Accessibility at the Swearing-In Ceremony

All entrances to the ceremony are accessible.  Signs will be posted in all areas to indicate:   

• Designated accessible areas
• Sign language interpreter locations
• Restrooms.   

Recorded Information

Recorded Voice Information   202-224-1500 
Recorded TTY Information   202-228-1612 

Congressional Special Services 

Staff of the Congressional Special Services Office will be stationed at all designated accessible seating/standing areas to provide assistance.  Designated seating and standing areas: 

• North Seating Area - Senate Side
• South Seating Area - House Side
• West Standing Area - Senate Side 
• West Standing Area - House Side

Staff can be reached Monday - Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm at 202-224-4048 (voice) and 202-224-4049 (TTY).  

“Drop-off” Locations

All areas around the Capitol will be restricted to vehicular access on January 20, 2009. If you need to drop-off someone, as close to the ceremony as possible, please follow the directions of the Capitol Police. There will be locations outside the perimeter of the Capitol that will be designated at a later date.  

Tickets

Every person wishing admittance to the Inaugural Ceremony, including children, must have a ticket.  Individuals without valid tickets will not be admitted.

Tickets are color-coded to facilitate entrance to the ceremony. Entrance will be granted only at the gate indicated on your ticket.  Ticket holders should use Metro.

Each person must have a ticket, including personal assistants.

Sign Language Interpreters,
Open Captioning 

Sign Language Interpreters will be located at designated positions within each ticketed section, with the exception of the Mall Standing Area. There will be jumbo-trons (large television screen) with open captioning positioned on the Capitol Plaza (blue, red, green, and yellow ticket holders) and within the Mall Standing Area. 

Medical Conditions and Medications

Emergency Medical Teams are on-hand in the event of any medical emergencies.  For additional information about permitted items for medical purposes (e.g. insulin), contact the U.S. Capitol Police at 202-512-1226.

Children

There are no childcare facilities provided to attendees.  Due to increased security and space constraints, strollers are not permitted on the Capitol grounds. Direct questions regarding the admittance of items required for child care to the U.S. Capitol Police at 202-512-1226.

The Swearing-in Ceremony is a outdoor event held on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.  Inauguration day is typically cold—normally 37° F at noon—and occasionally wet. 

Extra consideration should be taken when planning to bring infants, young children, the elderly, or anyone with a weakened immune system.  A vast majority of attendees will be in standing room sections and should be prepared to be on their feet for several hours.

Prohibited Items

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated)
• Explosives of any kind (including fireworks)
• Knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length)
• Mace and/or pepper spray
• Sticks or poles
• Pockets or hand tools, such as “Leatherman”
• Packages
• Backpacks
• Large bags
• Duffel bags
• Suitcases
• Thermoses
• Coolers
• Strollers
• Umbrellas
• Laser pointers
• Signs
• Posters
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Other items that may pose a threat to the security of the event as determined by and at the discretion of the security screeners