Deaf and Disabled Services

Comic-Con International 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, including:

• Badge pickup service (including child badges) for those with mobility issues

• Disabled Stickers and Service Animal Stickers

• Certified ASL interpreters at large panels and the Masquerade

• A limited number of volunteer interpreters available for individual assistance

• A limited number of wheelchairs for loan in up to three-hour increments on a first-come, first-served basis

• A limited number of rental scooters available on a first-come, first-served basis

• Special limited seating for some programming, events, and the Masquerade

• A rest area for the disabled, the elderly, expectant mothers, and parents with small children

• Comfort Rooms that can be used for nursing infants, administering medication, or as a sensory shroud for attendees with special needs

• Those with mobility issues can request a runner to pick up ticketed giveaways from Program Premiums for you (at the Hyatt Hotel).

Other important things to know: 

• The elevators in Lobbies B, E, and H provide access to the Upper Level

• The elevator in the lower bayside lobby at the rear of Hall B2 provides access to the Mezzanine, the Mezzanine Terrace, the Pavilion Terrace, and the Upper Level

• Satellite RFID Badge Help Desks can be found in Lobbies A, D, and G

• First-Aid is available in Lobby C

• Lost and Found is in Lobby D

• Coat Check is in Lobby E and F

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Who to Ask, and Where to Look

• For Deaf or Disabled Services information, ask at the booth in Lobby A.

• For Deaf or Disabled Seating information, look for someone wearing a Disabled Seating hangtag in the lobbies outside the larger programming rooms

• For Line information, ask someone with a Comic-Con branded lime-green polo shirt, but be aware that some line locations are not announced in advance.

• For Autograph information, ask at the Autograph Booth in the Sails Pavilion

• For Exclusives information see the exclusives portal, or ask at an individual exhibitor’s booth.

• To find the time a panel or program will begin, and where it will be, look at the programming grid in your Quick Guide or on the Comic-Con App.

• For more detailed information about an exhibitor, a program, or a guest, look in the Event Guide or on the Comic-Con App.

• For hourly updated information regarding autograph and programming schedule changes or cancellations, check the “Schedule” Boards posted around the Convention Center.

If you are an attendee with disabilities, Comic-Con 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:

• Deaf and Disabled Services cannot guarantee any seating, autographs, exclusives, or giveaways. All event and program rooms have limited capacity as set by the Fire Marshal. Even though your badge is needed to get into all events, it does not guarantee you access to any event if it has reached its capacity. We do not clear rooms between events.

• Programming rooms fill up quickly, and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reserved seats. ADA seating may not be available if you wait until the last minute to get to the room. Please check the schedule and plan your day accordingly, keeping in mind the popularity of most events.

• Be aware that the Hall H line may subject you to many long hours in the sun.

• Most autograph signings are of a limited nature. It is a good idea to make arrangements to have someone within your group save a spot for you in line.

• There will always be information that Comic-Con is not told about in advance, such as special guests in panels or at exhibitor booths.

• We are unable to refrigerate medicines or any other perishables. 

Where do I go if I need a wheelchair or scooter?

Mobility Source is located in Lobby A

A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan, for up to 3 hours on a first-come, first-served basis with ID and a credit/debit card for the deposit (fee TBD)

A limited number of rental scooters are also available on a first-come, first-served basis

If you choose to transition from your crutches, walker, or wheelchair to a scooter/wheelchair, we can store your device

If you would like to reserve a rental scooter in advance, contact Mobility Source at (619) 234-9505 by July 8th.

If you have an issue with your rental scooter or loaned wheelchair on-site, call Mobility Source at (619) 234-9505

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How do I request an Interpreter?

Requesting an ASL Interpreter for Panels

The largest panels (Hall H, Ballroom 20, Room 6BCF, Room 6DE, Room 6A, Indigo Ballroom, and the Masquerade) will already have ASL Interpreters scheduled. For a smaller panel, an interpreter may be requested at the Deaf Services desk in Lobby A.
As always, the scheduler will try to accommodate all requests.

Requesting an ASL Volunteer Interpreter for other needs

Also at the Deaf Services desk, you can request a volunteer interpreter to assist you with a variety of other needs for up to 3 hours. Some examples are; interpreting for autographs, helping find a line, assisting in the Exhibit Hall, or at other Comic-Con-sponsored areas.

If you are a daily volunteer or department volunteer and would like a volunteer interpreter to accompany you on your assignment, you may 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.

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Exclusives and Exclusive Autograph Signings

On the Exclusives Portal

To ensure everybody has equal access to exclusives and exclusive autograph signings, Comic-Con uses a randomized selection process through the online Exclusives Portal.

