Washington DC Event Planner Guide - 2025 Event Planning Guide

Washington, DC is one of the most accessible cities in the world, and the city’s hospitality industry is equipped and ready to welcome visitors with accessibility needs.

ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES

Metro prides itself on being one of the most accessible public transportation systems in the world. In addition to a comprehensive website outlining services available to mobility-challenged visitors, Metro has also compiled a downloadable guide to accessible transportation options throughout the region.

ScootAround offers scooter and wheelchair rentals for a minimum of three days, weekly or for longer periods of time so that you can navigate the city and its sites in comfort and ease.

Orthopaedic Mobility Rentals provides daily, weekly or monthly rentals throughout the DC metro area.

Gallaudet
DC’s Gallaudet University has been the educational, political, social and economic engine of the deaf and signing community on a national and global scale for more than 160 years. Free, in-person campus tours are available.

ASL/Language Services
For travelers in need of language support and interpreting, download the Jeenie app on your smartphone or iPad for 24/7 assistance, including on-demand American Sign Language interpreting via video chat.

ACCESSIBLE ATTRACTIONS

On the National Mall and in the memorial parks, you’ll find permit-only parking adjacent to the FDR Memorial and World War II Memorial as well as near the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan at the FDR, Korean War Veterans, World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Elevators are available at the Lincoln and the Jefferson.

ADA Compliant: Check with individual facilities about ADA compliance.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The Smithsonian Institution off ers numerous resources to ensure a visit to any of its DC museums is satisfying. Here are a few need-toknow facts as you plan a trip that requires access services. Make sure to visit the Access Smithsonian website for a full overview, including additional general museum tips.

• Manual wheelchairs are available at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis at all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo and personal mobility devices are welcome.

• Access services for public programs, such as real-time captioning and sign language interpretation, can be arranged by emailing the Smithsonian.

• Open captioning is provided on all museum exhibition videos. Assistive listening devices are available at all Smithsonian museums.

• Tactile and visual description tours can be arranged by contacting the individual museums or by emailing the Smithsonian.

• The Smithsonian Institution guide and map are available in braille and large print at each museum’s information desk.

• All Smithsonian bathrooms include an accessible stall and some museums have a Family/Companion Care restroom. Inquire at the museum’s Information Desk or look at the museum’s map to find bathroom locations.

Visit Access Smithsonian for more information at access.si.edu.

EXPLORE MORE Resources

FIND MORE ACCESSIBLE TOURISM INFO AT WASHINGTON.ORG/ACCESSIBILITY