Accessibility

The University of Michigan strives to ensure that all graduates and guests can participate fully in this program.

We are committed to making Commencement Day as smooth and celebratory as possible for all graduates and guests.

Staff will be stationed throughout Crisler Center to warmly welcome guests and assist with any accessibility needs. This includes helping guests find appropriate seating areas and offering complimentary wheelchair rides to and from seating locations for those who may need extra support.

For details about available accommodations, please see the information below.

If you have a need not addressed here, please reach out to our team at [email protected]—we’re here to help ensure your experience is comfortable and enjoyable.

Note: Accessible restrooms are available near all entrances.

Accessible or Wheelchair Seating for Graduates & Guests

Seating at Crisler Center is general admission, including designated areas for wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility.

Guests with accessibility needs are encouraged to connect with an Event Team Member upon arrival to be directed to the most appropriate seating area.

Guests seated in the wheelchair-accessible area may have one companion join them. The rest of their party is welcome to sit in a nearby section. Guests seated in the limited mobility area can sit with their entire party.

For those with mobility concerns, we recommend being dropped off at the southwest entrance, which is closest to accessible parking (a state-issued disability permit is required). If elevator access is needed, please use the northeast entrance. However, please be advised that this elevator may be in high demand before and after the ceremony.

Graduates with accessibility needs, including wheelchair users, should enter Crisler Center through the service tunnel entrance near the Junge Center and connect with a Marshal or Event Team Member for assistance with seating.

For additional accessibility requests, please email [email protected].

Wheelchair Rental

Complimentary wheelchair rides are available to and from guest and graduate seating. Wheelchairs used for transport must be returned after drop-off and cannot be kept during the ceremony.

For those needing a wheelchair for the duration of the event, rentals are available at the following locations:

Advanced Medical Solutions
5333 McAuley Drive #1106
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 528-2522
Advanced Medical Solutions is open M-F only. Rentals arranged in advance will need to be picked up on Friday (at the latest) and returned on Monday. Weekend returns are not an option.

Healthcare DME
2911 Carpenter Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 975-6668
Healthcare DME is not open on Sunday. Rentals arranged in advance will need to be picked up on Friday (at the latest) and returned on Monday.

We recommend calling as early as possible to reserve a wheelchair.

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome at Crisler Center in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A service animal is defined by the ADA as a dog that is individually trained/training to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

Please note that emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy animals are not considered service animals under the ADA and are not permitted inside the venue.

If you will be accompanied by a service animal and have specific seating or accommodation needs, we encourage you to contact us in advance at [email protected] to best support your experience.

Real-Time Captioning and Sign Language Interpretation

A display screen with real-time captioning and sign language interpretation will be visible from most seats in Crisler Center.