The Museum is committed to accessibility for all visitors. For general access information, call 617-267-9300, or e-mail access@mfa.org. For program information, call 617-369-3189.
Parking and Entrances
Parking
Accessible spaces are available in our garage and parking lots located on Museum Road. Payment for parking may be made in the lobby of the State Street Corporation Fenway Entrance, the lobby of the garage, and by credit or debit card at the exit gates. Should you need assistance, there is a help button on the gate. Scan your membership card to receive the discounted rate. For directions and rates, visit Getting Here.
Valet Parking
Valet parking is available at the Huntington Entrance (payment by credit card only). Regular member and nonmember parking fees still apply; the $3 valet parking fee is waived for those vehicles with HP plates or placards.
Entrances
The Linde Family Wing Entrance on Museum Road is reserved for schools, groups, and visitors with disabilities.
The Huntington Entrance (465 Huntington Avenue) and the State Street Corporation Fenway Entrance (200 The Fenway) are accessible with a drop-off area in front, and ramps to the left and right of the stairs. All entrances are equipped with power-assist doors.
MOBILITY DEVICES
Wheelchairs and Walkers
Manual wheelchairs and Rollators (walkers with wheels, padded seats, and backs) are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at all entrances. Please return wheelchairs and walkers after your visit.
The MFA also welcomes your personal walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters.
All events in the Museum are wheelchair accessible; however, not all doors in the Art of the Americas Wing are on power assist.
Personal care attendants are admitted free of charge.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) AND MAPS
Assistive Listening Devices (ALD)
An assistive listening system is available for gallery tours and talks from the Sharf Visitor Center and a separate system is available for programs in our auditoriums. Headsets and neckloops are available. For more information, call 617-267-9300, or e-mail access@mfa.org.
mfa Guide and other resources
MFA Guide
MFA Guides with audio and video commentary offer an overview of the Museum’s collections as well as focused tours of special exhibitions. They are available for rent at all ticket desks and are free for visitors who are blind and visitors who are Deaf. Read below for special tours and features and visit MFA Guide for more information.
For visitors who are blind or have low vision
Audio Descriptive Tour
This tour is available on the MFA Guide, and includes more than 140 stops in English. These stops are in the Art of the Americas Wing, the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, the Musical Instruments gallery, and the Classical galleries. Visitors can also request a unit with a tactile dot over the number 5, which includes a screen-reading or “voiceover” feature. Visitors may also want to make use of a zoom feature. These MFA Guides may be borrowed from the Sharf Visitor Center.
Beyond the Screen
A self-contained tour and satchel that offers materials for visitors who are blind or have low vision and a companion. These materials focus on a exhibition in the Asian collection and are available, free of charge, at Sharf Visitor Center.
Tactile Art Cards
Explore the MFA with your children and learn interesting facts. Tactile cards focusing on one object with a raised line graphic, Braille, and large print are available at the Family Art Cart on weekends, October through June. Recommended for all ages.
For visitors who are Deaf or hard of hearing
Neckloops, Onscreen Transcripts, ASL in MFA Guide
In addition to headphones, we offer neckloops, which are compatible with t-coil hearing aids. Every MFA Guide stop also includes the option of onscreen text transcripts. We also offer an American Sign Language version of the MFA Highlights tour on the MFA Guide.
FM Assistive-Listening Systems
Headsets and neckloops are available for lectures, concerts, and films in Alfond Auditorium, Remis Auditorium, and in the Riley Seminar Room.
Portable FM assistive-listening devices, with either headsets or neckloops, are available at the Sharf Visitor Center for drop-in tours and gallery talks. For programs held in Riley Seminar Room, or for reserved tours and scheduled classes, please reserve devices in advance. For reservations and further information, please call 617-369-3302.
Gallery Seating, Restrooms, and Dining
Gallery Seating
Most Museum galleries have permanent benches or couches. Free gallery stools are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. These lightweight folding seats are available at Sharf Visitor Center. Please return them at the end of your visit.
Gallery stools are not usually allowed in the Gund Gallery or other special exhibitions, but if you need to use one during your visit, please inform the protective services staff before entering the gallery.
Restrooms
All Museum restrooms with the exception of the pair in the upper Rotunda, have fully accessible HP stalls. Two Family, or unisex, bathrooms are available on Level G, below the Sharf Visitor Center.
Dining
All dining areas at the Museum are wheelchair accessible. For more information on our dining options, visit Dining.
bank of america access programs
Access to Art
Access to Art tours are visitor centered, interactive tours designed for groups with disabilities, which may include physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, people with dementia, or those undergoing medical treatment, among others. While most tours are for groups, we recognize that some individuals, particularly those with Alzheimer’s and undergoing cancer treatment may need or prefer an individual tour with a companion or care partner. Tours are offered whenever the Museum is open, with pre-registration. There is no fee for this program. For more information or to request a tour, contact Hannah Goodwin at 617-369-3189, Valarie Burrows at 617-369-3302, or e-mail access@mfa.org.
Artful Adventures
Groups of children and teens with disabilities are served through Artful Adventures, an inclusive program at the MFA. For children with autism, Beyond the Spectrum offers a specialized experience once a month. For more information call 617-369-3303, (TTY) 617-267-9703, or visit Community Programs.
A Feeling for Form
FFF is a program that provides tours for visitors of all ages who are blind or have low vision. A Feeling for Form is an opportunity for tours of the collections through tactile exploration of selected sculpture and furniture, and through verbal description, tactile graphics, materials and objects for artworks that cannot be touched. Trained Museum volunteers and Access staff lead these tours. We work with all parts of the Museum and schedule tours whenever the Museum is open.
Our Feeling For Form Intro Series is available on the first Sunday of most months at 10:30 am.
There is no fee for this program, but pre-registration is required for all tours. For more information or to request a tour, contact Hannah Goodwin at 617-369-3189, Valarie Burrows at 617-369-3302, or e-mail access@mfa.org.
A Hand's Reach to Art
A Hand's Reach to Art provides access to MFA programs and events for visitors who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Throughout the year, a selection of gallery tours, performances, and demonstrations are presented in American Sign Language (ASL) or are sign-language interpreted. On the second Wednesday of each month there is a tour in ASL at 6 pm. This tour is free, and led by one of our Deaf guides.
Sponsors
With additional support from The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation; The Lowell Institute; and the Maida S. Abrams Fund for Increasing Access and Educational Opportunities for People with Disabilities.
Access Information
Call 617-267-9300, or e-mail access@mfa.org.