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Accessibility

Sakura-Con embraces the diversity of our membership. We strive, as a convention, to ensure that we provide our members with reasonable accommodations to support their participation in our event. 

We understand that not every solution will work for each attendee, due to their specific needs, but we work to implement solutions that provide more benefit to the community at large, versus rolling out policies and quick/easy solutions that might cause unintentional harm for our members. With that in mind, this list is not exhaustive, and will continue to be updated regularly as we continue to invest in this aspect of our event. 

Current ADA Accommodations that are available for 2025:

Registration: 

  • Preferred Names: We respect that not everyone would like to have their legal name on their badge, or may use a preferred name for a number of reasons. We’ve had this process in place for over a decade and are continuing to work on changes to make this easier year over year for our members. If you would like a preferred name on your badge, please follow the “Alternate Display Name” section here:  https://sakuracon.org/registration/faq/
  • ADA at Registration:
    • We have 2 “Manager & ADA” lines denoted by blue booth headers that state “Manager & ADA”. Please use these lines as you need!
    • If requested, we can place a sticker with a wheelchair symbol on the front of the badge to denote that the member needs ADA accommodations.
  • Caregiver Memberships: We also provide free attendant/caregiver badges for those who need additional assistance during the convention. Email registration@sakuracon.org if you need to arrange a caregiver membership, or visit a Manager & ADA booth at Registration. 

Service Animals: 

  • ADA working service animals are allowed at Sakura-Con. This excludes Emotional Support Animals, per our policies 

Hearing Accessibility: 

  • We are working with the SCC on ensuring that in future years, Assisted Listening Devices will work within our event. However, at this time, these are not compatible with our event for technical reasons. We will continue to work towards this for future years as a priority for our hearing impaired attendees. 
  • We do not have ASL interpreters for 2025, but we are exploring options for this for future years as a priority.

Vision Accessibility: 

  • We have a black and white, high contrast, printer-friendly version of our schedule posted here: https://sakuracon.org/programming/schedule/
  • We use accessible color schemes within our website, branding, and mobile app where we can, to be compliant with WCAG 2.0+ standards. However, our website is due for a full overhaul in the next year or two, and we are aware there are outstanding issues with it. We are including those standards, as well as Accessibility Conformance Testing, as a critical component of that rebuild effort. We don’t have an exact timeline for this rebuild at this time, but this is an active project within our Board currently. 
    • Our new branding, rolled out in 2024, meets WCAG contrast requirements at this time. However, we understand that the branding is only a part of our overall online presence, and continue to look for ways we can ensure our online spaces are welcoming for all, starting with the website rebuild.

Sensory Accessibility:

  • We have a Quiet Room in Summit, Room 321

Parking Accessibility: 

  • Arch Garage: There are 16 ADA-compliant parking spaces located at the end of Aisle F on the Blue level. If you are parking in one of the ADA-compliant spaces you can use the adjacent blue ramp to enter the Center. There is no elevator access inside the Arch Garage. As you enter the Center from the parking structure you will be on level 3. An accessible elevator is on your right-hand side, adjacent to Room 310.
  • Summit Garage: There are 18 ADA-compliant spaces available, six spaces on each of the three levels near the elevators.
  • Freeway Park Garage: There are 16 ADA-compliant spaces available, four spaces on each of the four levels, near the elevators. If you park in the ADA-compliant spaces in Freeway Park Garage and need wheelchair accessibility, take the elevator to the PARK Level. As you exit the elevator you will turn to the right and proceed across Freeway Park Plaza to the Level 4 entrance of the Center. Please note that Freeway Park Plaza is an uncovered area open to the elements.

Panel Lines & Seating:

  • Large Panels & Events: SAS staff members manage lines for large panels and events. If you are looking for the ADA entry line for a large event or panel, find a Sakura-Con Attendee Services staff member near the entry door and let them know you are seeking the end of the ADA line and they will provide assistance. 
  • Smaller Panels: Sakura-Con Attendee Services or Panel Moderations can assist members with ADA accommodations to the front of a line that they are helping control and ensure they gain access to priority seating towards the front of the panel room once inside. While there isn’t a formal ADA designated seating in the majority of our panel rooms, areas towards the front of the panel room are given preference to ADA attendees. Panel Moderators are able to assist ADA attendees with getting to the front of the panel room, and will ask other attendees to relocate for ADA individuals if needed.

Seattle Convention Center Accessibility: 

SCC ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE

This guide covers:

  • Wheelchair and mobility access – Clear info on ramps, elevator locations, and access pathways. (Along with rental info from nearby businesses)
  • Elevators – Designated elevator access instructions and elevator locations per garage.
  • Accessible Parking – Locations, quantity, and elevator instructions for all three major garages.
  • Service Animals – Permitted throughout SCC in accordance with ADA regulations.
  • Emergency Procedures – SCC Security provides assistance during emergency evacuations for guests with disabilities.