Accessibility Resources
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum provides specialized programs and resources to support and enhance the experience of all visitors, including those with disabilities, their peers and families. The Museum also offers free admission to personal care assistants coming to the Museum in support of visitors with disabilities. The offer is administered in person at the Museum’s box office.
For updates to COVID-19 Policy please click here.
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Making History Accessible
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The Museum partnered with New York University’s Ability Project and collaborated with seven historic sites and house museums, eight disability advocates, Access Smithsonian and National Trust for Historic Preservation to produce an accessible digital publication. This publication Making History Accessible: Toolkit for Multisensory Interpretation, offers a range of digital and physical/tactile solutions to help make interpretive content at historic sites and other educational facilities more accessible.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, IMLS grant number CAGML-247144-OMLS-20. The project is also supported by the Harry S. Black and Allon Fuller Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.
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Online Resources: Plan Your Visit
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Onboard with Safety
The health and safety of our employees, volunteers and visitors is our top priority. The Intrepid Museum is following the recommendations and guidelines of health experts as well as the relevant city, state and federal agencies. With enhanced health and safety measures put in place, we are providing an engaging experience in a safe environment. Please review the new policies and procedures here: link to Onboard with Safety page.
Interactive Guide
The Museum’s new interactive digital guide can be accessed on our mobile optimized website, found here. Visit the guide ahead of time to preview exhibits, during your visit to avoid crowding around labels and after your visit for further exploration. The guide highlights key exhibits, historic spaces and aircraft, and includes full label text and additional photos, videos and statistics for each stop. The guide is screen-reader friendly and all videos are captioned.
Social Narrative
The Social Narrative provides an illustrated, step-by-step guide on what to expect during a visit to the Museum. Use the Social Narrative to prepare for your visit and a change in routine. If you reserved a guided program or plan to attend a public event or festival, please email access@intrepidmuseum.org to request a customized version.
Social Narrative for individuals, families and self-guided groups  Please note: the Social Narrative will be updated soon to include new health and safety guidelines.
Sensory Guide
The Sensory Guide is an illustrated overview of the different areas of the Museum. For each section of the Museum, it lists highlights, noise level, rules about touching and eating, and wheelchair accessibility. The areas of the Museum match with the maps in the Visitor’s Guide available in the Welcome Center and at the Information Desk. Click here to download the Sensory Guide Please note: the Social Narrative will be updated soon to include new health and safety guidelines.
Visual Vocabularies
Visual Vocabularies can augment communication or help families and groups focus their visit. Use these Visual Vocabularies to get a sense of what to expect, introduce new vocabulary and plan out what to see at the Museum. Print different ones and cut and paste the squares to plan your own visit. The submarine Growler has special requirements for entry, which are listed here.
Videos
Explore the Museum’s YouTube channel for videos about Museum news and events, behind the scenes tours, aircraft, oral histories, different areas of the ship and more.
Virtual Tour
The Museum partnered with Google Arts & Culture to provide free online access to many of its historical spaces, artifacts and archives. Using Google’s Street View feature, people all over the world can now virtually explore the Museum’s most intriguing spaces, including Intrepid, Growler, the Concorde and the Space Shuttle Pavilion, all with just a few clicks.
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Lightweight Stools
Lightweight stools are available to borrow from the Information Desk at no cost. Visitors may bring the stools around the Museum with them for easier access to seating.
| Please note the majority of the Museum is wheelchair accessible but there are no wheelchairs available for public use. For more information about physical access at the Museum, please email access@intrepidmuseum.org. |
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Sensory Bags
Sensory bags are available to borrow from the Information Desk at no cost. Bags include noise-reduction headphones and fidgets to help ease sensory stimulation. Visual vocabularies and checklists, scavenger hunts and activity sheets are also available at the Information Desk. These resources are also available during all public programs. Use the online resources to help plan and prepare for your visit to the Museum.
| Verbal Description and Tactile Guides |
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| The Verbal Description and Tactile Guide uses raised images, Braille, large print and a talking pen to support self-guided visitors who are blind or have low vision. Visitors may borrow the guidebook and talking pen from the Information Desk at no cost. To learn more about this resource, watch this YouTube video demonstration. |
| Assistive Listening Devices and Systems |
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| Induction loops are installed at the Box Office and throughout the Museum for permanent and temporary exhibits. When in-person guided programs and tours resume, assistive listening devices (ALDs) will be available to borrow at no cost. ALDs are available as stereo headphones, single-ear headphones or T-coil compatible induction loops. |
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The Intrepid Museum offers regularly scheduled programs for individuals with disabilities and their families and customized programs for schools and organizations. Specialized programs for school, community and family groups include enhanced sensory opportunities and support social-emotional and academic goals. Museum educators draw connections between participants’ experiences and the real challenges crew members, pilots, engineers and astronauts faced and overcame. Programs relate to history and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).
Access Programs for individuals and families
Learn more about and register for the Museum’s free public access programs by following the links listed below.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation can be arranged for any Museum programs at no cost. Please email access@intrepidmuseum.org (include “ASL Interpretation Request” in the subject line) as early as possible, ideally two weeks ahead of your program date.
Access Programs for schools and organizations
Customized programs are available for self-contained classes, adult day habilitation and residential programs, memory care centers, and other schools and organizations working with individuals with disabilities. Funding is available for free programs for New York City-based schools and organizations (up to four free programs per school or organization). There is a $75 fee for groups outside of New York City. For more information and to request a program, please visit the School/Group programs page and select “Groups with Disabilities.” Please email access@intrepidmuseum.org or call 646-381-5158 with any questions.
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Access Community Advisors
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The Museum is committed to removing barriers to participation and providing equity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. If you have recommendations, feedback or want to be more involved, please contact access@intrepidmuseum.org.
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