Watch the Toucan Blog and social media for announcements about the portal. When it goes live, Log in to Member ID, and click the link under the Exclusives Portal in the main menu. Follow the instructions carefully. Once open, participants with an eligible badge may sign up for the opportunity to be selected for access to shop for exclusives from participating exhibitors or for a chance to take part in an exclusive signing.

• If you are randomly selected for an exclusive item, you will be emailed further instructions on when and where to make your purchases. 
• If you are randomly selected for an exclusive signing, you will be emailed a confirmation with a QR Code and further instructions on how and when to get your wristband for the signing that day.

Please note: Randomly distributing purchase-timeslot tickets eliminates the need to rush on-site. Participation is limited to the days you have a badge, and you will have a certain number of opportunities to enter for exclusives offered for each of those badged days. You can put all your requests into a single item, or spread them out. It’s up to you!

Special ADA wheelchair access points are at the discretion of the Exhibitor. The line itself must be ADA-compliant, but not every exhibitor will have a separate ADA line.

Please refer to the Comic-Con website and the Toucan Blog for more details.

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Limited Autograph Signings

In the Sails Pavilion

During the show, the Autograph Area in the Sails Pavilion has to limit some signings due to popularity or time constraints. Wristbands are distributed through random drawings scheduled to begin each morning after the doors to the Exhibit Hall open. Each of the signings is listed on the Autograph Area’s online Limited Signings schedule.

To participate in a wristband drawing, please go to the indicated line where one of two random systems will be used:

• You will either press the button on the randomization device to be instantly told if you are a winner; or
• You will pick a ticket out of a container (the winning tickets will have a distinct stamp on the back).

Wristbands will be placed on all winners’ wrists immediately. The wristband will admit the wearer into the designated autograph line at the specified location and time. If you are not a winner, you may return to the end of the line to try again until all wristbands have been given out—one wristband per person, per signing.

For ADA: the Autograph Area can provide a volunteer placeholder to stand in the random drawing lines for wristbands and/or the limited autograph lines for you. You can only use one volunteer placeholder at any time and you must be present to take your place in line when it is your turn.

For more information, please ask at the Autograph Area Information Desk or refer to the Comic-Con website.

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How do I schedule an ADA Hotel Shuttle to pick me up?

The ADA Hotel Shuttle (onPeak through the Comic-Con website)

For mobility-impaired attendees who reserved their hotel room through the onPeak/Comic-Con website reservation system and require special transportation, the ADA Hotel Shuttle operates between all official Comic-Con hotels and the Convention Center, by advanced reservation only, on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the capacity of the vehicles. Shuttles are designed to accommodate a wheelchair. Passengers are allowed only one companion.

You must make reservations in advance by calling the Seat Planners ADA Hotel Shuttle Supervisor at (619) 510-6383 between 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, or visit the ADA Hotel Shuttle Information Desk located on the sidewalk outside the Lobby A doors, to arrange for an ADA Hotel Shuttle pick-up. When leaving a voicemail, please provide your name, phone number, hotel, a one-hour window for pick-up at the hotel, and a one-hour window for departure from the convention center. Voicemail reservations are not valid unless confirmed by the Comic-Con shuttle dispatcher.

Sorry, this service is only available to those who registered their room through onPeak, from the Comic-Con website.

The ADA Hotel Shuttle will operate during the following times:

Thursday     7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday          7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Saturday     7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Sunday        7:00 am to 7:00 pm

NOTE: The ending time is the last departure time from the San Diego Convention Center. The last shuttle departing the hotels going to the Convention Center will be approximately 30 minutes before the end time listed

The ADA Shuttle will drop off and pick up near the Lobby A driveway. You’ll find Deaf and Disabled Services inside Lobby A.

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How do I get to Comic-Con Museum?

Museum Shuttle
The Museum Shuttle is ADA-accessible and runs between the Convention Center and Comic-Con Museum. To ride the Museum Shuttle, you must already have a ticket for Comic-Con Museum. Tickets for the museum may be purchased online or at Comic-Con Museum Booth #1714. The Museum Shuttle makes no other stops.

The Museum Shuttle will pick up and drop off on Harbor Drive between the Marriott and the Hyatt and runs from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM Thursday through Sunday

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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.

IMPORTANT! All attendants will be required to purchase a badge either on-site 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. The San Diego 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
Comic-Con is not a cable operator, television broadcaster, satellite distributor, or multi-channel programming distributor and therefore is not required to caption. Comic-Con does not provide the content shown in programming rooms, and cannot offer closed or open captioning of content. While we welcome video content during panels to include captioning on a voluntary basis, that content is not required to be captioned by law. (Please see above: How do I request an Interpreter?).

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