A guide to navigating accessibility in the City of Brotherly Love...
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The Franklin Institute
Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
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Franklin Fountain
Photo by Visit Philadelphia
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Overview
Philadelphia proudly offers visitors the ability to explore the city with a sense of independence.
With accessible hotels, historic sites, restaurants, museums and services available, travelers of all abilities can be confident that they have choices in the City of Brotherly Love.
The information below can assist travelers of all abilities with planning a visit and serve as a jumping-off point to learn more about accessibility at top attractions like the Liberty Bell Center and The Franklin Institute.
The City of Philadelphia’s accessibility compliance services works to ensure that residents and visitors with disabilities have the same rights as all Philadelphians. For more on City of Philadelphia services, visit the
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
.
The following lists include many local favorites — however, it is not comprehensive. Visitors are always encouraged to contact an attraction, hotel or restaurant directly to review any specific needs or requests for travelers with disabilities.
Travelers with disabilities have a range of options for navigating the city. Not only is SEPTA, the city’s public transportation system, wheelchair accessible, but multiple organizations and taxis also provide services for visitors who use wheelchairs. In addition, many city parking lots and garages include designated parking.
SEPTA
Philadelphia’s public transportation system, the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
, can take visitors from one part of the city to another in minutes.
Many of the region’s SEPTA stations are wheelchair accessible, be it rail, subway, trolley or bus. Every bus has a lift or ramp and can be lowered to street level. Regional Rail cars and stations are also wheelchair accessible.
Accessible stations
feature the access symbol next to the line name on
septa.org
. Individually trained service animals are welcome on all forms of transportation, and SEPTA’s website
offers a text reader
for those who are blind or visually impaired and need to access schedules and fare information. SEPTA Key fare kiosks at stations have Braille and raised lettering, and an audio function that converts on-screen text to spoken word.
Many of the subway and trolley stations are accessible as well. A full list of the accessible stations can be found on
septa.org
. SEPTA’s CCT Connect offers transit services to people with disabilities who are not able to use the other lines.
Click here
or the button below for more information about SEPTA accessibility.
The Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop
is a quick, easy and inexpensive connection to key Philadelphia historic attractions and cultural institutions. Note that the PHLASH does not run year-round. Call (800) 537-7676 or visit
RidePhillyPHLASH.com
for more information.
All buses are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Service is available on select days during peak visitor times.
Senior citizens, children under age 4, and SEPTA Pass and Key card holders ride free. All others ride for $2 (or $5 per day).
Accessible Taxis and Car Services
All Philadelphia taxicabs
have passenger information monitors (PIM) in the backseat that provide cab and driver information and fare amounts. All taxi dispatchers must accept requests for wheelchair accessible vehicles and coordinate service calls with other dispatchers.
2-1-5-Get-A-Cab’s
mobile app (available on iOS and Android) allows users to create a default setting for accessibility, so that any requested ride is wheelchair-accessible cab.
Click here
to preview 2-1-5-Get-A-Cab’s mobile app.
Uber
and
Lyft
, two of the most popular driver services in the U.S., also offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Uber users can request an uberWAV ride in the app’s ride option. After entering the destination in the app, users select “WAV” at the bottom of the screen, then “Confirm WAV.” Uber offers
car seats
at an additional fee of $10. Riders can use the uberX service to request a car with a child seat by tapping the “car seat” option after selecting the uberX vehicle type. Learn more at
uber.com
.
In the Lyft app, users can enable the WAV option in Settings, under “Services” and then by selecting “Access.” For more information, visit
lyft.com
.
Wheelchair and Device Rentals
Many sites, venues, and cultural institutions have wheelchairs available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. The local organizations listed below have wheelchairs and other equipment you can rent when visiting Philadelphia.
Marx Medical Equipment
: Serving the Philadelphia and New Jersey region, Marx Medical Equipment has standard and powered wheelchairs for rent.
(215) 426-9242, or visit
MarxMedicalEquipment.com
.
Scootaround
: Visitors can rent scooters, standard wheelchairs, or powered wheelchairs. Scootaround provides rental options and rates on its website.
(888) 441-7575, or visit
Scootaround.com.
Assisted Listening Devices
: The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Lending Library of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University loans equipment and technology to Pennsylvanians, including assisted listening devices. The library offers a wide array of options, including an online equipment catalog.
(215) 204-1356, or visit
disabilities.temple.edu
.
