Lobby A.

At the Deaf Services desk, you can also request a volunteer interpreter for a variety of other ASL needs (for up to three hours). Some examples are: interpreting for gaming or autographs, helping find a line, assisting in the Exhibit Hall, or at other Comic-Con-sponsored events.

If you are a daily volunteer and would like a volunteer interpreter to accompany you on your assignment, you can request one at the Deaf Services desk.

We will do our best to accommodate your interpreter needs, but occasionally, due to limitations beyond our control, we may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Comic-Con is not a cable operator, television broadcaster, satellite distributor, or multi-channel programming distributor, and therefore is not required to caption.

While Comic-Con presents the programming, it is each individual company that produces its respective program. Because the program is created by them, Comic-Con has no say in how those companies want their panel to be presented. While we welcome video content during panels to include captioning on a voluntary basis, that content is not required to be captioned by law.

Mobility Source is located in Lobby A.

A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan, for up to three hours on a first-come, first-served basis. ID and a credit/debit card for the deposit are required.

A limited number of rental scooters are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rental requires ID and a credit/debit card for the deposit (fee TBD).

If you would like to reserve a rental scooter in advance, contact Mobility Source at (619) 234-9505 by July 8.

If you have an issue with your rental scooter or loaned wheelchair on-site, call Mobility Source at (619) 234-9505.

If you choose to transition from your cane, crutches, walker, or wheelchair to a scooter/wheelchair, we can store your device, however, we do not have storage facilities or charging stations for your powered mobility devices.

Traditional Mobility Devices

Per ADA compliance, those with accessibility needs will be accommodated. Attendees with mobility issues are welcome to bring devices designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility-related disabilities.

All mobility devices must be operated safely, at the walking speed of those around you (4 mph or slower). VIOLATION OF THIS RULE COULD RESULT IN BEING REMOVED FROM THE EVENT AND HAVING YOUR BADGE REVOKED.

Non-Traditional Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices

Due to legitimate safety concerns based on the high volume of slow-moving pedestrian traffic inside the convention center, all mobility devices must have three wheels or more to ensure stability. This requirement is for your safety as well as the safety of others. 
 
Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) with two or fewer wheels, including two-wheeled scooters, Segways, bicycles, electric motorcycles, and “hoverboards,” are not allowed in any public areas of the convention center, including the lobby. No fuel-powered devices are allowed. 
 
If you wish to bring a non-traditional OPDMD inside the convention center, you are strongly urged to contact Disabled Services in advance at cci-info@comic-con.org. Please include the following information:

1. Type of OPDMD (including the manufacturer and model)
2. Dimensions of your OPDMD (should not exceed 32” wide x 52” long x 84” high, including rider) 
3. Weight of your OPDMD (should not exceed 450 lbs.)
4. Turning radius of your OPDMD (should not exceed 5‘)
5. The maximum speed of your OPDMD (and does it have an indoor setting to limit the speed to 4 mph and slower?)

Please allow three weeks for Disabled Services to reply to your email.

When bringing an OPDMD to the convention center, you must first take your device to Disabled Services in Lobby A so they may assess your device in person. They will verify the above requirements, and you will be asked to provide credible assurance* that the mobility device is required because of a disability.

If your OPDMD is allowed, it will be tagged as APPROVED by Disabled Services.
If your device is not allowed, we cannot store it for you, and you must remove it from the property.

Comic-Con reserves the right to restrict OPDMD use when, in our opinion, such limitation is required to protect all convention goers’ public health, safety, and welfare. The OPDMD shall not be operated in an unsafe manner or cause damage to convention center property. The OPDMD operator assumes all risks of operating the OPDMD on convention center property. Comic-Con does not represent that convention center property is safe for OPDMD use and does not assume any liability for the operation of the OPDMD. Certain risks are inherent in the use of OPDMDs. No OPDMD may be stationary less than 20 feet from any entrance or exit. The only exception is if foot traffic is at a standstill. *Credible assurance means a Disability Placard or Card presented by the person to whom it was issued and is in compliance with the state of issuance’s requirements for disability placards or cards, or a verbal statement that does not contradict observation.

We offer ADA seating accommodations in three specific ways:

• Wheelchair seating is available at the end of some aisles, next to a RED-back chair that is reserved for the companion attendant. The rest of your party must wait in the general admission line. We will do our best to seat parties with children together, but this may increase your wait time in line.

