Accessibility For Patrons and Visitors With Disabilities

Patrons who are Blind or Have Low Vision

Live Audio Description

For blind and visually impaired audience members, Cal Performances partners with Gravity Access Services to offer live audio description for one performance of each dance event on our season (see list below). Audio description is a live audio track spoken by a professional audio describer to audience members with visual impairments through a wireless headset system. It provides clear and engaging descriptions of the meaningful visual details of a performance.

Live audio description headsets are available for the following performances:

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Joffrey Ballet; Anna Karenina
Friday, March 15, 2024 at 8pm

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 7:30pm

PAST EVENTS

Urban Bush Women’s Hair and Other Stories
Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8pm

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 8pm

common ground[s]
by Germaine Acogny & Malou Airaudo
The Rite of Spring
by Pina Bausch

Friday, February 16, 2024 at 8pm

Taylor Mac & Matt Ray’s Bark of Millions
Friday, February 23, 2024 at 7pm

For more information or to reserve a headset for one of the above performances, contact the Ticket Office.

Haptic Access Tours

Haptic access tours will be scheduled for select events on the list above. These tours are a live pre-show tour, lasting 20-30 minutes, that allow patrons to experience—through touch and their own movement— the space, performers, costumes and objects in addition to key movement elements in the performance.

Haptic Access Tours are scheduled for the following events:

UPCOMING EVENTS

Joffrey Ballet Ana Karenina
Friday, March 15, 2024, 8pm performance; Haptic Access Tour starts at 7pm.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 7:30pm performance; Exact time to-be-announced.

PAST EVENTS

Urban Bush Women’s Hair and Other Stories
Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8pm performance; Haptic Access Tour starts at 7:15pm.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 8pm performance; Haptic Access Tour starts at 7pm.

common ground[s] and Pina Bausch’s Rite of Spring
Friday, February 16, 2024 8pm performance; Haptic Access Tour starts at 6:45pm

Taylor Mac & Matt Ray’s Bark of Millions
Friday, February 23, 2024 at 7pm performance; Haptic Access Tour starts at 6pm.

This list will be updated as Haptic Access Tours are scheduled.

For more information or to pre-register for a tour, contact the Ticket Office.

GoodMaps Explore

Patrons are invited to use our highly detailed indoor mapping via the GoodMaps Explore mobile application to help navigate Zellerbach Hall.

Digital Program Books

Digital Program Books are available for all performances and may provide a better reading experience.

Patrons who are Deaf or Have Hearing Loss

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) amplify and clarify sound by cutting down or eliminating ambient noise.  Devices are distributed free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests attending events in the Zellerbach Hall or Playhouse may pick up a device from the Audience Services staff starting one hour prior to performances. Please request a device from staff as you arrive. A driver’s license or government-issued identification will be required as a deposit for the device.

For all other venues, advanced notice of at least two weeks is advised.

Sign Language Interpretation

Available by request. Persons who wish to request sign language interpreters should contact the Ticket Office when they purchase tickets or at least two weeks in advance of the performance to ensure the best possible arrangements. Patrons using a TTY, please contact us via California Relay Service by calling 711 or 800-735-2929.

Patrons who have Mobility Disabilities

All venues are wheelchair accessible. When ordering tickets online, please choose designated wheelchair locations for reserved seating performances.

Accessible Entrances

All venues have accessible entrances via ramps at the main entrance.

Elevators

Zellerbach Hall has an elevator that serves the orchestra and mezzanine levels. The Zellerbach Hall elevator dimensions: 49 inches wide x 45 inches deep.

Accessible Seating

All venues have wheelchair and scooter-accessible locations where patrons can remain in their wheelchairs or transfer to theater seats. Patrons who cannot or do not wish to transfer from their wheelchairs to a theater seat should request wheelchair-accessible locations when ordering tickets.

Wheelchair-accessible seating may be purchased by phone, in person, and online.

Accessible Restrooms

All venues are equipped with accessible restrooms.

Parking

Near each of our venues, there are limited designated accessible parking for vehicles bearing valid Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) disability parking placards or license plates is available on a first-come, first-served basis. See this campus map for more information about accessible parking locations.

Service Animals

See UC Berkeley’s Visit FAQs for information and policies regarding service animals.

Campus Resources

The UC Berkeley Visitor Parking webpage advises visitors on the most efficient parking procedures. The site offers information on public transportation, public parking lots, and parking availability.

Community Resources

Easy Does It is a non-profit organization that provides emergency attendant care, accessible transportation, wheelchair repair, and assistive device repair for seniors and people with disabilities.

Contact Information

We are here to help!  For questions or more information about any of these services, please contact the Ticket Office at tickets@calperformances.org or 510-642-9988.