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General Policy
Visitors with disabilities can visit the museum at a reduced rate. Discounts are provided for both individual admissions and groups. Groups are requested to make a reservation before their visit by calling 415-528-4444 Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
We recognize that everyone is different, and what works best for one may not be a good fit for another. We recommend calling our Reservations staff in advance of your visit. Whether you prefer a little or a lot of assistance, letting us know what you need will help us provide the best possible museum experience.
Getting Here
The Exploratorium is accessible by car or by public transportation. There is a white-curbed loading zone on the Embarcadero just south of the museum for dropping off and picking up visitors. There are nearby parking lots as well as some handicapped parking spaces on the streets surrounding Pier 15 (visitors must have a valid handicapped parking placard or license plate to park there). For information about bus accessibility within San Francisco, visit Muni, or call 415-701-2311. To learn about accessibility on trains going into or out of San Francisco, visit BART, or call 415-989-2278.
Membership
People with disabilities may purchase discounted Exploratorium memberships. To learn more, go to Membership, call 415-528-4321, or email membership@exploratorium.edu.
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome inside the Exploratorium.
Accessibility and Amenities
To request ASL interpreter services, please call our Reservations office at 415-528-4407 to book a date and time. We can guarantee an interpreter with at least one week’s notice, the lead time required by the company we use. We may be able to accommodate a request with less notice, and we will assist you as best we can.
If you need an ASL interpreter, we need the following:
• Your first and last name.
• The date and time of your visit.
• The specific event, lecture, presentation, etc., that requires interpreter service.
Tactile Dome
The Tactile Dome provides a unique perceptual experience as you travel through a series of various textures in total darkness. A portion of the Tactile Dome is wheelchair accessible. Traversing the entire exhibit requires the ability to crawl, climb, and slide. Visitors with adequate upper-body strength to perform those moves are welcome to enjoy the full experience. Sign language interpreters or other necessary attendants are admitted free of charge, but advance notice must be given if they accompany a party.
The Kanbar Forum
A wheelchair lift and assistive listening systems are both available in the Kanbar Forum.
Website Accessibility Statement
The Exploratorium is committed to making its website — www.exploratorium.edu — more accessible and usable for all people with disabilities. Over time, we will be implementing the relevant portions of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG 2.0 AA). This will also bring our website into conformance with the Section 508 Web Accessibility Standards developed by the United States Access Board.
These efforts are a work in progress. If you have questions or concerns about the accessibility of a particular web page on www.exploratorium.edu, please contact us at webmaster@exploratorium.edu. When reporting an accessibility issue, please specify the web page URL in your e-mail. We will make all reasonable efforts to make that page accessible for you.