Accessibility

The Strong believes that every guest should have an enriching and enjoyable experience. The museum is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all visitors can engage, explore, and play comfortably.

Sensory Resources

Sensory Friendly Sunday provides families the opportunity to experience the museum before it opens to the general public. Guests have access to designated quiet areas that include sensory friendly toys, light and sound reduction, and extra visual safety signage.

Additionally, the museum offers alternatives for guests who prefer quieter activities, including craft tables, book nooks, and aquariums. Guests who require a quiet space have access to the museum’s Guest Rests, located on the first and second floors of the museum.

Noise-cancelling headphones are available upon request at the admissions desk, Play Lab, and Paychex Theater. Guests are asked to leave a driver’s license as collateral while borrowing the headphones.

Social Stories

Social stories, developed in collaboration with AutismUp, provide a visual guide to what guests can expect during their visit. They help prepare children and families by outlining museum experiences, from arrival to departure.

• Getting Ready to Visit the Museum
• Visiting the American Comic Book Heroes: The Battle of Good vs. Evil Exhibit
• Visiting the Berenstain Bears Exhibit
• Visiting the Build, Drive, Go! Exhibit
• Visiting the Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? Exhibit
• Visiting the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
• Visiting ESL Digital Worlds: High Score
• Visiting ESL Digital Worlds: Level Up
• Visiting the Game Time! Exhibit
• Visiting a Guest Rest
• Visiting Hasbro Game Park
• Visiting the Imagination Destination Exhibit
• Visiting the One History Place Exhibit
• Visiting the Play Lab
• Visiting the Play Pals Exhibit
• Visiting the Reading Adventureland Exhibit
• Visiting the Ralph Wilson Skyline Climb Ropes Course
• Visiting the Toy Halls of Fame Exhibit
• Visiting the Wegmans Super Kids Market Exhibit

Download The Strong’s Bloomberg Connects app for mobile-friendly social stories and multilingual exhibit descriptions.

Wheelchairs

The museum offers a limited supply of complimentary wheelchairs, available on a first-come, first-served basis. All public entrances (and most exhibit areas) are accessible by wheelchair, scooter, stroller, and walker.

Designated Therapists, Caregivers, or Interpreters

General museum admission is available at no additional cost to licensed care providers and interpreters for visitors requiring assistance. These care providers and interpreters must provide an employee badge from a licensed facility and a matching photo ID, and will only receive complimentary admission when their client pays general museum admission. The Canadian Access 2 card is not accepted.

AIRA Visual Interpreter App

The Strong National Museum of Play is an Aira Access Partner. Anyone visiting The Strong can open the Aira app on their phone and connect free of charge with a professional visual interpreter. The visual interpreter will access the caller’s phone camera and describe, narrate, navigate and read aloud to assist. Aira is available 24/7/365, and no advance reservations are required. Get the Aira app for Google Play, iOS, or use the web app and begin accessing on-demand visual interpreting today!

Digital Map

Download The Strong Museum map on your iPhone or Android device to get turn-by-turn directions or visit our web map.

Riding the Train and Carousel

Caregivers assisting guests on The Strong Express Train or Elaine Wilson Carousel may ride free of charge. Please see a museum host for more information. Chest harnesses are available at the carousel.

Elevators

The Strong has three conveniently located elevators that allow guests access to the museum’s second floor.

Benches

An ample number of benches are located throughout the museum’s two floors of interactive exhibits, allowing guests a place to rest.

Parking

Accessible parking spaces can be found on levels one, two, and three of the museum’s parking garage. A disabled parking placard or license plate is required.

Self-Guided Mobile Tours

Self-guided tours are available in written and audio format via The Strong Museum’s Bloomberg Connects app. The app also includes an easy-to-follow floor plan and exhibit descriptions in multiple languages. Learn more.

Closed Captioning

The museum offers exhibition labels (available in English) that display content information about the artifacts and the concept behind each exhibit/display.

ASL Interpreters

ASL Interpreters or additional accommodations such as DeafBlind requests should be made two weeks in advance by contacting Cathy DeBellis at cdebellis@museumofplay.org.

Service Animals

Service dogs are welcome in the museum. All service dogs must remain on a leash or harness at all times. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted in the museum.

Family Restrooms

An ample number of restrooms are scattered throughout the museum, including two family restrooms on the first floor and one on the second floor. All restrooms are wheelchair accessible and include changing tables for infants and toddlers.

Adult Changing Rooms

Changing tables for families caring for older children and adults can be found in the family restroom behind Imagination Destination and in Age of Empires on the museum’s second floor.

Guest Rests

The museum offers three Guest Rests when you need a quiet, out-of-the-way space for you and your child. Guest Rests are located in the G. Rollie Adams Atrium on the first floor and in the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and Age of Empires exhibits on the second floor. Guest Rests supported in part by Ethan Allen.

First Aid

Museum security staff is certified in First Aid and CPR. If assistance is required, please notify a host or a security officer.