Accessibility at The Granada Theatre

I. commitment to accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act and several California State Laws were enacted to promote equal access for everyone. The Granada Theatre is committed to accessibility for all, including accessibility for patrons who use wheelchairs or are otherwise mobility-limited, patrons with limited hearing or vision, and patrons who use service animals.

II. commitment to safety

Federal and California law require that The Granada Theatre provide an environment that is safe for patrons, performers, and workers, including ensuring that all such people can be evacuated safely and quickly from the Theatre in the event of an emergency.  For safety reasons, the Granada Theatre reserves the right to assign patrons to seats other than the seat the patron purchased if, in the opinion of the Granada Theatre staff, seating the patron in the seat the patron purchased may interfere with safe and speedy evacuation of the Theatre.

III. Overview accessibility

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all patrons. The Granada Theatre is equipped with accessible doorways, pedestrian routes, ramps, elevators, and restrooms. The following guidelines outline how we maximize accessibility while also ensuring safety.

IV. accessible seating

The Granada Theatre offers wheelchair-accessible and companion seating in each price section and on both the Orchestra and Balcony levels. Patrons in wheelchairs also have the option of transferring to designated seats. Patrons are encouraged to request accessible seating when purchasing tickets to ensure optimal placement.

Accessible seating is available for patrons with limited mobility and who require accessible seating because of their disability, at most price levels. This includes individuals who use wheelchairs, those who use other mobility devices, and people who cannot climb steps or walk long distances because of conditions such as arthritis or limitations imposed by respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac conditions. The list of examples is not intended to be comprehensive, and the Granada Theatre will seek to accommodate regardless of the nature of the condition that results in a limitation of the patron. Individuals who, because of their disability, cannot sit in a straight-back chair or those whose service dogs cannot fit under a non-accessible seat or lie safely in the aisle are also permitted to purchase accessible seats. The Granada Theatre strives to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility assistance devices, but does not provide such devices to patrons.

Individuals purchasing a ticket for an accessible seat may purchase up to three (3) additional seats for their companions in the same row and that are contiguous with the accessible seat. If contiguous seats have already been sold and are not available, the Granada Theatre will offer other seats as close to the accessible seats as possible.

V. hearing assistance

The Granada Theatre has the Hearing Loop system, a wireless technology that transmits speech or music on stage directly to guests’ cochlear implants and hearing aids with T-coils. Patrons will hear sound picked up by the theatre’s PA system rather than from the microphone in an implant or hearing aid, resulting in a clear sound with less background noise. Please inquire with a Volunteer Ambassador when you arrive at the theater.

VI. service animals

The Granada Theatre welcomes service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specifically dogs and, in rare cases, miniature horses trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. Emotional support, comfort animals, or pets do not qualify as service animals under ADA guidelines. Service animals must remain under the handler’s control at all times, be leashed or harnessed (unless the handler’s disability prevents this), and may not block aisles or emergency exits. If a service animal is disruptive, unhygienic, or not housebroken, staff may require its removal from the venue. Patrons may sit in any seat where their service animal can remain at their feet or on their lap without obstructing pathways, though accessible seating is recommended as it provides additional space and comfort.

VII. accessible parking & drop-Off

Accessible parking is available at the Granada Garage ( City Lot 6) at 1221 Anacapa Street, located behind the theater. A designated passenger drop-off area for patrons requiring mobility assistance is located at the main entrance to The Granada Theatre.

VIII. Procedure for the evaluation of safety issues

Safety issues may be implicated by patrons whose ability to ambulate, including ambulation in the narrow space between rows of seats, is limited in a way that makes it possible that other patrons may be impeded in the event of an evacuation or that limits the ability of the patron to evacuate as quickly as possible.  Safety issues may also be raised by items that patrons bring to their seats at the show that may impede speedy evacuation, such as bags, packages, walkers, wheelchairs, or service animals.  This list of examples is not intended to be exclusive.

The Granada Theatre staff will visually assess patrons to identify apparent mobility limitations or other circumstances that would potentially slow or interfere with a safe and speedy evacuation of the Theatre if the patron is seated in the seat the patron purchased. If staff assess a potential issue, that issue should be brought to the immediate attention of the House Manager who is responsible for independently assessing the situation and taking next steps.

The House Manager will interact with the patron to explain the concerns, ask questions as necessary and request that the patron take another seat in the Theatre identified by the House Manager in which the safety concern is resolved.  The patron will not be asked for information beyond that which is necessary to evaluate the safety issue. For example, the patron will not be asked to provide a diagnosis or other confidential medical information, but may be asked about limitations on mobility.

The patron will be reseated in the most appropriate seat that mitigates or eliminates the potential for an evacuation of the Theatre to be impeded by the patron.  Seats on an aisle or seats near emergency exits may be appropriate, but this is not always the case.

If the patron refuses to be reseated, the House Manger has discretion delay the start of the show pending the resolution of the safety issue and may even contact law enforcement for assistance if deemed necessary.  The Granada Theatre has the right to deny service to any person, including a person who has purchased a ticket for the show.  If the patron refuses to be reseated and refuses to leave the Theatre, the patron is on private property without the permission of the owner, and the role of law enforcement will be to address the Granada’s complaint of trespassing by the patron.

Escalation to delaying the show and contacting law enforcement is a last resort to address a safety issue. Patrons should be informed that objections to being reseated can be expressed after the show and a dialogue between the patron and the Theatre can occur at that time, but that the show cannot begin until the reseating occurs. Every reasonable measure should be taken to avoid such an escalation, consistent with the obligation to ensure the safety of the audience in the event of an emergency evacuation. The Granada Theatre is hopeful that there will never be a need to ask a patron to leave the Theatre or to involve law enforcement, but safety issues in the event of a need to evacuate the Theatre cannot be compromised.

IX. website accessibility 

The Granada Theatre is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.

Measures to support accessibility

1. We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA to ensure a high standard of accessibility.
2. We regularly test our website to identify and address accessibility issues.

Compatibility with browsers and assistive technology

Our website is designed to be compatible with modern web browsers and assistive technologies, including screen readers.

Limitations and alternatives

Despite our best efforts, there may be some limitations. If you experience any difficulties, please contact us, and we will do our best to provide you with the information you need in an alternative format.