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The Carter Is Celebrating Accessibilities Tools and Resources
For over 10 years, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (the Carter) has been committed to ensuring that the Museum is accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities.
In honor of Color Blind Awareness Month in September as well as World Blindness Awareness Month October, the Carter is celebrating the variety of accessibility tools and resources it offers for visitors with visual differences. With these resources, Museum visitors of all abilities can better encounter the beauty and diversity of American creativity as they explore the Carter’s collection and dynamic exhibitions.
“The Carter is deeply invested in offering a variety ways for visitors of all ages and abilities to engage the artworks at the Carter,” said Amanda Blake, Director of Education, Library, and Visitor Experience. “From raised-line drawings to large-print labels, our accessibility tools and resources help to remove the barriers visitors with low to no vision may experience when visiting a museum.”
Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
For color-blind visitors to the Museum, EnChroma color blind glasses are available to check out at the Information Desk. Based on the latest color perception neuroscience, EnChroma glasses were created to filter light to alleviate the red/green color cone sensitivity overlap that leads to color confusion. With these glasses, individuals with color blindness can experience the full spectrum of American creativity as they explore the galleries. EnChroma glasses are available in sizes for both children and adults.
Since 2014, Lighthouse for the Blind Fort Worth has partnered with the Carter to help develop raised-line drawings and visual descriptions for visitors. Lighthouse for the Blind Fort Worth is a nonprofit organization that provides training, employment, and rehabilitation to the visually impaired. On Tuesday, October 15 the Carter is partnering with Lighthouse for the Blind to celebrate White Cane Day at the Museum from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Carter has also worked with Lighthouse for the Blind to create over 3,000 alterative text descriptions for the Museum’s website so that online visitors can better encounter the beauty and wonder of American art when exploring the collection online.
“The Carter works hard to be a museum for all, which includes visitors of all abilities,” stated Peggy Speir, Manager of Access Programs and Resources. “Working with our incredible community partners who are experts in fields including autism, Alzheimer’s, and low/no vision to name a few, we’re able to provide experiences and tools that allow visitors to connect with our collections and exhibitions in a creative, social, and meaningful way. Whether it’s attending an access program, using a universally designed tool, or just feeling familiar with the space, audiences with disabilities will understand we have so many things for them to enjoy.”
Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
The Carter offers a variety of accessibility tools and resources for visitors to check out to enhance their visit to the Museum. Visitors can request tactile tools kits, which feature 3D-printed copies and raised-line drawings of select artworks from the collection, visual descriptions in Braille and large print, and additional sensory objects to use as they encounter artworks while in the galleries. The Carter also offers audio stops throughout the Museum that provide visual descriptions and/or additional information on artworks featuring contributions from Museum staff, artists, community members, and others. Each gallery in the Museum, from the permanent collection to the special exhibitions, has booklets with large-print labels, and the Museum offers assistive listening devices during events and tours upon request. Free visual description and touch tours of the collection are available for advanced scheduling.
Beyond access resources, the Carter will also be offering a variety of access events this fall for Museum visitors of all ages and abilities:
On Thursday, September 5, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., visitors are invited to join us at the Carter for Meet Up at the Museum: Color. During this free event, visitors can explore vibrant artworks in the galleries, enjoy live music by local musician Jakob Robertson, create their own rainbow-inspired artwork, meet up with other art enthusiasts, and more! Meet Up at the Museum is a free sensory-friendly social event for neurodivergent adults and their guests. While the needs of individuals with autism are the focus of this event, it is also fun for family and friends.
On Saturday, October 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., visitors are invited to join us at the Carter for Sensory Explorations: Portraits. During this free event, families can explore artworks in the galleries featuring people and portraits, enjoy an interactive performance, and create their own mini version of themselves during a hands-on, art-making experience. Sensory Explorations is a free event for families with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum. While the needs of individuals with autism are the focus of this event, it is also fun for parents, siblings, and other relatives.
Sensory Explorations
Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
The Carter offers additional access opportunities available on request for individuals and groups. Artful Moments is designed for visitors with dementia and their care partners, where visitors connect with artworks and share stories together in a social setting. During Close Encounters, visitors with low or no vision and their guests participate in a tour and use sensory tools, including raised-line drawings and 3D-printed copies of sculptures, to connect with artworks. Children or adults with cognitive and/or physical disabilities engage in multisensory activities and create a work of art during our Connect to Art program.
Connect to Art
Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
The Carter’s commitment to these audiences is strengthened by partnerships with professionals skilled in serving visitors with special needs. The Carter has partnered with TCU FACES (Families, Autism, and Child Emotional Studies) since 2018 for our access events, such as Sensory Explorations, to structure our programs and invite families to access events, as well as provide staff training. The Carter has also been an official clinical site for Tarrant Community College Sign Language Program since 2021, which allows their students to practice signing for lectures, member events, and exhibition openings. Dementia Friendly Fort Worth has partnered with the Carter since 2019, allowing us to offer free virtual tours of the collection for the organization during their social events. Since 2020, the Carter has partnered with the University of North Texas, which provides exceptional training for our staff and insight into how to best format our adult autism events at the Museum.
Since 2021, the Carter has offered American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at many of the Museum’s events. ASL interpretation is provided for many events or may be requested up to 48 hours before for all other events. Email us for additional information.
To learn more about access events and resources at the Carter, visit cartermuseum.org/access.
