WonderCon is dedicated to serving all of its attendees. The Deaf and Disabled Services Department was established to offer a hand to visitors with special needs. Services include
-
A rest area for the disabled, the elderly, expectant mothers, and parents with small infants.
-
An enclosed area for mothers nursing infants, for administering medication, or as a sensory shroud for attendees with special needs
-
Registration service for attendees with mobility issues and for service animals
-
American Sign Language interpreters for the deaf at select panels and the Masquerade
-
A limited number of volunteer interpreters available for individual assistance
-
Special limited seating for some programming events and the Masquerade
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.
- WonderCon does not rent or lend wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Please make arrangements with a local vendor in advance if you need to rent.
Requesting an ASL Interpreter for Panels
Go to the Deaf Services desks in Lobby B/C.
The largest panels (Arena, North 200A) 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 Interpreter for all other ASL needs
Also at the Deaf Services desk, you can request a volunteer interpreter for a variety of other ASL needs (for up to 3 hours). Some examples are: interpreting for autographs, helping find a line, 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.
Additional Information
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, and not for personal benefit.
IMPORTANT CHANGE! All attendants will be required to purchase a badge either onsite 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 certified, trained Service Dogs. Anaheim Convention Center follows all State and Federal ADA compliance laws and directions.
Comfort/Support Animals are no longer allowed. Only a trained Service Dog, as defined by the ADA, is allowed to assist and accompany a disabled owner.
Captioning
WonderCon does not provide the content shown in programming rooms, and cannot offer closed or open captioning of that content. WonderCon is not a television broadcaster, a video distributor, or a streaming platform and therefore is not required to caption. (Please see above: How do I request an Interpreter?)
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.