Accessibility at the Simons Institute
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.
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.
- 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.
- AC Transit. The F and the 51B lines travel near the Institute. View schedules and line information on the AC Transit website.
- Taxi. Berkeley Yellow Cabs and Yellow Checker Cabs are two options.
- Car services. Our physical address is 121 Calvin Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720.
- 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.
- 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. There is a single, non-reservable, parking spot for anyone with a disabled placard adjacent to the Institute. It is best to arrive early if you want to use this spot.
If you need assistance participating in programs at the Simons Institute, we offer the following services.
- Assistive Listening Devices
The Simons Institute has Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) on hand and available upon request. You can pair these with your own hearing device or we can provide one for you.
- Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning services
CART services are available from UC Berkeley's office of Disability Access and Compliance for real-time remote captioning that enhance communications access. This service must be requested 3-5 business days in advance of the date needed.
- American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting
ASL services are available. Please provide as much lead time as possible to ensure we can provide an interpreter, and at least 3-5 business days in advance.
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.
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.
- 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.
- AC Transit. The F and the 51B lines travel near the Institute. View schedules and line information on the AC Transit website.
- Taxi. Berkeley Yellow Cabs and Yellow Checker Cabs are two options.
- Car services. Our physical address is 121 Calvin Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720.
- 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.
- 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. There is a single, non-reservable, parking spot for anyone with a disabled placard adjacent to the Institute. It is best to arrive early if you want to use this spot.
If you need assistance participating in programs at the Simons Institute, we offer the following services.
- Assistive Listening Devices
The Simons Institute has Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) on hand and available upon request. You can pair these with your own hearing device or we can provide one for you.
- Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning services
CART services are available from UC Berkeley's office of Disability Access and Compliance for real-time remote captioning that enhance communications access. This service must be requested 3-5 business days in advance of the date needed.
- American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting
ASL services are available. Please provide as much lead time as possible to ensure we can provide an interpreter, and at least 3-5 business days in advance.
The ground floor of our building is fully wheelchair accessible, and all workshops and public talks take place in our ground-floor auditorium. The ground floor also includes a dedicated accessible bathroom, as well as accessible stalls in the women's and men's bathrooms.
There are accessible stalls in 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. The second and third floors of the Institute can be reached by elevator.
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. We are working to make supplementary documents on our website comply with the Title II update of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you'd like to receive published slides in an accessible format, please contact us at simonsevents@berkeley.edu
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.
- 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.
- Disability Access and Compliance. DAC is responsible for ensuring access across all campus and environments. They have compiled a list of resources for campus visitors, including community disability resources.
- 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.
The ground floor of our building is fully wheelchair accessible, and all workshops and public talks take place in our ground-floor auditorium. The ground floor also includes a dedicated accessible bathroom, as well as accessible stalls in the women's and men's bathrooms.
There are accessible stalls in 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. The second and third floors of the Institute can be reached by elevator.
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. We are working to make supplementary documents on our website comply with the Title II update of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you'd like to receive published slides in an accessible format, please contact us at simonsevents@berkeley.edu
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.
- 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.
- Disability Access and Compliance. DAC is responsible for ensuring access across all campus and environments. They have compiled a list of resources for campus visitors, including community disability resources.
- 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.