Accessibility

Museum visitor in a wheelchair and guest interact with an exhibit in the Public Vaults.

The National Archives Museum is accessible and ADA compliant.

Disability Services

Blind and Low Vision Visitors

Five copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence are available in braille. Please contact Visitor Services for more information at visitorservices@nara.gov.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Visitors

ASL interpreters are available with at least seven business days’ advance notice. To make reservations for sign language interpretation on a museum visit or tour, please contact Visitor Services at visitorservices@nara.gov.

Interpretypes® are available as a means to communicate between staff and visitors. Please see Visitor Services to request one.

Welcome video in American Sign Language (ASL)

Service Animals

The National Archives’ Service Animal Policy permits dogs and other service animals specifically trained to perform tasks for persons with disabilities. Therapy animals are not considered service animals under the ADAAA 2008. Service animals must be under the control of their handlers at all times.

Wheelchairs

A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available for visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. All facilities are accessible by elevator. Please see Accessing the DC Area Facilities for more information on accessible entrances and routes to the museum. If you require assistance, please ask a security officer.

Visitor Services

If you have questions about services for visitors who are disabled, or need more information, please contact Visitor Services at visitorservices@nara.gov.

National Archives Museum Virtual Tour in American Sign Language (ASL) and English

Our "Welcome to the National Archives Museum" video in American Sign Language (ASL) and with English closed captioning highlights the various exciting permanent and changing exhibits, special galleries, and National Archives store. It also highlights resources available to deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, such as ASL-interpreted tours and Interpretypes® to assist with communication between deaf and hearing visitors and staff.

Information Communication Technology

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities. NARA regularly monitors its sites to ensure that they meet and exceed the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998, and the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

NARA's Section 508 Coordinator

NARA's Federal Section 508 Coordinator is the primary point of contact for NARA's efforts to provide individuals with disabilities with equal access to electronic information and data. These efforts pertain to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1998.

Our Section 508 Coordinator:

  • Email: 508feedback@nara.gov
  • Mail:
    National Archives and Records Administration
    Section 508 Coordinator
    8601 Adelphi Road, Room 4400
    College Park, MD 20740-6001
  • Telephone: 301-837-1514

Alternate Access to Web Information

If the format of any material on our website interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact us at the address above.

To allow us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please let us know:

  1. Nature of your accessibility issue.
  2. Preferred format in which to receive the material.
  3. Web address (URL) of the material with which you are having difficulty.
  4. Your contact information.

Learn More

Section 508 is a Federal law that requires agencies to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to electronic information and data comparable to those who do not have disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The Section 508 standards are the technical requirements and criteria that are used to measure conformance within this law. More information on Section 508 and the technical standards can be found on the following sites:

  • Section508.gov provides Federal employees and the public with access to resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508, including Section 508 tools, resources, standards, and news.
  • The U.S. Access Board's Section 508 Homepage provides information on Section 508 law, frequently asked questions, and standards.
  • The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) homepage provides strategies, guidelines, and resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.

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Page last updated: 10/18/2022