Graduation Accommodations
We are proud to assist with commencement accommodations for graduates and guests.
All ceremonies will provide a sign language interpreter and/or captioning for those in attendance.
Graduates
Congratulations! The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an inclusive commencement experience.
Degree candidates needing disability accommodations to participate in one of the ceremonies at The University of Texas at Dallas should fill out our graduation accessibility request form.
Please inform us or the graduation office for any potential disability-related needs including but not limited to:
- Any graduating student who uses a mobility device (wheelchair, scooter, walker, crutches, cane, etc.) along with any graduating student who may have difficulty walking long distances or walking up stairs.
- Any graduating student who plans to bring a service animal (or service animal in training) to the ceremony.
- Any graduating student who needs communication access accommodations (such as access to a sign language interpreter).
- Any graduating student who needs specific seating due to a disability-related need (anxiety, health concerns, etc.).
All ceremonies will include:
- A ramp to the stage.
- Priority seating for students with mobility disabilities (available on a first-come, first-served basis).
Please note that accommodation requests from graduating students must be made five business days in advance of commencement programs. While every effort will be made, the University may be unable to fulfill last-minute requests.
Guests
The University makes every effort to help guests with disabilities to access and fully experience commencement ceremonies.
Wheelchair spaces and seating for guests with limited mobility are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Most of these reserved areas can accommodate wheelchair seating. These areas are accessible from the ground level.
Accommodations for visitors with disabilities at UT Dallas commencement ceremonies include:
- Accessible parking
- Shuttle services
- Accessible seating
- Sign language interpreting/captioning services
When to Arrive
Due to the large number of guests attending commencement, it is recommended that visitors with disabilities plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to the ceremony.
Parking
Visitors who have a valid state-issued accessible parking license plates, placard or can show a disability-related need, will be provided access to the designated accessible parking lots (Lot J and PS1).
In addition to normal event traffic, several construction sites may affect typical routes to campus. For information on limited mobility parking, please see the campus map.
If you need directions to The University of Texas at Dallas campus, please visit the UT Dallas Visitors website.
Accessibility Shuttle Services
Shuttles will be available to transport guests to and from commencement and parking lots. Shuttles will only pick up and drop off at designated stops.
When planning your arrival, please allow time for the shuttle to make its route. Depending on traffic, this could be as long as 15 minutes.
Seating
Visitors/guests with disabilities who require accessible seating should identify this need to commencement staff at the entrance of the ceremony (Activity Center or Arts & Technology Building). Visitors will be directed to the closest available open seating area. Visitors with disabilities who wish to sit in another section closest to their graduate may do so; however, seating cannot be guaranteed in that section.
Each visitor with a disability will be allowed to have one accompanying family member or friend sit with them in the accessible seating area.
Mobility Devices
Commencement guests needing mobility assistance should bring their own or rented wheelchairs or walkers; these or other such devices are not provided by The University of Texas at Dallas.
UT Dallas does not rent or loan mobility equipment. The following rental companies are listed as a general reference; this is not an endorsement by the ARC or UT Dallas:
Assistance During the Ceremony
If you are a person who has disabilities that may require one-on-one assistance during the ceremony, contact the ADA coordinator. Please contact them as far in advance as possible to allow time to coordinate assistance.
Please visit Institutional Compliance’s Equal Access & Accommodation page if you need to make any disability-related accommodations or if there may be barriers to accessing commencement.
For commencement ceremony ticket information, please see the Ticket Information website.