BabyQuip:
Travelers who don’t have their own strollers and car seats can rent those and other childcare items on a daily or monthly basis. Visit
BabyQuip.com
.
Vehicle Parking Resources
Residents of Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania counties can obtain a Disability Parking Placard through the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
. The required
Form MV145-A
(for individuals with disabilities) and Form
MV145-V
(for veterans with disabilities) applications are available to download on PennDOT’s website. Once you receive the placard, both drivers and passengers with disabilities can park in designated spaces throughout Philadelphia. Information about how to obtain a Disability Parking Placard is available at
dmv.pa.gov
.
The City of Philadelphia allows for 60 minutes of free street parking (except on streets where parking is prohibited) for vehicles with
Disability Parking Placards or plates
when that vehicle is operated by or transporting a person with a disability. Additionally, free, unlimited street parking (except on streets where parking is prohibited) is permissible for vehicles that are identifiable as having wheelchair lifts or ramps and that are operated by or transporting a person with a disability.
Two visitors use an accessible sled at the Winterfest ice rink on Penn's Landing.
— Photo by M. Stanley for Visit Philadelphia
Sponsored
Sponsored
Accessible Services And Organizations
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
The
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
serves the needs of Philadelphians with disabilities and ensures compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It provides helpful information about many services, including traveling through Philadelphia International Airport, and designated parking in Philadelphia.
(215) 686-2798
Art-Reach
Art-Reach
envisions a world where people with disabilities and those who are from low-income communities have equitable access to the arts. Art-Reach serves traditionally underserved audiences by creating accessible arts programming, maintaining the public arts initiative ACCESS Philly, and advocating for underserved communities in the cultural sector of Philadelphia.
Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
An advocacy organization that serves people with disabilities,
Liberty Resources
offers services, peer support and life skills training to ensure full independence.
(215) 634-2000
Institute on Disabilities
The
Institute on Disabilities
at Temple University advocates for people with disabilities in Philadelphia and provides resources and training to support that community.
(215) 204-1356
Philly Touch Tours
Philly Touch Tours
coordinates cultural and historical tours for blind and low-vision guests at the Penn Museum and the 9th Street Italian Market.
(609) 760-8223,
[email protected]
Art-Reach members have a multi-sensory experience at the Rodin Museum.
— Photo courtesy Art-Reach
Explore Accessible Philadelphia
From the Liberty Bell to The Franklin Institute and the Barnes Foundation to the Please Touch Museum, the 17th-century city’s modern amenities accommodate travelers and explorers of all abilities.
Philadelphia’s storied museums and historic attractions offer organized tours and programming to meet visitors’ needs. Travelers can choose from specially designed onsite tours of cultural institutions on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to sensory-sensitive performances at one of the city’s many theaters on the Avenue of the Arts.
Most venues welcome service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but visitors should contact individual attractions with specific questions, including inquiries about emotional support animals.
As of January 2020, individuals with disabilities can purchase an ACCESS Philly Card directly from Art-Reach, which serves the low income and disability communities by creating accessible arts programming. The card allows people with disabilities to receive $2 admission to more than 50 museums, gardens, theaters and cultural sites throughout the Philadelphia region.
Cards can be purchased online in advance at
art-reach.org
and the list of eligible attractions is found at
art-reach.org/access-philly
.
Keep reading for information on accessibility at some of the city’s top visitor attractions.
Independence Visitor Center
The first stop for visitors to Philadelphia’s Historic District is more than just a source of maps, brochures, tickets, tour information and the all-important accessible restrooms.
599 Market Street, (800) 537-7676,
phlvisitorcenter.com
Daily loans of manual wheelchairs are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (photo I.D. required).
The center offers assistive listening devices, receivers with headphones, and a portable loop system compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids, cochlear implants and induction loop receivers.
Independence National Historical Park
More than a dozen National Park Service sites within
Philadelphia’s Historic District
offer visitors a peek into the city’s — and the country’s — exciting history.
Around 6th and Market streets, (215) 965-2305,
NPS.gov
Several buildings, bathrooms and tours throughout the park system are accessible.
Captions, assistive listening devices, printouts and ASL interpreters are available at some sites and exhibits.
As many as six historical sites offer touch objects, audio descriptions and Braille booklets.
Independence Hall
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where the Founding Fathers first defied the King of England and later gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution.
520 Chestnut Street, 215-965-2305,
NPS.gov
The East Wing and first floor are wheelchair accessible and feature a photo album of the Assembly Room, which is accessible via stairs only.
