We make sure as many Commencement Weekend activities as possible are accessible to all who wish to attend. Beginning Friday, March 31, requests for accessible parking, seating, and individual services may be requested. (Link to the form will be available here.) The deadline to submit the form is Friday, May 12, 5 pm ET. We encourage you to make your requests early to aid us in the planning for the weekend.
While every effort will be made to provide accommodations requested after May 12, they cannot be guaranteed.
All-University Commencement
Parking
For the All-University Commencement at Nickerson Field, requests for accessible parking may be made via our Disability & Access Services Accommodations Request Form Friday, March 31 – Friday, May 12. Please note that this parking is reserved for guests that require wheelchair accessibility or have severe mobility issues. Instructions from the Parking & Transportation Office will be emailed to individuals who submit the accommodations request form.
Seating
Accessible seating is available during the All-University Commencement at Nickerson Field and at the school and college convocations. Field-level seating arrangements for guests requiring wheelchair accessibility and/or guests that require an American Sign Language Interpreter are available.
For guests with limited mobility, reserved seating at the east end of Nickerson Field will be available. Ushers will be happy to direct you.
Individual Accommodation
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services such as Sign language and Open Caption (Speech to Text) Services as well as other accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the All-University Commencement. Please indicate on your form for appropriate seating.
Individual School/College Convocations
Parking
For individual school/college convocation ceremonies, handicapped parking is available in all parking lots throughout the Charles River Campus on a first-come, first-served basis (no parking permit needed) to students and guests who are attending individual school and college ceremonies and other Commencement events. For handicapped parking on the Fenway Campus, please contact Parking & Transportation Services for instructions.
Seating
Accessible seating is available during all commencement convocations. If you requested accessible seating on the Accommodations Request Form, further information and instructions will be sent to you in May.
Individual Accommodation
CART (Speech to Text) will be lived streamed at the below venues. You can access these captions live using your personal phone or tablet. URLs to receive the CART broadcast will be listed below when available as well as provided at the Convocation venue when you arrive for the ceremony.
• Track & Tennis Center, 100 Ashford Street
• Case Center Walter Brown Arena, 285 Babcock Street
• Case Center Gymnasium, 285 Babcock Street
• Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Avenue
• George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue
If you require CART Services at convocation venues not listed, please indicate that on the Accommodation Request Form.
Service Animals
In accordance with federal and state laws, individually trained Service Dogs are permitted to accompany a partner with a disability in all university facilities where Commencement convocations, ceremonies, or activities are taking place.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not permitted in university facilities where Commencement convocations, ceremonies, or activities are taking place.
Please direct questions to disability@bu.edu.
Wheelchair Availability
BU provides a limited number of wheelchairs for the All-University Commencement Sunday, May 21. These are available first-come, first-served from 9 am to 3 pm at the Disability & Access Services tent by the Case Center at 285 Babcock Street. Borrowed wheelchairs must be returned to the tent immediately following the ceremony.
Rentals
While we can’t provide wheelchairs at other times during Commencement Weekend, a number of local providers offer rentals. We recommend the following:
- Belmont Medical Supply • 185 Belmont St., Belmont, MA • 617-484-3888
85–100 wheelchairs available at $25/day - Gary Drug Company • 59 Charles St., Boston, MA • 617-227-0023
8 wheelchairs available at $15/day - Sullivan’s Medical Supply • 1 Corinth St., Roslindale, MA • 617-325-0013
50+ wheelchairs available at $25/day