Accessibility

American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL interpretation for programs, tours, or events may be requested at least two weeks prior to the event date. To request ASL interpretation, please contact [email protected] or 410-547-9000 ext. 265.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available for use during programs and tours in the Graham Auditorium and gallery spaces.

For programs, ALDs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the check-in table or Visitor Experience desk. They can be returned to any staff member. To reserve a device in advance, please contact [email protected] or 410-547-9000, ext. 265.

For tours, ALDs can be requested on the accommodations section of the tour registration form or by emailing [email protected].

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Captioning

All videos on the Walters’ YouTube channel have automatic captioning. Many videos have updated manual captioning. More captions are added regularly.

Color Accessibility

EnChroma glasses are available at the Visitor Experience desk for use in the galleries. These glasses filter out red and green light frequencies impacted by the most common forms of colorblindness.

Entering the Museum

The Centre Street main and Upper Charles Street entrances are accessible to visitors using mobility aids. The Lower Charles Street entrance has external steps leading up to the doors and interior steps leading into the museum.

The Centre Street main entrance is closest to the museum parking lot. Museum staff are available to assist visitors in opening the main entrance doors. An access lift bypasses a set of stairs from the street level to the lobby level. The Centre Street lift is 32 inches wide and 60 inches long. For visitors with mobility aids that exceed these dimensions or who plan to borrow a wide transport wheelchair, the Upper Charles Street entrance is recommended.

The Upper Charles Street entrance is street-level with ramp access. The exterior door is equipped with a push-button automatic door opener.

The Centre Street and Lower Charles Street entrances can be very bright on sunny days, carry loud sounds, and often have high visitor traffic. The Upper Charles Street entrance is often quiet and dimly lit.

All entrances have access to complimentary lockers.

Please note that the public sidewalks leading to the museum entrances can be uneven, including grates, steep inclines, and high curbs. For recommendations on entry routes, please contact Visitor Experience at [email protected] or call 410-547-9000, ext. 265.

Food and Drink

Food or drink in sealed containers can be carried in a bag, stroller, mobility aid, pockets, or stored in a complimentary locker. Water from a bottle may be consumed in lobby spaces, including the One West Mount Vernon Place Conservatory; lobby spaces on levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Centre Street building; the Graham Auditorium; and the Sculpture Court. Exceptions to this policy are made in cases of medical need.

Eating and drinking are permitted in the Museum Cafe, with food and beverage options available for purchase. The Cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday–Sunday and from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Allergy information for all menu items is available at the Cafe. Visit our Store and Cafe page for more information on our offerings.

For more information regarding food and beverage policy, please contact Visitor Experience at [email protected] or 410-547-9000, ext. 265.

Health and Safety

Wearing a medical mask in the museum is optional for all visitors, staff, and volunteers. Complimentary masks are available. We continue to monitor and update health and safety guidelines in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State of Maryland, and the City of Baltimore. Touchless hand sanitizer stations are available at each entrance, near restrooms, and in the Museum Cafe, and we follow CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines on facility cleanliness.

Lighting

Certain galleries are dimly lit to protect light-sensitive art. Small flashlights or flashlights embedded in a smartphone may be used to navigate these areas. For assistance identifying dim or bright locations within the museum, please contact Visitor Experience at [email protected] or 410-547-9000, ext. 265, or ask a staff member or volunteer onsite.

Most galleries are accessible via elevator. Entry to the Centre Street building’s Great Hall on Level 3A requires a staff-operated inclined platform lift.

One West Mount Vernon Place has narrower doorways and tighter turning radiuses than the rest of the museum due to the historic construction of the home. Visitors using standard-width wheelchairs and walkers can navigate both floors, but please note that wide wheelchairs will not fit through the doorways on the first floor.

To view works of art online, visit the Online Collection site.

Parking

A valet service operates the museum parking lot. It has two designated accessible parking spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two accessible street parking spots on the corner of West Monument and Charles Streets. For more parking information, please visit the Directions and Parking page.

Vehicles operated with hand controls require a reserved space for the driver to park independently. To reserve an accessible space for hand-controlled vehicles, please contact the Visitor Experience Team at [email protected] or call 410-547-9000, ext. 265, at least two days in advance of your visit.

Print and Web Content

To request a document in an accessible format, including large print and digital, please contact Visitor Experience at [email protected] or call 410-547-9000, ext. 265, at least two weeks prior to your visit. We will do our best to accommodate the request.

The design system of our website and its visual contrast are compliant with the AA level of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG ) 2.0. The Walters is working toward making all web content usable by assistive navigation and screen reader technologies. Many of the images on our website have alt text. We are adding alt text to images per best practices following WebAIM guidelines.

Restrooms

Accessible restrooms are located in the Centre Street and One West Mount Vernon Place buildings.

Seating

The Walters offers a variety of seating options throughout the galleries and in the Walters Cafe. Some seating has back and arm support. Lightweight folding stools are available upon request at the Visitor Experience desk in the Centre Street lobby.

The Graham Auditorium has wheelchair-accessible locations on the lower level. Companion seating is available for each location. If you have questions or would like to request accessible seating in advance, please contact Visitor Experience at [email protected] or call 410-547-9000, ext. 265.

Sensory Resources

The Walters is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive venue.

All staff members, volunteers, and docents are trained on sensory systems and best practices for sensory inclusion.

KultureCity Sensory Bags are available for visitors to borrow at each museum entrance. They include a pair of noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, a lanyard, and a card with visual cues to identify feelings and needs. Weighted lap pads are also available at the Visitor Experience desk by the Centre Street entrance.

Signage is placed across the museum to identify loud areas as “Headphone Zones” and quiet areas as “Quiet Areas.” Staff members are available throughout the museum to assist with navigation to these locations. Headphones are welcome throughout the building.

To prepare for your visit, view our Social Story on KultureCity’s website. This first-person ‘know before you go’ guide provides context for what to expect during a visit to the Walters.

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome. Other animals are not permitted.

Touch Tours

Opportunities for touch tours are available and require advance registration. For more information, please contact Taylor Sirchio, School Communities Educator, at [email protected] or call 410-547-9000, ext. 232.

Virtual Offerings

The museum offers both virtual and hybrid (in-person and virtual) events that provide flexible ways to attend museum programming and platforms to explore the collection. Please visit the Calendar Page for the latest programming and events.

Wheelchairs

Two standard-size manual wheelchairs and two wide manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They can be picked up in the Centre Street and Upper Charles Street coatrooms or brought to the entrance by staff. To reserve a mobility device for use in the museum in advance, please contact Visitor Experience, [email protected] or 410-547-9000, ext. 265. The museum does not offer staff wheelchair escorts.