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WonderCon Deaf and Disabled Services

Anaheim Convention Center

WonderCon is dedicated to serving all its attendees. The Deaf and Disabled Services Department was established to offer a hand to visitors with special needs, including:

  • Badge pickup service (including child badges) for those with mobility issues
  • ADA Stickers and Service Animal Stickers
  • Certified ASL interpreters at large panels and the Masquerade
  • A limited number of volunteer interpreters available for individual assistance
  • 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

Important Things to Know:

  • Deaf and Disabled Services is in Lobby BC
  • The elevator at the front of Lobby AB goes to the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Convention Center
  • The elevator found at the back of Lobby CD goes down to Hall E and up to the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Convention Center
  • Elevators to ACC North’s upper level can be found near the restrooms at each end of ACC North’s Plaza Lobby
  • ACC North’s upper level can also be accessed via the bridge from the Convention Center’s 2nd floor lobby, near room 201A

If you are an attendee with disabilities, WonderCon 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:

  • Programming rooms fill up quickly, and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so special seating may not be available if you wait until the last minute to get to the room. Please read your WonderCon Program Book and plan your day accordingly, keeping in mind the popularity of most events.
  • Special autograph sessions are generally limited, so it is a good idea to make arrangements to have someone within your group save a spot for you in line. 
  • Deaf and Disabled Services cannot guarantee any seating, autographs, or giveaways.
  • If you have medications or other items that need to be kept cool, you should bring a small cooler or insulated bag. WonderCon does not have refrigerators for storage.

Where do I go if I need a Wheelchair or Scooter?

Mobility Source is located in Lobby A.


A limited number of rental scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to reserve a rental scooter in advance, contact Mobility Source at (619) 234-9505.

A limited number of wheelchairs are also available for loan for up to three hours on a first-come, first-served basis with ID and a credit card for the deposit (fee TBD).

Attendees with mobility issues are also welcome to bring their own devices designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility-related disabilities. Please be sure to read the Mobility Devices and OPDMDs policy in the Additional Information section below. Note: We do not have charging stations or storage facilities for powered mobility devices.

Requesting an ASL Interpreter for Panels

The largest panels will already have ASL Interpreters scheduled. For a smaller panel, an interpreter may be requested at the Deaf Services desk in Lobby B/C. The scheduler will try to accommodate all requests.

Requesting an ASL Volunteer Interpreter for Other ASL Needs

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, and assistance in the Exhibit Hall or at other WonderCon-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.

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

Please visit the Deaf and Disabled Services and American Sign Language Interpreters desks in Lobby B/C, on the ground level of the Anaheim Convention Center, for more information.

Exclusives and Exclusive Autograph Signings

On the Exclusives Portal

To ensure everybody has equal access to as many exclusives as possible, WonderCon uses a randomized selection process through the online Exclusives Portal. Watch the Toucan Blog and social media for announcements about the portal.


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.

Additional Information

ADA Attendants

Some attendees with disabilities may need to bring 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 and not for personal benefit. 


All attendants will be required to purchase a badge either on-site or in the badge sale (The ADA does not require free admission for attendants).


Service Animals

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

The State of California ADA compliance laws only recognize trained service dogs and psychiatric service dogs. WonderCon follows all State and Federal ADA compliance laws and directions.


Comfort/support animals are not allowed. Only a trained service dog, as defined by the ADA, is allowed to assist and accompany a disabled owner.

Captioning

WonderCon is not a cable operator, television broadcaster, satellite distributor, or multi-channel programming distributor and therefore is not required to caption. WonderCon does not provide the content shown in programming rooms, and cannot offer closed or open captioning of content. 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?)


Mobility Devices and OPDMDs

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

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 an OPDMD with three or more wheels inside the Convention Center, you are strongly urged to contact Disabled Services in advance officemail@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 (does it have an indoor setting to limit the speed to four mph and slower?)
    Please allow three weeks for Disabled Services to reply to your email.

When you bring 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 the person’s 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. 

WonderCon 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. WonderCon 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 it complies with the state of issuance’s requirements for disability placards or cards, or a verbal statement that does not contradict observation.

Be sure to read the WonderCon Policies page here:

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: officemail@comic-con.org -or ask on-site at Deaf and Disabled Services