Cornell University Commencement

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Mobility-Impaired Parking and Seating Options

Please understand that walking the hills of the Cornell campus can be quite strenuous. Walking the campus may quickly become too difficult for elderly guests, in particular, to handle. Carefully review the information below and consider making the necessary plans to help make the day as comfortable as possible for family and friends.

A limited number of reserved parking and special-seating spaces are available for Sunday, May 24, by reservation for guests who have impaired mobility or other health concerns. The degree of impairment ranges from those who can walk only short distances unassisted to those who require wheelchairs, crutches, and need assistance.

Permit requests for May 2009 are not currently being processed. The online permit application will be available in the fall, so please check back for the application link. Permits are free and on a first-come, first-served basis. We will beging mailing permits in mid April.

Option 1 is for guests who:

• use a wheelchair, walker, or powered device;
• cannot walk up or down stairs; or
• need a chair with back support.

For these mobility issues, please apply for an Option 1 yellow permit to park in the Parking Garage (refer to # symbol on page 35 of your commencement booklet or the map) located immediately west of Schoellkopf Stadium.

• To access the garage you must display the Option 1 yellow permit on the dash of the vehicle. Since central campus roads will be closed, the only access to the garage is from the Rte. 366/Dryden Road/Hoy Road intersection.

• Staff will direct vehicles to the 3rd level, unloading area, which is even with the stadium floor.
• From this location to the seating area at the south end of the stadium, the distance is approximately 100 feet. The surface is level and very accessible by wheelchairs, etc. There are chairs with back support, and specially equipped restrooms are available.
• As a courtesy, staff members with wheelchairs will greet Option 1 permit holders in the garage to transport mobility impaired guests to their seats, if needed. Guests will not keep the wheelchairs, as they are used only for staff to assist guests to/from their seats. Wheelchairs are not available for transporting guests around campus.
• One escort may accompany the mobility-impaired person in this special seating area. Additional seating for family members is available in the Crescent or in the West Stands.
• No special seating tickets are issued for the Option 1 mobility impaired seating area in the stadium. The Option 1 permit is used for parking, not seating. An Option 1 parking permit covers all mobility impaired guests in a vehicle, so you do not need to apply for a special parking permit per mobility impaired guest, only per vehicle carrying your mobility impaired guests. When applying for an Option 1 parking permit for your vehicle, please list all of your vehicle's mobility impaired guests' names in the "guest name" section of the application, as this ensures that we have plenty of seats set up for all guests.
• The unloading process and moving to the seating area does take time. Please plan to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. to the parking garage.
• If your vehicle is over 6'6" high, please contact the Commencement Office to inquire about special parking arrangements near the entrance to the garage.

Following the ceremony, please plan to walk to the college events. However if a guest has an Option 1 mobility impaired parking permit, they may drive to a location near the college event, following Commencement. Please refer to the specific instructions in the yellow letter which will accompany the permit. The yellow permit must be displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle to obtain access on campus.

Option 2 is for guests who:

• can walk up and down 1 to 20 short stadium steps;
• get on and off a handicapped accessible bus;
• sit in bleacher seats without back support; and
• walk about 100 feet assisted or unassisted.

For these mobility issues, please apply for an Option 2 blue permit which allows vehicles to park in the TRB Parking Lot near the stadium (refer to ## symbol on page 35 of your commencement brochure or the map). Shuttle service to and from the stadium is provided.

Applicants for Option 2 blue parking permits will also be sent 6 tickets for the reserved seating rows in the Crescent. Note that there are a few short steps in this area, as this reserved seating area covers 6 full rows from end to end across the crescent. Staff will be there to assist.

The bus loading process and moving to the seating area does take time. Please plan to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. to the special parking lot.

Following the ceremony, please plan to take a shuttle bus or walk to the college events. Refer to the details in the Commencement Program when you are at the ceremony.

Wheelchair Rental

The University does not provide wheelchairs. If you have a family member who needs the assistance of a wheelchair for the weekend, we urge you to rent one at home to bring to Ithaca, if possible. If you need to rent one in Ithaca, be sure to ask about their pick up and delivery requirements, as some places may be closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Memorial Day).

Some medical supply companies in Ithaca are:

Kinney Drug: 607-272-8333
Guthrie Medical Supply: 607-273-4727
Lin Care: 607-277-4027
The Finger Lakes Independence Center: 607-272-2433
Professional Homecare at Community Corners: 607-257-1425

More details regarding Mobiliy-Impaired Parking and Seating Options may be obtained by calling the Commencement Office at 607-255-9541 or via email to commencement@cornell.edu