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Comic-Con Deaf and Disabled Services

Updated information will be added, and some information may change
as the convention approaches, so please check back often.
Comic-Con International is dedicated to serving all our attendees. The Deaf and Disabled Services Department was established to offer assistance to visitors with special needs, including:

  • Badge pick-up service (including child badges) for those with mobility issues
  • ADA stickers and Service Dog stickers
  • Certified ASL interpreters at large panels and the Masquerade
  • A limited number of volunteer interpreters available for individual assistance
  • A limited number of wheelchairs for loan in up to three-hour increments on a first-come, first-served basis
  • A limited number of rental scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis 
  • Special limited seating for some programming, events, and the Masquerade
  • A rest area for the disabled, the elderly, expectant mothers, and parents with small children
  • Comfort Rooms that can be used for nursing infants, administering medication, or as a sensory shroud for attendees with special needs
  • Those with mobility issues can request a runner to pick up ticketed giveaways from Program Premiums for you (at the Hyatt Hotel).

Important Things to Know:

  • The elevators in Lobbies B, E, and H provide access to the Upper Level
  • The elevator in the lower bayside lobby at the rear of Hall B2 provides access to the Mezzanine, the Mezzanine Terrace, the Pavilion Terrace, and the Upper Level

Who to Ask, and Where to Look

  • For Deaf or Disabled Services information, check our FAQ
  • For Deaf or Disabled Seating information, look for someone wearing a Comic-Con–branded light blue vest in the lobbies outside the larger Program rooms.
  • For Line information, ask someone with a Comic-Con–branded lime-green polo shirt, but be aware that some line locations are not announced in advance.
  • For autograph information, ask at the Autographs booth.
If you are an attendee with disabilities, Comic-Con wants to make your experience as fun and as entertaining as possible, but there are a few limitations on what can be provided. For example:

  • Deaf and Disabled Services cannot guarantee any seating, autographs, exclusives, or giveaways. While Comic-Con meets or exceeds all ADA seating requirements, 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.
  • Program rooms fill up quickly, and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reserved seats. ADA seating may not be available if you wait until the last minute to get to the room. Please check the schedule and plan your day accordingly, keeping in mind the popularity of most events.
  • Be aware that a portion of the Hall H line is outside and may subject you to many long hours in the sun.
  • Most autograph signings are of a limited nature. It is a good idea to make arrangements to have someone within your group save a spot for you in line.
  • There will always be information that Comic-Con is not told about in advance, such as special guests in panels or at exhibitor booths.
  • We are unable to refrigerate medicines or any other perishables. 

Read the Comic-Con Policies page here:
https://www.comic-con.org/cc/plan-your-visit/convention-policies/

More Information!

What Do I Do if I Need a Wheelchair or Scooter?

  • 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 will be required (fee TBD).
  • A limited number of rental scooters are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rental requires ID and a credit/debit card.
  • If you choose to transition from your 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.
  • Updated information will be added, and some information may change as the convention approaches, so please check back often.

Mobility Devices and OPDMDs

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.

If you would like the use of a free wheelchair or prefer to rent a scooter, please see “What Do I Do if I Need a Wheelchair or Scooter?” above.

Note: We do not have charging stations or storage facilities for powered mobility devices.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. 

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 feet)
  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. 

ADA Attendants

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).

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

How Do I Request an ASL Interpreter?

Requesting an ASL Interpreter for Panels

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. As always, the scheduler will try to accommodate all requests.

Requesting an ASL Volunteer Interpreter for Other Needs

Also at the Deaf Services desk, you can request a volunteer interpreter to assist you with a variety of other needs, for up to three hours. Some examples are interpreting for gaming, autographs, helping find a line, or assisting in the Exhibit Hall or other official Comic-Con areas. 

If you are a daily volunteer or department volunteer and would like a volunteer interpreter to accompany you on your assignment, you may 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.

Captioning

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.

(Please see above: How Do I Request an Interpreter?)

Exclusives and Exclusive Autograph Signings

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 and social media for announcements about the portal. 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.

Updated information will be added, and some information may change as the convention approaches, so please check back often.

Limited Autograph Signings

During the show, the Autograph Area has to limit some signings due to popularity or time constraints. Wristbands are distributed through random drawings scheduled to begin each morning after the doors to the Exhibit Hall open. Each of the signings is listed on the Autograph Area’s online Limited Signings schedule. 

For more information, please ask at the Autograph Area Information desk or refer to the Comic-Con website and the Toucan Blog.

Updated information will be added, and some information may change as the convention approaches, so please check back often

How Do I Schedule an ADA Hotel Shuttle to Pick Me Up?
The ADA Hotel Shuttle

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.

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

Updated information will be added, and some information may change as the convention approaches, so please check back often

Service Dogs

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 animals 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.

Comfort/Support Animals

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 San Diego Convention Center follow all State and Federal ADA compliance laws and directions.

The Deaf and Disabled Services team is here to help.
By working together, we can make the convention experience enjoyable for everyone.

Be sure to read the Comic-Con Policies page here:
https://www.comic-con.org/cc/plan-your-visit/convention-policies/

For answers to many other questions about Deaf and Disabled Services please review our FAQ HERE.

For information not listed in the FAQ, please contact cci-info@comic-con.org or ask on-site
at Deaf and Disabled Services.