Access Policy for Visitors
with Disabilities
The Whitney Museum invites visitors with disabilities to experience the richness and complexity of American art in an inclusive, welcoming environment. Visitors with disabilities receive a discounted rate and admission for one care partner is included for free.
All visitors who identify as disabled, d/Deaf, deaf-blind, neurodivergent, autistic, low vision and/or experience a range of cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disability, physical disability, chronic illness and/or sensory sensitivities may be given opportunities to navigate the Museum at dedicated times when it may be closed to the general public. Visitors experiencing sensory sensitivities and disabilities may visit the Museum during any open museum hours for independent exploration. Social narratives are available on the Whitney Museum website for those that may need additional support before entering the Museum.
Access Programs also include Whitney Signs tours in ASL (American Sign Language) led by Deaf educators for d/Deaf communities; Verbal Description and Touch Tours that welcome low-vision and Blind communities; the Vlog Project, the Whitney’s award-winning, open-captioned, online video series in ASL, and Family Fun for Kids on the Autism Spectrum. We also lead a wide range of guided visits for school and community groups that serve individuals with a range of disability experiences, namely intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Non-programmatic resources include mobile captioning for videos with no embedded captions, live ASL interpretation for select online programs, Large Print labels for every exhibition, a social narrative for visiting the Museum, free manual wheelchairs for use when at the Museum, and a team of educators trained in accessibility practices.
During scheduled access programs, accommodations will be made to create a sensory friendly environment. Such adjustments may include reducing the volume of loud noises. Accommodations are made in an attempt to make Museum exhibitions and programs more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The Museum is dedicated to working to reasonably accommodate all visitors with disabilities and to provide the best possible museum experience. Certain alterations to exhibits and/or performances may not be possible.
The Whitney invests in the training of forward-facing staff and those working in the creation of exhibitions and didactic materials to ensure that people with disabilities can access the rich content of the Museum with as few barriers as possible.
Individuals who wish to request accommodations should contact accessfeedback@whitney.org or call (646) 666-5574 prior to visiting the Museum, so that the Museum and visitors may engage in a dialogue to help ensure that appropriate accommodations are made. All visitors with disabilities can also ask for support upon arrival at the front desk.
Individuals with questions or concerns about this policy should contact the aforementioned Access email or phone number. If a visitor thinks they may have experienced access barriers to the Whitney Museum’s services or programs, they should also reach out to us.