Accessibility
people participating in the teacher's institution

We offer a number of accessibility resources to provide a full experience for museum visitors of all ages and abilities. While we can’t guarantee all accommodations, we will try our best to fulfill your request. If you have any questions about accommodations beyond those listed below, please email our Public Engagement and Learning department at wamtour@umn.edu.

Expand all

Parking & Transportation

The museum’s 120-space parking ramp is open 24/7 and includes five designated disability parking spaces in close proximity to the museum elevator.

Metered street parking is available on East River Road. Additional parking is available in the nearby East River Ramp with stair-free access to the museum entrance level through Coffman Union. Parking is free for up to three hours if a state disability permit or license plate is properly displayed. You can get maps for disability parking spaces and get estimated walk times from select locations on campus.

Metro Mobility

Metro Mobility and similar transportation services are instructed to drop off and pick up passengers by the  museum entrance on East River Parkway. Push button activated doors provide visitors entrance to Level A and the  elevator to Level 1 ( galleries and gender neutral accessible bathroom) or Level 2 (administration offices and accessible gendered bathrooms). 

Bus and light rail service with disability-reserved seating is available in close proximity to the of the museum along Washington Avenue and Pleasant Street.

Registration

Program registration provides space to request accessibility services. Most programs are provided in a variety of formats such as recordings, printed out materials, or materials that can be sent in advance (such as ppt presentations) and are promoted  on our website and social media channels. 

The Weisman is happy to provide printed materials in braille with at least two weeks notice. Please email wamtour@umn.edu with requests. Building directional signs are in Braille. Accessibility information is available on our printed materials.

Strollers and Bags

Baby strollers are permitted in the galleries. Large bags and backpacks must be left at the Visitor Services desk.

Wheelchairs

All entrances, galleries and public areas are accessible to visitors who use mobility devices or prefer to avoid stairs. There are two wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitor Services desk. The museum, including all galleries, are ADA accessible. Wheelchair accessibility is factored into exhibit design, including case height and label placement. A handicap button for door access is available on parking level C.

Seating

Portable stools are available on a first-come-first serve basis, and can be used for seating within our galleries. If you need help locating a portable stool, a member of the visitor services team can help. Limited in-gallery seating is also available.

Tours

Guided tours led by WAM Student Tour Guides are available on a weekly basis. Check our events page for specific times, topics, and multilingual options.  

Self guided and Verbal Description tours are available upon request. 

For custom tours and access needs, please contact wamtour@umn.edu

360 Virtual Tour

WAM’s virtual 360 tour is a self-directed visit of WAM’s physical spaces. 

Social Narrative

Download the Weisman Art Museum's social narrative. A social narrative is a tool intended to increase comfort and familiarity with the museum by providing photos, descriptions of museum spaces, and other tips to visitors before they visit us.

Large-Print Materials

Large print materials are available at the visitor services desk in both physical copy and by QR code for all permanent collection exhibitions and special exhibitions.

Closed Captioning, ASL, & Language Interpretation

We offer automatically generated closed-captions for all our virtual talks. To request American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or CART captioning, let us know in advance by contacting weismanprograms@umn.edu 

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices are available at the visitor services desk for group visits and tours. 

Baby Changing Stations

There are baby changing stations located in all restrooms.

Bathrooms

A fully accessible, single stall gender neutral restroom is available on the first floor behind the Visitor Services front desk. Fully accessible gendered restrooms are located on the second floor of the museum, and can be accessed by an elevator or stairs. 

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags are available for check-out at the front desk and include: sunglasses, headphones, fidgets, and a visual timer. These tools can help meet sensory needs and promote positive regulation of the senses. Use sensory tools to enhance your focus or calm during a museum visit. Visitors of any age may find sensory tools useful. We have smaller headphones and larger headphones depending on what the individual needs. 

Mental Health

WAM recognizes that invisible disabilities such as mental illness are common on campus and in the general population and that stress relief is one of the major reasons people cite for museum attendance. However, some depictions in artworks can be traumatizing depending on an individual or group's past experiences or current struggles. WAM reviews exhibit content with this in mind, and takes precautions to minimize negative emotional experiences such as placing potentially challenging works in areas that allow for content warnings prior to entering this space. WAM has also been proactive to feature exhibits that specifically address mental health so as to increase the conversation around this topic. WAM provides study nights and stress relief events for visitors in the gallery spaces.

Architectural Access

The museum seeks to be accessible for all visitors. The University of Minnesota’s Disability Resource Center routinely reviews the museum to make sure that no barriers exist for visitors. Have feedback about how the museum can be more accessible? Please reach out to wam@umn.edu 

Gallery Map of the Weisman Art Museum

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome in the museum. To learn more, please see the University of Minnesota service animal policy.