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Federal law requires that all public spaces, such as public health buildings, convention centers, 

fairgrounds, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and other businesses comply with the Americans with 

Disabilities Act (ADA) to protect people from discrimination based on their disabilities.

Vaccination clinics must comply with the ADA. Any entity operating a vaccine clinic should have policies 

and procedures in place that include how it will serve people with disabilities, including steps to provide 

reasonable accommodations, to communicate effectively with people with disabilities, and a process for 

receiving and responding to ADA complaints.

Reasonable accommodation needs will vary from site to site, and for different individuals. Vaccine clinics 

should consider that people who are needing to access vaccinations will have a wide range of disabilities 

and many different access and accommodation needs. They may be deaf or hard of hearing. They may 

experience blindness or low vision. They may have an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment that 

impacts understanding of clinic process and procedures. They may use a wheelchair or other mobility 

devices. They may experience low stamina or fatigue, mental health conditions or behavioral support 

needs that may impact their ability to stand in line for long periods of time. They may require personal 

supports or assistance from a caregiver or companion throughout the process.

What is central to success is creating the opportunity for vaccine clinics to be physically and 

programmatically accessible (including scheduling and transportation considerations.) Clinic organizers 

should address communication and support needs, ensure volunteers and staff have information or 

training related to assisting people with disabilities, and develop a process for setting up vaccine 

appointments that meet the needs of people with disabilities and older adults. In many areas of the 

country, setting up vaccine appointments has become a significant barrier for people with disabilities

and older adults, with inaccessible or confusing websites, complex registration processes, QR codes or

other technologies that assume participants have access to a smart phone or broadband, and/or limited 

outreach to individuals who may not rely upon electronic forms of communication. Making registration 

and scheduling as straightforward as possible can improve access for everyone, not just people with 

disabilities and older adults.

Partnering with local disability and aging organizations is an effective approach that

can ensure better access to vaccinations for these important-to-serve individuals.

They can assist in understanding the needs of people with disabilities and older

adults, including vaccine site design and implementation decisions.

Creating an Accessible Vaccine Experience for 

People with Disabilities and Older Adults
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A C C E S S I B I L I T Y C O M M U N I C A T I O N A P P O I N T M E N TS

Allow for multiple scheduling options: 

phone, website, direct assistance. 

Choose a centrally-located site that is 

physically accessible (e.g. level ground 

without slopes, zero-step, spacious),

and that people can reach by mass 

transit.

Coordinate with accessible 

transportation providers to offer low 

or no cost transportation to vaccine 

sitesfor appointment.

Reserve adequate parking near the 

entrance (in addition to accessible 

spaces)for people with disabilities and 

their supports, and offer a drop off 

zone that allows for minimal walking.

Provide an accessible, clearly marked 

“ADA/Accessible” entrance with 

assisters available, allowing entrantsto 

bypass waiting in line (including people 

whose disabilities may not be 

apparent).

Maintain pathways to and from the 

vaccine site and within the facility with 

clear, wide, level access (free of snow, 

leaves, orange cones, or other debris) 

for people who use wheelchairs and 

other mobility devices, avoiding steps 

and stairs. 

If doors do not include power openers, 

leave doors propped open or provide 

staff or volunteers to open doors. 

Ensure elevator access is available and 

prioritized for people with disabilities 

and older adults.

Ensure that staff and volunteers have a 

basic understanding or access to 

information regarding reasonable 

accommodations, including service 

animals.

Modify mask requirements for those 

individuals whose disabilities prevent

them from wearing a face covering 

and ensure staff/volunteers 

understand this accommodation.

Offer a “quiet room” space for 

individuals to wait in line, receive 

vaccines, and for the post vaccine 

observation period, for those who 

cannot tolerate large, noisy spaces.

Have wheelchairs, including bariatric 

chairs, available for people who have 

mobility disabilities or experience 

fatigue

Ensure staff/volunteers are trained to 

accommodate individuals with nonapparent disabilities.

Have simple, plain-language 

explanatory materials on hand. 

Have large print and Braille versions 

of all written materials available.

Offer readily-available staff or 

volunteers to assist with reading 

forms or documents for individuals 

who may require assistance with 

seeing, reading, or comprehending. 

Include American Sign Language (ASL)

Interpretation along with other 

language interpretation available at 

the site. 

Offer staff or volunteers clear face

coveringsto assist people

who depend on speechreading.

Provide clear and easy-to -read 

external signage with 

photos/graphicsindicating path to 

accessible entrances/exits.

Provide additional signage indicating 

elevator priority for people with 

disabilities and older adults.

Provide signage regarding wait times, 

for example: your wait time is 15 

minutes.

Have a clear, publicly posted policy 

recognizing that people with 

disabilities have the option to bring a 

support person with them at all 

stages of the process.

Post clearly marked signage and 

information in plain language and 

translated to reflect the language 

needs of the community for people 

seeking assistance to find help, and 

ensure an adequate number of 

trained “assisters” available.

Post signage and/or graphics clearly 

indicating the accessible path of 

travel outside and inside building for 

individuals who use wheelchairs or 

other mobility devices.

Ensure that websites and apps are 

508-compliant and accessible to 

people with various types of 

reasonable accommodation needs, 

including people using assistive 

technologies and screen readers. 

Minimize documentation and 

identification requirements to 

demonstrate eligibility. Communicate 

any expectations prior to the 

appointment clearly and simply. 

Allow for “group” scheduling – for 

example, people from the same 

household or people with disabilities 

and older adults with their caregivers 

or home health workers. 

Support and engage existing 

community-based organizations 

serving people with disabilities 

and/or older adults as partners to 

assist in outreach and 

implementation efforts, and to 

identify solutions in collaboration to 

provide a more accessible experience 

for individuals with disabilities and 

older adults. 
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Thank you to the following organizations who contributed information and ideas for this document:

ADvancing States* 

American Association of People with 

Disabilities

American Association on Health and 

Disability

Anthem

Association of Programs for Rural 

Independent Living* 

Association of University Centers on 

Disabilities* 

Autistic Self Advocacy Network*

California Foundation for Independent 

Living Centers

Georgia Tech | Center for Inclusive Design 

& Innovation (CIDI)

Marion County Health and Human 

Services

National Association of Area Agencies on 

Aging* 

National Council on Independent Living* 

Oregon Council on Developmental 

Disabilities

*Organizations with state and local aging and disability networks. Additional networks include:

ADA National Network

National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

National Disability Rights Network

For more information and resources related to COVID-19 issues for people with disabilities and older 

adults, visit the Administration for Community Living Covid-19 Response website

(https://acl.gov/COVID-19).