Accessibility Programs

A close up photograph of two hands are feeling the texture of a cushion that has white, red, navy blue, and metallic blue stripes. The hand on the left is light skin toned and has red painted fingernails, and then hand on the right is dark skin toned with shiny copper painted fingernails.

Accessibility Programs

Cooper Hewitt provides regularly scheduled tours and educational opportunities specifically designed for visitors with disabilities, including Verbal Description Tours and design workshops. To learn more about general accessibility at the museum, visit Accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.

Verbal Description Tours

Verbal Description Tours for blind and low vision visitors are offered virtually and in person for select museum exhibitions. These tours include rich description of museum objects, and our in-person tours typically include touchable objects.

To sign up for the verbal description tour mailing list, email CHAccess@si.edu or call 212-849-8384.

A photograph of two people sitting next to one another in a gallery space. The person to the right is holding a white and grey textile sample with loose threads. A person stands in the middle behind the two people sitting, their hand reaches across the person sitting on the right and touches the textile.

A close-up photograph of two people’s hands holding a textile sample. The textile sample has orange, grey, and silver strands going in a vertical direction. The weave of the yarn holds together multiple bamboo sticks that sit side by side going in a horizontal direction.

A photograph of a group of adults sitting in a gallery space. An adult stands in front of the group, speaking next to the objects on display. The person speaking has grey hair tied in a bun and is wearing a white button-down shirt and black sports jacket.

Morning at the Museum

Morning at the Museum is a sensory-friendly program for neurodivergent children and teens and their families in which they can visit Cooper Hewitt prior to opening on designated Saturday mornings. Attendees can participate in structured activities or explore the museum independently at their own pace. Prior to each program, registered families receive pre-visit materials to help them prepare for their visit.

Families, educators, and service providers can sign up for the Morning at the Museum mailing list by emailing CHAccess@si.edu or call 212-849-8384.

Learn more about Morning at the Museum programs at other Smithsonian museums.

Public Tours

Public tours are offered regularly and are free with museum admission. Most tours involve walking around the museum and standing in galleries for extended periods of time; standard manual wheelchairs and portable stools are available for those who need them.

ASL interpretation is available by request for any Cooper Hewitt tour, free of charge. Please make your request at least one week prior to your visit. To request these services, email CHAccess@si.edu or call 212-849-8384.

Upcoming Accessibility Programs

To see programs for all age levels, view our Calendar.

Check out our online resources

Explore verbal description audio tours and professional resources to help develop more accessible content.

Accessibility Resources →