Accessibility at the Museum

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum welcomes all visitors. We recognize the diverse needs of our audience and offer accessible programs and services to enable all visitors to explore the shared American experiences we interpret at the Tenement Museum.

For questions about Museum accessibility and how we can accommodate your specific needs, call 646.518.3038 or e-mail [email protected].

Getting to the Museum

At the Visitor Center

Recommended Tours

Accessible Tours Services Chart or Screen Readable List

Upcoming Events

The Tenement Museum offers discounted entry and special $65 memberships for visitors with disabilities, as well as free entry to care partners. Please contact our call center at 1.877.975.3786 or identify yourself at the Visitor Center to receive this discount and/or free entry for a care partner. For a discounted membership please call our membership line 646-518-3007.

Getting to the Museum

   Wheelchair Accessibility

The Delancey-Essex F/J/M/Z station has no elevator. The uptown F platform has an escalator to exit to the street. The nearest wheelchair accessible subway station is B/D/F/M/6 to Broadway-Lafayette Street.
 
The wheelchair accessible public entrance to 103 Orchard Street is on Delancey Street, between Orchard and Allen. Tell Access-a-Ride the address is 81 Delancey. 103 Orchard Street’s accessible door is located adjacent to 81 Delancey Street. Ring bell for entry.

At the Visitor Center

   Wheelchair Accessibility

All public spaces and programs held at 103 Orchard Street are wheelchair accessible.
 

   Open Captioning and Induction Loops

The orientation film shown in the theater of our Visitor Center, is open captioned, and equipped with an induction loop. The ticketing and retail counters are also equipped with induction loops.
 

   Restrooms

The Visitors Center is equipped with universally designed elevators and restrooms on the basement level. 

Recommended Tours

Tours and guided experiences are the only ways to access our historic buildings. These often include small, low lit spaces. If you have difficulties in small spaces please call 646-518-3038 or e-mail [email protected] for recommendations.

   Wheelchair Accessibility

The Museum has a limited amount of wheelchairs available to borrow for wheelchair accessible programs. To reserve a wheelchair for your visit please call our Call Center at 1-877-975-3786 (Monday–Saturday: 9 am–5 pm) or email [email protected]. 

Shop Life

Shop Life is the only wheelchair accessible apartment tour at 97 Orchard Street. There is limited capacity. To reserve tickets for individuals who use wheelchairs, visitors must call in advance, 1-877-975-3786. 

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Bluma and Bella in matching outfits, holding hands and smiling on the sidewalk.

Under One Roof

Under One Roof takes place in 103 Orchard Street and is accessible by elevator. There is limited capacity. To reserve tickets for individuals who use wheelchairs, visitors must call in advance, 1-877-975-3786.

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Historic tenement building and site of the Tenement Museum at 103 Orchard Street in New York City's Lower East Side.

Neighborhood Walking Tour

All of the Museum’s walking tours are wheelchair accessible.

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Man playing a guitar at an Evenings at the Tenement event at 103 Orchard Street.

Evening Programs and Events

Tenement Talks are fully wheelchair accessible as are a number of the Museum’s evening programs and events.

 

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  Individuals who are Blind or have Low Vision

Victoria Confino is an Experience that takes place in a fully touchable location and is a multi-sensory experience. We recommend this tour for visitors who are Blind or Have Low Vision.

Large print and braille materials as well as handling objects are available for our Hard Times, Sweatshop Workers, Irish Outsiders, Shop Life, and Under One Roof tours. Ask for these materials when you arrive at the Visitors Center.

The Tenement Museum also hosts Touch Tours for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Click here for a list of upcoming tours. 

Visitors can book a free tactile orientation to the Museum before their tour with two weeks’ advance notice. Please contact the Education Specialist for Access to schedule [email protected] or 646-518-3038.

Individuals who are Deaf or have Hearing Loss

  Assistive Listening Devices

The Museum offers FM assistive listening devices upon request for all tours and evening programming. Ask a representative at the Visitors Center upon arrival.

   Induction Loops

Portions of the Shop Life, Irish Outsiders, and Under One Roof tours include audio-visual elements equipped with induction loops.

Evening Events

Tenement Talks take place in a space equipped with an induction loop.

FM Assisted Listening devices and neckloops are available for all evening events held at 103 Orchard Street. Ask a Visitor Services representative for assistance.

ASL interpretation and TypeWell Transcribing are available for Tenement Talks with at least 2 weeks’ advance notice.

TypeWell Transcriped Tours

The Tenement Museum hosts occasional TypeWell transcribed tours. Click here for a list of upcoming tours.

Click here for chart of accessible features and services.

 Tours in American Sign Language

Free ASL interpretation is available with at least 2 weeks’ advance notice. The Museum also hosts ASL tours for visitors. Click here for a list of upcoming tours. Learn more about ASL at the Museum by watching the video below.

Private Tours for Groups with Disabilities

The Tenement Museum offers several special programs designed to suit the needs of visitors with particular disabilities. Private tours for parties of 5 or more can be arranged for groups with disabilities.

To schedule a private tour for a group with special needs, email [email protected] or 646-518-3038.

 

Individuals who are Blind or have Low Vision

For groups of 5 or more, the Tenement Museum can combine any of our Apartment Tours with handling objects, verbal imaging and an architectural model of 97 Orchard and 103 Orchard. These private group programs are only available for groups of 5 or more, and must be booked in advance.

 

   American Sign Language 

The Tenement Museum’s Deaf educator, Alexandria Wailes leads Apartment Tour programs with advanced notice. If you have a group of five or more individuals, schedule a group ASL tour by contacting our Education Specialist for Access.

 

Visitors on the Autism Spectrum

Private tours for visitors on the autism spectrum and their families are available with at least two weeks advance notice for our Apartment Tour programs. These tours can take place on Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday before the museum opens or after the final public tour departs to ensure there are fewer people in our small space. Find out what else to expect here. To book this private tour, please call 646-518-3038 or e-mail [email protected].