Deaf and Disabled — Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit https://comic-con.org/cci/covid-19-faq for our current Covid-19 policy.

You must bring your identification and confirmation to the Disabled Services desk in person. We can send one of our runners to pick up your badge while you sit in our waiting area.

No. He must be there in person and show identification.

We do not require documentation. We require honesty.

Disabled Services is located in Lobby A of the San Diego Convention Center and is scheduled to open at noon on Wednesday, and at 8:30 am on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Mornings are the busiest time at the Deaf and Disabled Services desk. A couple of hours after the exhibit floor opens, the wait time improves. The later in the day you come, the shorter the wait will be; however, you will miss more of the event.

Early in the morning before the lobby opens, the line to the left of the A door on the sidewalk outside Lobby A is for Deaf and Disabled Services. ADA stickers will be given out here before the Lobby doors open. For other services, please stay in line. After the Lobby opens, ADA stickers and all other services are available inside.

Yes, ADA stickers are available in Lobby A. You can also pick up your ADA badges in Lobby A on Tuesday, but no other Deaf and Disabled Services will be available until Wednesday.

Yes, you can get a sticker and seating for your attendant, but the rest of your party will have to wait in the general admission line. The ADA sticker does not guarantee access to programs.

Wheelchair Seating is on the ends of some aisles, located next to a RED back chair that is designated for the attendant. The rest of your party must wait in the general admission line. We will do our best for parties with children, but this may increase your wait time in line.

Deaf Seating There are ASL Interpreters in large rooms, and when available, Interpreters can be requested for smaller rooms. The ASL seats have YELLOW backs.

All seating, including 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.

Wheelchair Seating is on the ends of some aisles, located next to a RED back chair that is designated for the attendant. The rest of your party must wait in the general admission line. We will do our best for parties with children, but this may increase your wait time in line.

Deaf Seating There are ASL Interpreters in large rooms, and when available, Interpreters can be requested for smaller rooms. The ASL seats have YELLOW backs.

All seating, including 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.

No. The Convention Center does not allow emotional support or comfort animals. No pets are allowed.

You may be asked what specific task your service dog is trained to assist you with. Please read our Service Dog policy in Additional Information, above.

The Lobby A Disabled Services desk.

For additional information, please see “Service Animals” and “Comfort/Support Animals” HERE.

Sorry, we do not offer a free attendant badge.

Yes. You can purchase a badge for your attendant in the attendee badge sale. At the convention, take your attendant and the badge to the Disabled Services desk in Lobby A to register your attendant.

The Disabled Services booth will give your attendant a coupon to take to the Lobby A RFID booth, where you can purchase your Attendant badge. Once you have your badge, return to the Disabled Services booth for an Attendant Hang Tag.

An attendant supports and helps the attendee 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. Please see our Attendant Policy in the Additional Information section above.

For additional information, please see our “ADA Attendants” Attendant Policy HERE.

The same price as attendee badges.

Yes, if you enter through the Lobby A door, and go directly to the Disabled Services desk. Badges or badge confirmations are needed for all other doors.

Sorry, you must wait until Wednesday to register your attendant.

Since your attendant has a paid badge, your attendant can accompany you and share in all of your experiences.

You and your attendant should go to the Disabled Services desk in Lobby A. Explain the situation and they will be able to arrange for you to purchase a Saturday Attendant badge. Then return to the Disabled Services booth for an Attendant Hang Tag.

For additional information, please see “ADA Attendants” HERE.

Yes. You may request an ASL interpreter for other panel rooms at the Deaf Services desk in Lobby A.

Yes, you are eligible for an ADA sticker. In large panel rooms, the sound systems are loud enough that sitting closer to the stage is not necessarily louder. In smaller panel rooms, sitting closer to a speaker may be a better option.

While we welcome captioning, neither the FCC nor ADA requires it. Please see Additional Information, above)

For more information, please see Captioning, HERE.

Sorry, no. Our interpreters can only assist you in Comic-Con-related areas, such as the Convention Center, Comic-Con Museum, at Comic-Con activities in hotel event spaces, or at our Library programs.

Upon request, the staff at the Agency desk will do their best to provide you with interpreters during your panel. Make your request in advance.   

You may also ask if an interpreter is available for you to hire for additional services.

Contact: deafservices@comic-con.org

For additional information please see “How do I request an Interpreter?” HERE, or ask at the Deaf Services booth in Lobby A.

Early in the morning before the lobby opens, the line to the left of the A door on the sidewalk outside Lobby A is for Deaf and Disabled Services. If you already have your badge, ADA stickers will be available in line before the lobby opens. For all other needs, stay in line until the Lobby A doors open. After the doors open, stickers will be available inside.

Programming and registration areas have separate ADA accommodations. Exhibitors assess their own needs, so 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. If you do not see an ADA line, ask the staff if there is one. Do not start your own line.

This information is published as a tip on the Toucan Blog within two weeks before the convention. On-site, the information is available at the Disabled Services desk in Lobby A.

The first 1/3 to 1/2 of the Hall H ADA line is located inside the lobby of the Convention Center in carpeted and climate-controlled areas, but also be aware that the Hall H line may subject you to many long hours in the sun. Your attendant can hold your place in line, but you must be present to take your place in line when it is your turn to enter.

Sorry, but Disabled Services cannot provide placeholders for lines.

The Convention Center does not allow tents or structures in that area.

The grass is not a safe surface for operating a scooter, wheelchair, or walker, for using a cane, or for anyone who needs a stable flat surface for safe mobility. The first 1/3 to 1/2 of the ADA line is located inside the Convention Center in carpeted and climate-controlled areas.
 
For more LINES information on-site, talk to a person wearing a Comic-Con-branded lime-green polo shirt in the area you want to know about.

The Convention Center is wheelchair accessible. If you will be going onstage, make sure your key contact lets programming know you will need access to the stage and/or if there are any other accessibility issues, so we can make arrangements.

Please see, “Where do I go if I need a wheelchair or scooter?” here.

No, they are not. The ADA Hotel shuttle is only for mobility-impaired hotel guests who made reservations through the onPeak hotel reservation system via the Comic-Con website.

See the “How do I schedule an ADA Hotel Shuttle to pick me up?” section above.

The ADA hotel shuttle is no longer allowed to drive up in front of the Convention Center. The ADA shuttle drops off just before the driveway, between the Marriott Hotel and the Convention Center.

For more ADA Hotel Shuttle information, see “How do I schedule an ADA Hotel Shuttle to pick me up?” HERE, or ask on-site at the shuttle kiosk just outside the Lobby A doors.

No, you do not.

Sorry, we do not have one available.

No, we are unable to provide oxygen.

Sorry, we cannot refrigerate your medicine.

Disabled parking at the Convention Center is in short supply and is only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some disabled parking is available in parking lots near the Convention Center, but many of these spaces are reserved in a pre-sale. Parking is free at parking meters with a disabled placard or plate, but these are also difficult to find nearby. Being dropped off, using rideshare, buses, or the trolley (which stops across the street from the Convention Center) are often better choices.