Accessibility

Ford’s Theatre strives to make art and history accessible to people with disabilities by removing barriers and providing opportunities. While the below covers most of our standard offerings, feel free to call or email us with particular concerns or requests.

 

Wheelchair Accessibility

The majority of Ford’s Theatre is wheelchair accessible. The main orchestra level of the historic theatre can be accessed from the ground-floor lobby entrance. The lobby also provides elevator access to the basement-level museum, exhibits, and bookstore, as well as to the upper-level theatre balcony. The associated Center for Education and Leadership across the street provides elevator access to three levels of exhibits as well as to the back porch of the adjacent Petersen House, providing a view of the room in which the assassinated president died. Due to the historic stadium-style seating in the theatre, wheelchair accessible seating for ranger talks and theatrical productions is offered in the rear of the orchestra and balcony sections.

 

Sign Language Interpretation

For historic site visits, American Sign Language interpretation is available upon request at no charge. Please email us at least three weeks before your visit to make arrangements.
Ford's Theatre Society offers scheduled sign-interpreted performances for all major productions. Sign-interpreted services for performances are not available by request. For details about accessibility at performances, please visit the Ford's Theater Society website.

 

Closed Captioning

The majority of the films in the basement-level museum and the Center for Education and Leadership are closed-captioned.

 

Braille Brochures

Ford’s Theatre provides braille brochures of the site, free of charge, to onsite visitors. Onsite visitors can acquire a braille brochure by asking ranger or Ford’s Theatre Society staff.

 

Audio Description

Visitors can listen to an audio description tour of Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House.
An audio described version of the Ford's Theatre site brochure is available on the UniDescription app. This app includes all park brochures that have been audio described under the UniDescription partnership project with the University of Hawaii. The app is free and available on the iOS platform and Android platform.