The West Wing, home of original printed copies of the
Declaration of Independence
and more, is fully wheelchair accessible.
The
Birthplace of a Nation
pamphlet offers written information about the rooms on the tour.
Free ASL interpretation is available with timed tickets — call (877) 444-6777 or visit
recreation.gov
— and with 14 days’ advanced request via (215) 597-7130.
The Liberty Bell Center
Home to one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of freedom, the Liberty Bell Center offers visitors an up-close-and-personal experience with a piece of American history.
6th and Market Streets, (215) 965-2305,
NPS.gov
The Liberty Bell Center is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
The video presentation is open-captioned and audio-described, and assistive listening devices are available.
A replica of the text that’s on the Bell in the exhibit area lets visitors touch the raised inscription.
Benjamin Franklin Museum Center
Three city blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin’s onetime home and workspaces showcase the inventor and politician’s many endeavors.
317 Chestnut Street, (215) 965-2305,
NPS.gov
The Benjamin Franklin Museum Center has wheelchair and stroller accessible entrances on Market and Chestnut streets.
The museum itself is accessible by elevator.
There’s an accessible restroom on the first floor.
The museum has many tactile objects to explore by touch.
Betsy Ross House
The wee home of America’s most famous flag maker offers a glimpse into the life of the woman best known for sewing the first Stars & Stripes.
239 Arch Street (215) 629-4026,
betsyrosshouse.org
The Betsy Ross House has removed steps and added a railing to its breezeway to facilitate entry to the first floor.
The house has an accessible restroom in its gallery.
The attraction offers a complimentary audio tour with visual aids for visitors without physical access to the building—and Betsy herself has been known to leave her upholstery shop to greet these guests in her courtyard outside.
Museum of the American Revolution (MoAR)
The Museum of the American Revolution, the country’s first museum dedicated to the United States war of independence, offers an inclusive picture of the American Revolution through an extensive collection of art and artifacts, immersive displays and interactive exhibits.
101 South 3rd Street, (215) 253-6731,
amrevmuseum.org
The museum is fully wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Assistive listening devices and wheelchairs are available at the front desk.
Films have easy-to-read captions.
National Constitution Center (NCC)
The world’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution offers exhibits and artifacts, a 360-degree live theatrical production telling the story of “We the people,” and life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers.
525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600,
constitutioncenter.org
The NCC is wheelchair accessible throughout and lends wheelchairs free of charge from the information desk.
Assistive listening devices are available for programs in the F.M. Kirby Auditorium and Sidney Kimmel Theater; iPod Touch captioning devices are available for
Freedom Rising
and
Living News
.
Opened captioning or printed scripts assist in the interpretation of most videos, soundtracks and displays.
Free sign language interpretation is available with two weeks’ notice. Large print scripts are also available for performances.
The box office loans out large print versions and a Braille copy of the
U.S. Constitution
.
National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH)
One block from the Independence Visitor Center, this contemporary, multi-story venue tells the true, compelling stories of early to modern Jewish migrants to the United States, the more than 360-year history of Jewish Life in America.
101 South Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811,
nmahj.org
NMAJH offers wheelchair access throughout, and loans standard wheelchairs free of charge to visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis with a form of I.D.
All films and videos are captioned, and assistive listening devices are available without charge for Dell Theater programs.
All way-finding signage includes Braille.
While most artifacts are not touchable, there are tactile-friendly props and costumes throughout the galleries.
Service dogs are welcome.
Paid personal care attendants accompanying their clients are admitted free of charge.
Barnes Foundation
One of the finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern paintings in the world, the Barnes Foundation boasts an impressive collection that features 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes and groundbreaking African art.
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200,
barnesfoundation.org
The Barnes Foundation is fully wheelchair and stroller accessible, although some of the collection galleries may be unable to accommodate larger mobility devices.
Manual wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis; the Barnes suggests patrons who do not normally use a wheelchair bring a companion to help maneuver around smaller spaces.
Accessible restrooms are available on the main floor and lower level.
Assistive listening devices are available for use in the auditorium and with the collection gallery tour. Headsets and t-coil loops are available free of charge.
Sign language interpreters are available with three weeks’ advance notice; visitors must have tickets booked at the time they make the advance request for an interpreter. Film and video presentations have open or closed captioning.
Paid personal care assistants are not charged admission when accompanying their clients.
Barnes Foundation visitors with low vision or blindness can experience art multi-sensorially.