• Deaf seating areas are available in the larger rooms and have YELLOW-back chairs. These seating sections are reserved for deaf attendees only and feature ASL interpreters. A Deaf Services sticker is required to sit in these sections. Stickers are available at the Deaf Services desk in Lobby A.

• Ambulatory Seating sections are available in all Program rooms. These seating sections are reserved only for people with limited mobility or those with a large service dog (service dog sticker required). Ambulatory seating sections have RED-back chairs.

Many disabilities do not require reserved ADA seating. Please do not sit in the above seating sections just because you have an ADA sticker. These sections are reserved only for the groups specified above.

All seating, including reserved ADA seating, is “as seats become available.” All event and Program rooms have limited capacity as set by the fire marshal. Even though your badge is needed to get into all events, it does not guarantee you access to any event if it has reached its capacity. We do not clear rooms between events. Disabled Seating volunteers will let you know when seats become available.

Some attendees with disabilities may need an attendant who supports and helps them with activities such as eating, using the bathroom, supervision, communication, or getting from place to place. An attendant is present only to assist the attendee.

IMPORTANT! All attendants are required to purchase a badge either in the badge sale or on-site (the ADA does not require free admission for attendants). Your attendant will need a Comic-Con Member ID.

For more information, please also see our Deaf and Disabled FAQ

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

The ADA requires that service dogs be under the control of the handler at all times and be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work, or the individual’s disability prevents them from using these devices. 

You may get a service dog sticker from the Disabled Services Desk in Lobby A

Comfort/Support Animals

The San Diego Convention Center does not allow comfort/support animals. Only trained service dogs, as defined by the ADA, are allowed to assist and accompany a disabled owner. San Diego Comic Convention and the San Diego Convention Center follow all state and federal ADA compliance laws and directions.

On the Exclusives Portal

To ensure everybody has equal access to exclusives and exclusive autograph signings, Comic-Con uses a randomized selection process through the online Exclusives Portal.

Watch the Toucan blog – the official blog of Comic-Con and WonderCon – and social media for announcements about the portal. When it goes live, log in to Comic-Con Member ID, and click the link under the Exclusives Portal in the main menu. Follow the instructions carefully. Once open, participants with an eligible badge may sign up for the opportunity to be selected for access to shop for exclusives from participating exhibitors or for a chance to take part in an exclusive signing.

• If you are randomly selected for an exclusive timeslot, you will be emailed a confirmation with a QR Code and further instructions on when and where to make your purchases.
• If you are randomly selected for an exclusive signing, you will be emailed a confirmation with a QR Code and further instructions on how and when to get your wristband for the signing that day.

Please note: Randomly distributing purchase-timeslot tickets eliminates the need to rush on-site. Participation is limited to the days you have a badge, and you will have a certain number of opportunities to enter for exclusives offered for each of those badged days. You can put all your requests into a single item, or spread them out. It’s up to you! 

Special ADA wheelchair access points are at the discretion of the exhibitor. The line itself must be ADA-compliant but not every exhibitor will have a separate ADA line.

Please refer to the Comic-Con website and the Toucan blog for more details.

For mobility-impaired attendees who reserved their hotel room through the onPeak/Comic-Con website reservation system and require special transportation, the ADA Hotel Shuttle operates between all official Comic-Con hotels and the convention center, by advanced reservation only, on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the capacity of the vehicles. Shuttles are designed to accommodate a wheelchair. Passengers are allowed only one companion.

You must make reservations in advance by calling the Seat Planners ADA Hotel Shuttle supervisor at (619) 510-6383 during shuttle hours, or visit the ADA Hotel Shuttle Information Desk located on the sidewalk outside the Lobby A doors, to arrange for an ADA Hotel Shuttle pick-up. When leaving a voicemail, please provide your name, phone number, hotel, a one-hour window for pick-up at the hotel, and a one-hour window for departure from the convention
center. Voicemail reservations are not valid unless confirmed by the Comic-Con shuttle dispatcher.

Sorry, this service is only available to those who registered their room through onPeak, from the Comic-Con website.

The ADA Hotel Shuttle will operate during the following times:
Wednesday 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Thursday 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Friday 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Saturday 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Sunday 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM

NOTE: The ending time is the last departure time from the San Diego Convention Center. The last shuttle departing the hotels going to the convention center will be approximately 30 minutes before the end time listed.

The ADA Shuttle will drop off and pick up near the Lobby A driveway, between the Marriott and the convention center. You’ll find Deaf and Disabled Services inside Lobby A.