ADA Accessibility
Accommodations are available for guests with disabilities attending Commencement at the Alfond Arena.
Examples of accommodations that are available:
For more detailed information please read below.
A ground floor seating area is available for guests who have mobility difficulties or need wheelchair access in order to attend the ceremony. This seating area will be filled on a first come first served basis. This seating area is located on the ground floor (ice level) of the Arena and can be accessed through an elevator located on the South side of the building. In addition, limited accessible seating is available on the main level of the Arena.
Guests with mobility based disabilities (wheelchair access) are encouraged to enter the Alfond Arena via the north side of the Arena. This entrance is located on Branch Road, which is directly off of College Avenue.
The accessible parking area will be available outside of this entrance (North entrance located on Branch Road). Guests with accessible parking placards may park in this area and guests with mobility disabilities can also be dropped off at this entrance and have another guest park the car in this lot. Signs directing guests to the ADA accessible parking and drop off location will be posted on College Avenue.
Assisted listening devices can be requested upon being seated in the accessible seating areas located on the ground floor. ASL interpreters can be made available upon request. Please contact erica.tweedie@maine.edu in order to request ASL interpreters.
Please contact Erica Tweedie if you have questions that have not already been answered by the information provided on the tabs on the top left of this webpage. Erica Tweedie can be reached via email at erica.tweedie@maine.edu.
ADA Accessibility for Graduating Students with Disabilities
Assistance is available to graduating students (both Undergraduate and Graduate) if they need accommodations during procession, seating, and stage crossing upon request. Graduating students should contact Erica Tweedie at erica.tweedie@maine.edu to request assistance during the ceremony.
Accessible Entrance, Parking and Drop-off Location
Guests with mobility based disabilities (wheelchair access) are encouraged to enter the Alfond Arena via the north side of the Arena. This entrance is located on Branch Road, which is directly off of College Avenue.
A designated parking area is available for guests who need accessible parking outside of the North entrance. The parking entrance is located on Branch Road, which is directly off of College Avenue. Signs directing guests to the ADA accessible parking and drop off location will be posted on College Avenue. Guests with mobility disabilities can be dropped off at this entrance and have another guest park the car in this lot.
To access the ADA accessible parking area of the ADA Accessible drop off location, please enter the University via College Avenue only. It will be very difficult for guests to access this parking area and drop off location by coming from alternate entrances on campus (Kelley Road/Rangeley Road entrance) due to a number of road closures through the center of campus.
Guests may also enter the Arena via the front doors, however, limited accessible seating is available on this level of the Arena.
Additional parking spots are available in parking lots across campus. Shuttle buses will be provided in designated lots for guests to ride to the Arena. Please note that the shuttle buses do not drop off guests directly in front of the Arena— a short walk is required.
A Parking Map will be provided closer to the ceremonies
Wheelchair Accessible Seating
A seating area has been designated for guests who have mobility difficulties or need wheelchair access. The seating area is located on the ground floor (ice level) on either side of the graduate seating area. This seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations).
There is a substantial distance between the accessible entrance located on the North Side of the building (main level) and the ground floor seating area (ice level, at the same level of the stage). Guests with disabilities will need to navigate the distance of over half the hockey arena and then use an elevator in order to access the ground floor seating area. A small number of ushers will be available to escort guests to the ground floor seating area.
Guests are strongly encouraged to bring wheelchairs or walkers should they need assistance getting to the accessible seating area. A limited number of wheelchairs will be available for guests with disabilities to use in order to get to the ground floor seating area. For wheelchair and equipment rentals, please call Coastal Med Tech at 207.992.2337 or visit their website.
For both Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies, guests with disabilities may have a total of 4 companions sit with them in the accessible seating area. No more than 5 tickets per family are allocated. Please note that this number may be reduced as the University determines the allocation of tickets per graduate.
There are no special tickets for guests who seek accessible seating. All guests display a Commencement ticket to enter the Arena, including guests with disabilities.
Guests who need to access the ground floor seating area are encouraged to arrive well before each ceremony. Seating begins at 8 a.m. for the morning Undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, May 9th (9:30 a.m.start time), and 1 p.m. for the afternoon Undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, May 9th (2:30 p.m. start).
There are no assigned seats in the accessible seating area. However, first row seating will be reserved for guests who require American Sign Language interpreters.
Other Accommodations
Service Dogs
Service animals are permitted in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Maine Human Rights Act. In settings that are open to the public — which include, but are not limited to, classrooms and places where people attend events or performances, use library or athletic facilities, shop, or eat— a “service animal” is defined as a dog that is individually 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. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.
If other accommodations are needed please contact Erica Tweedie at erica.tweedie@maine.edu.
