Access and Services for Visitors with Disabilities

Whitney Museum

The Whitney Museum of American Art welcomes all visitors to experience the richness, diversity, and significance of our nation’s art and artists. We are committed to making our programs and services accessible to the broadest populations.

Due to the nature of the Biennial, some of the exhibit enhancements may not be available due to last minute and unforseen technical issues, art work selection and program changes. These systems are being re-developed, and made ready as soon as possible. The Museum welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs for visitors.

Contact Information
For further information on our Access Department for Visitors with Disabilities and Special Needs, please call 212-570-7789

For general Whitney inquiries (including hours, visiting information and tour scheduling), please call 1-800-944-8639

Email us at accessfeedback@whitney.org.

TTY: 212-671-5378

Relay calls welcome.

For all other inquiries, please call 1-800-944-8639.

Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Attn: Access Manager

For Visitors Who Use Mobility Aids

-To avoid the wait, please use the express line noted by the Express Line stanchion near the main entrance. Wheelchair users should proceed to the far end of the Admissions Desk to purchase tickets, and for additional access services.

-The Museum’s main entrance is accessible on Madison Avenue between 74th and 75th Streets. The public areas and the restrooms on the second floor are accessible.

-Six wheelchairs are available free of charge at the coat-check area on a first-come, first-served basis.

-Service animals are welcome.

-The public restrooms on the second floor are accessible, as well as the women's in the Lower Lobby.

-Bookstore staff are available for assistance.

 

For Visitors Who Are Blind or Partially Sighted


Click here for Large print brochures and labels
-Large print
brochures, labels, transcripts for selected video artworks and the transcript for the Audio Guide are available at the Information Desk in the Museum lobby. These publications are also available to download on this website as well as email upon request at accessfeedback@whitney.org

-Braille requests for selected portions of publications are honored at accessfeedback@whitney.org or voice 212-570-7789.

-A free Audioguide with volume control, headsets and neckloops are available.

-Verbal Description tours are available on request when made three weeks in advance.

 

For Visitors Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing


-Audio Guide : Free Audio Guides with volume control, headsets and neckloops are available at the Audio Guide desk.

-Gallery Talks/Selected Public Programs: Portable FM assistive listening devices with headsets and neckloops are available for docent tours in the galleries.

-Theaters: The Kaufman Astoria Film & Video Gallery located on the 2nd floor, and the Cinema Space located on the 4th floor, are equipped with an infrared assistive listening system. Free infrared receivers and neckloops are available at the Information Desk in the Museum lobby.

-Video Artworks:

The following video artworks are equipped with an Infrared Assistive Listening system. Free infrared receivers and neckloops are available at the Information Desk in the Museum Lobby.:
 
2nd Floor Kaufman Theater:
 
Kevin Jerome Everson, Emergency Needs
Daily 11:20 am, Fridays at 1:20 pm

Robert Fenz, Crossings
Daily 11:30 am, Fridays at 1:30 pm

Gretchen Skogerson, Drive Thru
Daily 11:50 am, Fridays at 1:50 pm

Coco Fusco, Operation Atropos
Daily 12:15 pm, Fridays at 2:15 pm

Leslie Thornton, Let Me Count the Ways…
Daily 1:20 pm, Fridays at 3:20 pm

Jennifer Montgomery, Notes on the Death of Kodachrome
Daily 1:50 pm, 3:50 pm on Fridays

Michael Smith, Portal Excursion
Daily 2:50 pm, Fridays at 4:50 pm

Corey McCorkle, Untitled
Daily 3:10 pm, Fridays at 5:10pm

Amie Siegel, DDR
Daily 3:30pm, Fridays at 5:30 pm

2nd Floor Galleries / Plays Continuously
 
Javier Tellez, Letter to the Blind….
 
3rd Floor Galleries / Plays Continuously
 
Olaf Breuning, Home 2

Dodge & Kahn, Can’t Swallow It, Can’t Spit It Out
 
Mika Tajima / New Humans, Holding Your Breath
 
4th Floor Screening Room
 
Natalia Almada, Al Otro Lado
Daily 11:20 am, Fridays at 1:20 pm

Spike Lee, When the Levees Broke
Daily 1:30 pm, Fridays at 3:30 pm

Large Print

-Transcriptions in Large Print are available for the following video artworks. Transcripts are available compiled in a binder, available at the Information Desk in the lobby.

Works with transcriptions include:

Can’t Swallow It, Can’t Spit It Out by Dodge & Kahn; 3rd Floor

Emergency Needs by Kevin Jerome Everson;  Kaufman Theater

Portal Excursion by Michael Smith; Kaufman Theater

Let Me Count the Ways… by Leslie Thornton; Kaufman Theater

Letter On The Blind… by Javier Tellez; 2nd floor

Operation Atropos by Coco Fusco;  Kaufman Theater

-Short summaries of ambient sounds for video artworks shown in the galleries are included on the information wall labels. Additionally, a complete listing of ambient sounds is available in a booklet at the Information Desk in the lobby.
Click here for a complete listing of ambient sounds

Real-time captioning (CART) for video artworks screened in the Kaufman Theater on the 2nd Floor and public programs are available upon request with three weeks notice. This accommodation is contingent upon the availability of captioners.

-Gallery tours are interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) at 6:30PM on the second Friday of each month, March 21st, April 11th and May 9, 2008. Tours are free with Museum admission which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays, 6-9PM.

-Whitney Signs: A free tour program featuring a Museum educator who is deaf. Tours take place April 5th and May 3, 2008; participants are invited to an informal reception at 3PM followed by the tour at 4PM. The talk is voice interpreted and free to all participants. Registration is encouraged but not required at asl_tours@whitney.org.

-ASL students, please note: We regret that complimentary tickets will not be available for ASL students; regular student admission is $10 with a valid student ID. Students must RSVP prior to Friday at 5PM; RSVP's after that will not be accepted. Please note: Museum staff/interpreters will not be able to sign student assignments.

-ASL tours are available on request when made three weeks in advance.

TTY

-Public telephones with a TTY are located in the Lower Lobby.