Accessibility

The Simons Institute is committed to making our building and our programs accessible to people with disabilities. While we recognize that no list of accessible accommodations comprehensively addresses the needs of all people, we strive to remove barriers for participation when possible.

Please share your disability-related accommodation request so we can ensure your full participation in Simons Institute programming. We encourage visitors who might need accommodations to contact us at simonsevents@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event so we can provide you with any services you might need to participate in our programs.

Getting to the Institute
There are several transportation options to get to the Institute from downtown Berkeley. You will need to inquire with the agencies listed here if you need transportation that will accommodate a wheelchair. If you're arriving on BART, the nearest BART station is Downtown Berkeley.

1. Walking. If you're walking to the Simons Institute, it's a scenic, 15-20 minute uphill walk through campus. This option is not recommended if you have mobility issues.
2. AC Transit. The F and the 51B lines travel near the Institute. View schedules and line information on the AC Transit website.
3. Taxi. Berkeley Yellow Cabs and Yellow Checker Cabs are two options.
4. Car services. Our physical address is 121 Calvin Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720.
5. Campus shuttles. BearTransit is UC Berkeley’s shuttle system, serving the campus, Downtown Berkeley BART, parking lots, Clark Kerr Campus and the Hill area. The shuttle is free for Berkeley affiliates with a Cal ID and costs $1 for visitors. The Perimeter "P" shuttle leaves every half hour at a designated stop near the Downtown Berkeley BART station. The closest stop to the Institute is the Haas School of Business stop on Piedmont Avenue.
6. Personal car. Parking is extremely limited on the east side of campus. There is parking available in several garages in downtown Berkeley (this map also shows campus shuttle and AC Transit stop locations). Some UC Berkeley-owned lots are available to visitors; it's best to arrive early to ensure you get a spot. Parking tips for visitors.

Participating at the Institute
The Simons Institute has Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) on hand and available upon request for use in the auditorium. UC Berkeley also offers the following communications accommodations to anyone who requests them. Please provide as much advance notice as possible if you'd like to request one of these services. (NOTE: These services are only available for events that take place in the auditorium.) 

1. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning services
2. In-person American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting
3. Real-time translation

Getting Around at the Institute
The ground floor of our building is fully wheelchair accessible, and includes a dedicated accessible bathroom, as well as accessible stalls in the women's and men's bathrooms on the ground floor, the women's bathroom on the second floor, and the men's bathroom on the third floor. In addition, there is an accessible lactation room in the women's bathroom on the second floor. All workshops and public talks take place in our ground-floor auditorium. There is an elevator for access to the second and third floors of the Institute.

Digital and Web Accessibility
UC Berkeley is committed to making its websites and other online content accessible to all individuals. All recorded talks from workshops that take place in our auditorium include accurate, synchronized captions before being made publicly available on our YouTube channel. All online content must comply with the technical standard, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.0, Level AA, as prescribed by the World Wide Web Consortium.

UC Berkeley Accessibility
If you'd like to learn more about disability and accessibility services or the disability community at UC Berkeley, here is a partial list of resources.

1. The Loop Golf Cart. The Loop is a golf cart that provides intra-campus rides for eligible faculty, staff, students, and visitors with disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis. Riders will need to request access on the page linked to above.
2. Disability Access and Compliance. DAC is responsible for ensuring access across all campus and environments. They have compiled a list of FAQs for campus visitors.
3. Disability Cultural Community Center. UC Berkeley’s Disability Cultural Community Center (DCC) seeks to create and provide a safe and social space for the Cal disability community to build authentic connections and support one another.