<p>My daughter is graduating this year, and my 84 year old father is planning on attending. I am looking at the schedule and wondering how feasible this is. Just the idea of getting him from the ceremony on Old Campus to the individual ceremony at TD seems daunting. He is not in a wheelchair, but can really only walk 100 feet or so at a time without resting. It seems that driving around is going to be completely impossible. I know he would like to come, but he would also understand if I suggest that it is not the best idea. How have other people coped with this issue? Are there certain events that he could attend and skip other ones? I was planning on getting accommodations on campus (but have a backup plan for Milford)</p>
<p>I know a lot of people borrow wheelchairs for amusement parks or other vacation destinations where a lot of walking is required. Would he accept using a wheelchair to go between venues? Our church loans out various medical equipment, including wheelchairs for short term needs.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest the same thing. Will you have others to help with unloading a w/c & other logistical issues? If not, can you pay someone to come along? Like a home health aide? Im sure having an extra set of hands would be very helpful.</p>
<p>Borrowing a wheelchair may be a great idea-- Thank you! There will be three able-bodied of us, in addition to the graduation girl. </p>
<p>I just discovered that Yale is offering complementary wheelchairs for limited mobility guests! How terrific!</p>
<p>We did this with an 84-year-old two years ago, and I have some suggestions. First, as pointed out above, Yale will lend you a wheelchair. You will want to use this, especially if you really want to go to all the events. There is special designated handicapped parking, and you can get a pass in advance–there will be info about the office to contact in the commencement material. You may actually find that it is more convenient to stay in Milford and drive as opposed to staying in rooms on the campus, which may not be very convenient for a mobility-impaired person. At the commencement ceremony itself, there is a special area for handicapped guests (and their families). This is also helpful. In my opinion, the unmissable events are Class Day (when the commencement speech is given), the University Commencement, and the ceremony in the Residential College. You will probably want to use the wheelchair when going from the main commencement to the residential college, depending on which college it is.</p>
<p>The slightly more missable events are the Baccalaureate service and the reception at the President’s House. The service is in Battell Chapel, right on Old Campus, so you will probably be able to manage that. The reception is up Hillhouse Avenue. We took Grandma up there in the wheelchair, and it worked out OK. It really wasn’t hard to manage at all, especially with the wheelchair.</p>
<p>A couple of other tips: bring raincoats or ponchos, as well as umbrellas, for everybody. If it is raining, you may not be able to find any for sale locally. If you’re planning to eat in a restaurant, make reservations way in advance–like now, if you can. The nice places fill up completely.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice Hunt. I’m really on the fence with regard to where to stay; they say we can get a ground floor room for the older folks, and it seems nice to be on campus rather than in Milford. I think the President’s reception is at Beinicke Plaza. They had a reception there at Freshman drop-off and I have no particular need to experience that again!</p>
<p>Good idea on the raincoats. I still have a disposable one in a Yale packet from Bulldog days (where it poured). </p>
<p>In the past, the President’s reception has been at the President’s house on Hillhouse. If they’ve moved it to Beinecke Plaza, that would make it simpler.</p>
<p>It was at Beinecke for this year’s graduation–I think perhaps the President’s house was being remodeled and not available–I can’t recall.</p>