Accessibility
We are storytellers, and our stories are for everyone. That’s why we work hard to ensure each guest can experience our stories and share their own. We offer the following resources for guests to connect to the Jewish experiences in Maryland’s history. We also know these offerings will not meet every person’s need and we are working every day to improve our capacity for connection.
If there is a resource that would make your experience at the Museum better, please let Zoë Reznick Gewanter, our Director of Public Programs, know at zgewanter@jewishmuseummd.org or (443) 873-5163.
While you’re visiting the Museum, if you need any help accessing these resources, please speak to the front desk. We’re here to help you explore history, take action, and imagine a better future.
Please note, due to current health and safety concerns, some of our accessibility offerings may be limited. If there is a particular accessibility resource that you want during your visit, please contact the Director of Public Programs ahead of time and she can figure out an arrangement for you.
General
Service animals are always welcome in the Museum. Pets or emotional support animals are not allowed in the Museum.
Mobility
The Museum entrance, lobby, exhibit galleries, bathrooms, and the JMM gift shop, Esther’s Place, are accessible for guests using mobility aids.
There is a wheelchair for on-site guests, available upon request at the front desk. This wheelchair is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We also offer a ten-minute loading zone at the Museum’s entrance for drop-off and pick up.
We offer guided tours of our two historic synagogues, the Lloyd Street Synagogue and B’nai Israel. Unfortunately, these buildings are not yet fully accessible for guests using mobility aids.
The Lloyd Street Synagogue, built in 1845, requires navigating 9 exterior steps to access the main sanctuary and 7 exterior steps to access the Synagogue Speaks exhibit located in the basement. B’nai Israel Synagogue requires 2 steps to enter. The interior of B’nai Israel has an electric chair lift to the second floor, which has 21 steps.
For guests who do not wish to use the stairs into the historic buildings, we offer our synagogue tour video as an alternative. We can play this 15-minute tour video in our accessible Orientation Space. Simply ask the front desk.
There are some places to sit in the exhibit galleries as well as in the lobby of the Museum.
Hearing
We always try to offer transcripts of any recorded dialogue in the exhibits. Sometimes with guest exhibits, this is not available. We always have transcripts of the “Deli Dialogues” in our Voices of Lombard Street exhibit available in the gallery.
We offer Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) on our public synagogue tours and on our adult group tours. These devices offer over-the-ear headsets and T-Coil loops that are compatible with hearing aids. These devices allow guests to hear the docent through the headsets or their hearing aids, and to ask questions through the device while on tour. They are a standard part of our adult group tours, to benefit those with hearing loss or who are Hard-of-Hearing, as well as every person in the group. These devices are available for our public synagogue tours upon request at the front desk.
For public programs and group visits, we can arrange for a sign-language interpreter, free of charge. Please contact the Director of Public Programs, Zoë Reznick Gewanter, at zgewanter@jewishmuseummd.org or (443) 873-5163, at least three weeks ahead of time to arrange for this service.
Sight
We offer large print guides of our exhibits. With our new exhibits, they may not be available right away but we update the guides as quickly as possible. These guides are available in the exhibit galleries and at the front desk upon request. We cannot guarantee these guides with exhibits not created by JMM.
Braille transcripts are available for Voices of Lombard Street exhibit.
Certain exhibits require low or dim lighting to protect our objects. If you’re experiencing difficulty reading text in an exhibit we recommend using our large print guides.
Social/Mental
The Jewish Museum of Maryland has Social Stories available for neurodiverse guests or guests looking for additional guidance ahead of their visit. Currently, we have the following available:
Our Voices of Lombard Street exhibit features audio playing on loop. We can turn this audio off for any guests upon request. This exhibit also features hands-on activities, such as a play-table set, play-food, and a dress up trunk. These spaces may become crowded on our busy days and guests need to share the play items.
Our special exhibits may feature audio playing on loop. We may be able to turn this audio off for guests upon request but cannot guarantee this ability. Our special exhibits may have hands-on activities with sensory experiences involved. These places in the exhibit may become crowded on busy days and guests need to share and take turns with these activities.
Our education team is dedicated to making our school programs available to all students. For more information about our school programs click here. If you want to find out more about accessibility resources for students, or to request specific resources, contact Marisa Shultz, our Education Program Manager, at mshultz@jewishmuseummd.org or 443-873-5164.
Prices
We offer several discounts and specials to help more people access JMM’s stories.
- Personal Care Assistants receive free admission.
- EBT card holders are eligible for $1 admission each for up to 6 guests.
- Guests with disability identification are admitted for free.
- Active Military are eligible for free admission from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with proof of ID.