— Photo courtesy Art-Reach
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has one of the largest art collections in the nation, spanning the ancient world, medieval times, the Renaissance, impressionist movement and modern day.
26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100,
philamuseum.org
Visitors who use wheelchairs are able to access the art via the museum’s West Entrance. Three sizes of wheelchairs are available to borrow.
Trained service dogs are permitted throughout.
Among options for self-guided tours are large-print maps, audio tours and FM (radio-wave) assistive listening devices, including induction (neck) loops.
Sign-language interpreters are available free of charge, with two weeks’ notice.
Specially adapted guided tours — including themed touch tours and touchable interpretations of paintings — are available for guests with mobility, hearing, visual, intellectual or other needs.
The museum holds regular workshops for visitors with developmental disabilities and also arranges for off-site outreach presentations.
To request Braille or other maps, visitors can contact museum staff at
[email protected]
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
PAFA is the nation’s first art museum and art school, and is known for its permanent collection of 18
th
– and 19
th
-century American masters Benjamin West, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer and Mary Cassatt, and 19th-century through contemporary American art.
118-122 North Broad Street, (215) 972-7600,
pafa.org
PAFA’s galleries are accessible through the Broad Street entrance of the Hamilton Building and then via passenger elevators.
A limited number of wheelchairs are available from the front desk.
Visitors can request a tour for a group with special needs by calling (215) 391-4132.
Personal care attendants enjoy free admission.
The Franklin Institute
The expansive, most-visited museum in the tri-state area is all about science, from namesake Benjamin Franklin’s experiments and discoveries to the latest in robotics, technology, astronomy, biology and more.
222 North 20th Street, (215) 448-1200,
fi.edu
Visitors who use wheelchairs can enter The Franklin Institute via the 20th Street business entrance or the parking garage elevators into the Bartol Atrium.
Visitors can borrow wheelchairs at the atrium information desk or 20th Street business desk.
The Institute recommends patrons who don’t normally use wheelchairs bring someone to assist them through the expansive site. Paid personal care attendants accompanying visitors with severe disabilities enter at no charge.
Requests for ASL interpreters must be made three weeks in advance by calling (215) 448-1226 voice/TTY. Visitors requesting ASL interpretation must reserve and pay for tickets at least two weeks in advance.
Rear Window captioning is available upon request for certain programs in Fels Planetarium.
Sensory maps are available for permanent and temporary exhibits.
Several times a year, Sensory-Friendly Sunday (8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) welcomes children and adults with sensory differences to experience the museum in a less busy, less overwhelming setting, with staff trained to make visitors comfortable.
At The Franklin Institute (pictured here), those of all ages get a hands-on introduction to science through a variety of high-tech and eminently touchable attractions.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Penn Museum
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum) houses a million objects from around the globe, making it one of the world’s finest archaeological and anthropological museums.
3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000,
penn.museum
The Penn Museum’s elevated Warden Garden and Main Entrance (Kamin) are wheelchair accessible.
The museum partners with Philly Touch Tours, an organization that coordinates cultural and historical tours for blind and low-vision guests, to provide gallery tours of ancient Egyptian and ancient Roman artifacts.
Self-guided experiences called
Tactile Trips Around the World
are offered throughout the year.
The museum works with the Penn Memory Center for adults with dementia and their families.
The special education staff leads sensory-friendly evening experiences for families with children ages eight and up, and homeschool family days, both offering multisensory explorations of galleries and hands-on activities.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Philadelphia’s natural history museum is home to a fully constructed Tyrannosaurus rex, butterflies and bugs from around the world, and specimens that serve in biodiversity studies.
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1060,
ansp.org
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is fully wheelchair accessible; the best entrance is on 19
th
Street.
Exhibits and activities of special interest to the visually impaired include
Outside In
, featuring touchable small animals and Dinosaur Hall’s
Big Dig
, showcasing bones and skulls, along with various specimens on display and in shows throughout.
Service animals are especially welcome in spaces without live animals.
Free-of-charge ASL interpretation requires two weeks’ notice.
The Access to Science Initiative arranges special mornings for children with autism and their families, and pre-visit materials help prepare children with different levels of developmental abilities for their exploration of the museum.
Please Touch Museum
This boundless family destination is dedicated to changing children’s lives as they discover the power of learning through play. Young children explore, discover, learn and engage the senses in interactive play spaces that include water tables, vehicles, rocket ships and more.
4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181,
pleasetouchmuseum.org
Please Touch is entirely wheelchair and stroller accessible, right down to the vintage Dentzel carousel.
