Sensory-friendly family spots in Austin, Texas

Sensory notesSensory-friendly backpacks available at check-in with General Admission: noise-canceling headphones, a 5-minute timer, adult and child-sized sunglasses. A limited number of sound-reducing earmuffs may be borrowed at Admissions (photo ID held). A social story is available online to prepare children for the visit. Sensory-friendly field trips on the first Tuesday of every month at much more limited capacity.

Sensory notesSerenity Room (first floor, Texas History Galleries, near the restrooms at the back of the gallery): a lower-sensory space to rest, nurse or tend to family, with private rooms and a common seating area. Sensory bags and maps are free to check out at Ticketing (photo ID held): bags include tactile sensory tools, noise-reducing headphones and look-and-see cards. The museum offers sensory-friendly morning hours in a quieter, less-crowded environment (check the museum calendar). A limited supply of noise-reduction headphones is available in the IMAX and Texas Spirit Theaters. Sensory warnings: IMAX films may contain flashing lights and IMAX-spec volume; the Texas Spirit Theater is multisensory and contains flashing-light sequences that may affect visitors with photosensitive epilepsy.

Sensory notesAssistive listening devices are available free for public tours (the gallery teacher wears a microphone). Open captioning is provided for many video works in the Film & Video Gallery; transcripts available at Check-In on request. Large-print label texts for some galleries are available on request (email ahead). Audio guides in English and Spanish for 'Austin' by Ellsworth Kelly.

Sensory notesThrough KultureCity, sensory bags containing noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, weighted lap pads and visual tools are available at the Laguna Gloria Visitor Center (and the Jones Center Reception Desk), along with dedicated quiet spaces for respite. EnChroma glasses for colorblind visitors are available, and exhibition/visitor materials are translated into Braille through a partnership with Clovernook. The Bloomberg Connects digital guide offers voice over, captions, audio transcripts, image zoom and font-size adjustment.