Wheelchairs
The University of Miami does not provide wheelchairs. Recommended local medical equipment rental companies are listed below for your reference. Please mention your rental is for the University of Miami Commencement ceremony.
For those guests arriving with their own wheelchairs, please park in the Special Needs lot and proceed directly to the Special Needs Entrance at the Watsco Center.
Parking for the Ceremony
The Special Needs Parking is located in front of the Watsco Center at the Serpentine lot (425 N and S) on Walsh Avenue. State-issued disabled parking permits are required. Golf carts and shuttles will be running continuously for guests who cannot walk long distances to and from the Watsco Center from surrounding parking lots. Reservations are not required.
View Parking Map
Seating
ADA accessible areas are reserved for guests in wheelchairs or those with mobility impairments and special needs. The Special Needs/VIP Lobby is located to the right of the Watsco Center box office and across the parking lot. Guests will be escorted by ushers to the ADA accessible areas that are reserved for guests in wheelchairs or those with mobility impairments and special needs. Access to the seating areas is via an elevator in our Special Needs/VIP Lobby entrance. Due to space limitations, the number of family members that can be seated in those areas with the special needs guest will be limited. The Watsco Center usher staff includes a qualified ADA aid who may assist in escorting guests with special needs to the seating area.
Hearing Impaired
Closed captioning is available via Streamtext during all ceremonies at miami.edu/closedcaption. Closed caption can be viewed on any personal smart device such as a phone or tablet.
English
Spanish
Service Animals
View University of Miami Pets on Campus Policy.
Per Watsco Center venue policy, only a service animal is allowed in the building. A service animal, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, is any dog or miniature horse trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The handler is responsible for the care and supervision of their service animal at all times. If the animal is deemed disruptive at any time the handler and animal may be escorted from the venue at the discretion of security personnel. Emotional Support Animals or Comfort Animals are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and therefore will not be allowed into the Watsco Center.
Photosensitivity
As part of the UM Commencement experience, our ceremonies feature special effects, including a safe theatrical fog, strobe lights, blinking and/or spinning lights, which may affect individuals who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or other photo sensitivities. We recommend contacting the Office of Disability Services at disabilityservices@miami.edu with any concerns.
For specific questions regarding the venue's accessibility, please contact Watsco Center at 305-284-8686 or watscocenter@miami.edu.
Please contact the Office of Commencement via email at commencement@miami.edu to request special accommodations not addressed above for upcoming events. Requests for individuals with a disability should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event to allow for coordination.
