Accessibility Resources at the Heard Museum

ADA parking spots are provided in our north and east parking lots, ensuring ease of access for visitors.

Service animals and miniature horses trained to perform specific tasks are welcome at the Heard Museum. Emotional support animals and pets are not permitted inside the museum.

Our museum is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors who require avoidance of stairs. Borrow manual wheelchairs, or bring your own mobility devices such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, walkers or canes into the museum.

Electronic door actuators are located throughout the Heard Museum campus to support ease of entry.

Elevators are available to assist visitors in reaching our second floors. Additionally, there is a wheelchair lift in the southeast corner of the Jacobson Gallery. Staff members are ready to assist and provide directions if needed.

Restrooms are located on the first floor outside the Lovena Ohl Gallery and inside the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Grand Gallery. Additional restrooms can be found in the Courtyard next to the Café. Free period products are available in select women’s restrooms.

Explore our exhibitions with ease using written transcripts of multimedia content, providing an accessible experience for D/HoH individuals.

Experience the richness of our guided group tours with American Sign Language interpreters.

To request interpreters, please provide a minimum of 10 business days notice by contacting us at PrivateGroupTours@heard.org or call us at 602-252-8840.

For schools, please indicate your interpreter request in the Accommodations field of our School Tours form.

Borrow assistive listening devices from our Visitor Services Desk Representative at the Admissions area. Learn more under Digital Resources.

Large-print transcripts are available for select exhibitions to provide visually impaired visitors with a way to read detailed artwork descriptions and background information comfortably.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Color-correcting glasses help visitors enhance the visual experience of our exhibitions by elevating contrast and vibrancy, making artwork and display labels easier to distinguish. This resource provides a way for visitors to fully appreciate the color and detail showcased in artworks throughout the museum.

Available in children & adult sizes.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Weighted lap pads provide a calming, grounding effect for visitors with sensory processing challenges, helping improve focus during their museum experience. By providing calming pressure, guests can engage with exhibitions in a relaxed and mindful way.

Available in 3 lb, 5 lb, and 7.5 lb weights.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Including a fidget toy, sensory tube, and noise-cancelling headphones — sensory bags are available to support individuals with sensory processing needs to help engage their senses and promote comfort during their museum experience.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Noise-Canceling Headphones are available to help reduce sound, create a calming experience, and enhance focus during your museum visit.

Available in children & adult sizes.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Immerse yourself in our guided tours using The Personal PA® Tour Guide System from Williams Sound. This compact system, complete with a body-pack transmitter and headset microphone, ensures clear communication even in larger groups. If you’d like to check out a system, please inquire at the front desk when you arrive.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Visitors who are hard of hearing may also check out a Williams Sound personal amplifier to use throughout the museum, even when not participating in a guided tour.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.

Enhance your museum experience with our tablet and earphones, available for loan. Access audio tours through the Museum app, offering an immersive journey through our signature exhibitions and gallery guides. These devices can also be used as assisted listening devices.

Please note: A photo identification card is required for device check-out.