Adult wheelchairs are available free of charge from the admissions desk.
There is always a designated quiet space of the day, and staff is trained to help all kinds of kids, including those who’d like to borrow sound-reducing headphones.
Please Touch also offers free quarterly
Play Without Boundaries
morning events that provide a modified, sensory-friendly museum experience exclusively for families of children with special needs.
Philly is home to many attractions that are accessible for visitors with disabilities, including the kid-oriented Please Touch Museum.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Philadelphia Zoo
America’s first zoo is set among a 42-acre Victorian garden that stuns visitors with is Zoo360 experience — a campus-wide network of see-through mesh trails where animals can roam around above the grounds.
3400 West Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100,
philadelphiazoo.org
The Philadelphia Zoo is fully wheelchair and stroller accessible, and rents manual wheelchairs by the day for $8 and electric scooters for $30.
Zoo education staffers are trained in cognitive and communication disabilities.
Customized tours meet all manner of groups’ needs and require two weeks’ notice.
Government-funded personal care attendants receive free admission when accompanying their companion.
Guest relations requests notification upon the arrival of service animals, which must be leashed or harnessed, and have limitations on access.
KidZooU, with its hands-on approach to learning about animals, uses the Universal Design concept to create an inclusive and enriching experience for children. Pre-visit materials are available on the zoo’s website.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Musicals, plays, and orchestras, oh my! The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts welcomes spectacular shows every year, including Broadway musicals and performances by The Philadelphia Orchestra. Travelers can attend performances at the Kimmel Center location on Broad and Spruce streets, or at the Merriam Theater and The Academy of Music.
300 South Broad Street, (215) 790-5800,
kimmelcenter.org
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available at each theater.
The Philadelphia Orchestra features the
Sound All Round
program for families, introducing parents and children to music appreciation at relaxed, sensory-friendly performances at the Academy of Music.
Mural Arts Philadelphia
Philadelphia is known as one of the nation’s most walkable and easily navigable cities. Explorers will soon notice the eye-opening, colorful murals that are featured throughout Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Mural Arts Philadelphia has celebrated communities and artists through its annual 50-to-100 public art projects, and provides a variety of guided tours of these murals.
1727-29 Mt. Vernon Street, (215) 925-3633,
muralarts.org
Guided tours can be arranged for visitors with disabilities by calling Mural Arts.
Staying Over
Philadelphia is home to hotels accessible to visitors who use wheelchairs, including accommodations spanning multiple neighborhoods and tastes.
Again, this list includes local favorites and it is not comprehensive. Visitors are always encouraged to contact a hotel directly to review specific needs or requests, including bed height. Most hotels welcome service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but guests should contact individual hotels with specific questions, including inquiries about emotional support animals.
The Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square
Visitors love the charisma of the historic, circa 1926 building and the contemporary interior of this Rittenhouse Square stalwart. The well-located hotel offers accessible rooms, including roll-in showers, tubs and toilets with grab bars and seat-to-tub transfer.
220 South 17th Street, (215) 735-6000,
warwickrittenhouse.com
Sofitel Philadelphia
Just one block from Rittenhouse Square and premier dining and shopping, the Sofitel houses two French restaurants — Liberté and Chez Colette. The front entrance includes a wheelchair-accessible ramp; accessible rooms are equipped with roll-in showers and grab bars.
120 South 17th Street,(215) 569-8300,
sofitel-philadelphia.com
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
On the east side of City Hall, this large hotel is located in the heart of the city — and close proximity to Chinatown, Washington Square and Old City. Its accessible rooms have 32-inch-wide entryways, with the option of either showers or bathtubs. Guests enjoy multiple amenities with accessible entrances (with automatic doors at its Filbert Street entrance), such as a pool, business center and fitness center.
1201 Market Street, (215) 625-2900,
marriott.com
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia
This boutique hotel is across the street from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell and offers a full suite of accessibility options: Its front entrance is level with the sidewalk and some rooms are equipped with roll-in showers, available upon request.
433 Chestnut Street, (215) 925-2111,
monaco-philadelphia.com
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia
This accessible boutique hotel is one block from Rittenhouse Square and surrounded by dozens of shops and restaurants. The entrance is sidewalk-level, and accessible rooms equipped with roll-in showers are available upon request. Transportation is also a breeze with 24-hour valet parking.
