Guests requiring wheelchair assistance must reserve a wheelchair or scooter rental in advance of Commencement through a local vendor, who will deliver and pick up right from the campus. Brown University does not provide wheelchairs.
Please contact individual vendors to confirm prices and availability. This information may change at any time without notice. Brown University provides this information as a service and is not responsible for vendor performance.
Liberty Mobility
5 Church Street, West Warwick
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
401-827-8800
Liberty Mobility sells and rents the following equipment: power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, scooters, knee scooters, rollators and walkers. Manual equipment (manual wheelchairs, knee scooters, walkers, rollators) have a one-week minimum rental time, and power equipment have a two-day minimum. They deliver and ship the same day for orders received and paid by noon Monday through Friday.
Mobility Equipment Recyclers of New England
6802 Post Road, North Kingstown
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
401-294-4111
Mobility Equipment Recyclers sells, rents and customizes the following equipment: power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, knee scooters, rollators and walkers. They deliver, and all orders are shipped within 48 hours. Shipping rates are based on weight of products and location, and there may be rush charges if the order is placed less than one week in advance.
Independence Home Health Wares
2224 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
401-273-8888
Independence Home Health Wares sells and rents scooters and wheelchairs of varying specifics (standard, lightweight, hemi height, lower, extra low, transport). Shipping is free on most orders over $100, and a flat shipping rate of $9.95 applies to most orders under $100. Special charges apply to some items.
Adaptive Mobility Equipment
1551 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday times available by appointment by calling 401-413-2265
800-311-2849
Adaptive Mobility Equipment sells and rents wheelchair-accessible vans and vehicles and sells (but does not rent) scooters. Vehicle rentals are on a calendar day basis. Delivery is dependent upon the company's driver availability, and incurs an additional fee.
MobilityWorks
57 George Leven Drive, North Attleboro, MA
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
877-275-4915
MobilityWorks has wheelchair van rentals and offers airport van rentals to Boston Logan International Airport as well. Van delivery is available and additional fees apply based on availability. It is recommended to reserve a few weeks in advance.
RIPTA Ride
401-461-9760
All Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) buses are wheelchair-accessible, but the RIde program is an extension of RIPTA that offers shared door-to-door service. Trips are scheduled by calling the number Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or leaving a voicemail on Sunday. The message should include the day, time and start and end locations (including street name and zip code) of your trip. The start and end locations must be along a RIPTA bus route, but not necessarily at a bus stop, and RIPTA runs ample buses throughout College Hill.
Reservations must be made at least a day in advance. Registering can be done at the time of reservation, given that some statement of ADA services back home or disability from a doctor outside the jurisdiction of Rhode Island is ready. Customers are considered “visitors” (both out of state and international) for 21 days, after which it is recommended to go through more formal registration.
Car 1 Corporate and Recreation Transportation Inc.
877-470-7757
Car 1 only provides service for foldable/stowable wheelchairs and mobility devices. They offer ground transportation throughout Rhode Island and surrounding areas, servicing airports such as Boston Logan (MA), T.F. Green and Westerly Airport (RI) and Bradley (CT with baggage claim greeting assistance).
Lyft (app)
Offers ridesharing and shows Providence public transit routes and times (through RIPTA). Lyft’s Access for wheelchair accessible vehicles is not yet available in Providence, however foldable/stowable mobile devices may be stored in any Lyft vehicle. Additionally, all RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) buses are wheelchair-accessible.
Uber (app)
Offers ridesharing with reservation and rental options. Accessible rides through Uber’s WAV (Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle) are not yet available in Providence.