117 South 17th Street,(215) 563-5006,
hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com
The Inn at Penn, A Hilton Hotel
The busy University of Pennsylvania campus is home to this hotel, which has easy access to the nearby Penn Museum and Institute of Contemporary Art. This Hilton hotel has the option of accessible rooms with either roll-in showers or bathtubs. The front entrance is ground level, and an elevator takes guests to the lobby.
3600 Sansom Street, (215) 222-0200,
theinnatpenn.com
Holiday Inn Express Penn’s Landing
This Delaware River waterfront property — nearby popular seasonal attractions at Penn’s Landing — has a ramp, automatic doors and designated parking in the hotel’s lot. Accessible rooms feature roll-in showers.
100 North Columbus Boulevard, (215) 627-7900,
hiepennslanding.com
Seasonal attraction Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest at Penn's Landing features tasty foods and refreshing beverages, a roller skating rink, Ferris wheel and more.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
FAQ & More Resources
Where can I find assistance for visitors with sensory sensitivity?
Autism Speaks, the national organization that provides services and opportunities for individuals with spectrum disorders, offers a detailed list of services, community activities, and programs in the greater Philadelphia area. Visitors can customize the list by providing their zip code at
autismspeaks.org.
Area AMC Theaters, in partnership with the Autism Society, offer sensory-friendly showings of certain films.
Visitors are encouraged to contact venues and institutions for specific information. Some of Philly’s most popular performing arts organizations and attractions have adopted sensory-friendly policies and programming.
Is ground transportation assistance available for visitors with disabilities?
Whether visitors are traveling to and from different neighborhoods or going to the suburbs, SEPTA’s Regional Rail, bus, trolley and subway services offer wheelchair accessibility services and stations. SEPTA’s website includes comprehensive, detailed descriptions of each service, such as which regional rail line stations are accessible and a full list of elevators located at stations throughout the city. Individually trained service animals are welcome on all forms of transportation, and SEPTA’s website offers a text reader for those who are blind or visually impaired and need to access schedules and far information. SEPTA Key fare kiosks at stations have Braille and raised lettering, and an audio function that converts on-screen text to spoken word. For more information, visit
septa.org
.
Uber and Lyft in Philadelphia have Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs). Users can request through each of the apps. Instructions on how to access the WAV option, visit
uber.com
or
lyft.com
.
Victory Taxi also has a fleet of wheelchair accessible vehicles, which can be requested by contacting Victory Taxi Company at (215) 225-5000. 2-1-5-Get-A-Cab also offers accessible vehicles. Riders can download the mobile app at
215getacab.com
and set wheelchair-accessible vehicles as their default preference.
Does the airport offer assistance for visitors with disabilities?
Philadelphia International Airport has a wide range of services available to travelers with disabilities. Its guide,
Getting Around Philadelphia
, reviews these services, including tips on getting through TSA; assistance with mobility; accessible shuttle bus service; information on elevators, accessible restrooms, walkways, and parking; Regional Rail to the city; and video phone services for travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The guide also includes a list of important phone numbers for travelers, such as SEPTA CCT Connect and the Pennsylvania Relay Service. Visitors with questions can call (215) 937-5536, e-mail
[email protected]
, or visit
phl.org
.
Where can I find interpreters for people who are deaf?
Philadelphia has many options for travelers seeking interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Hands UP Productions offers interpreters, in addition to many other services. To make a request or get more information, email
[email protected]
or fax (856) 302-5115.
Where can I find interpreters for people who are blind?
Travelers who are blind and flying into Philadelphia International Airport can use its “Getting Around Philadelphia” guide for specific information, such as Braille ATMs and elevators with Braille signage. SEPTA’s CCT Connect provides transportation to visitors with disabilities, and information can be obtained by calling (215) 580-7145. Most area museums and cultural institutions welcome service animals. Visitors are encouraged to contact an institution with specific questions. The Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, run by the Free Library of Philadelphia, is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can call (215) 683-3213 or go to
freelibrary.org
for more information.
Can I use my PA ACCESS Card at Philadelphia attractions?
ACCESS Philly is a public initiative led by Art-Reach. Pennsylvania residents with a state-issued PA ACCESS card can attend more than 50 cultural sites, for just $2, and bring up to three additional guests. Additionally, individuals with disabilities who do not have a state benefits card can purchase an ACCESS card directly from Art-Reach to receive $2 admission to historic and cultural attractions. For more information visit
art-reach.org/access-philly.
The Perfect Hotel Package for an Easy Philly Escape
The
Visit Philly Overnight Package
— booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.