Collaborations, Authentic Representation Further Belief that Science has a Place for Everyone
ST. LOUIS, MO – September 8, 2025 – The Saint Louis Science Center believes that everyone has a place in science and offers many accommodations to assist guests who require additional assistance. To extend that belief, the award-winning institution will host its inaugural Deaf Day event on Saturday, Sept. 20 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) in partnership with the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and many St. Louis area deaf cultural organizations.
“Science belongs to everyone, yet traditional experiences at science museums often rely heavily on auditory elements that can exclude Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests,” notes Science Center Managing Director Dr. Lamara Warren. “We’ve designed Deaf Day at the Saint Louis Science Center to address those barriers directly, creating shared learning opportunities where families and individual guests can explore regardless of communication differences. We’re focused on true inclusion, which means building experiences with communities, not just for them.”
Deaf Day will celebrate Deaf culture and remove communication barriers that hinder scientific discovery by transforming the Science Center into an accessible learning environment. Comprehensive American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be positioned throughout the facility (including inside the OMNIMAX Theater and the Starbay Theater inside the James S. McDonnell Planetarium and within gallery spaces). The day will feature an exciting array of interpreted programming, including:
- OMNIMAX films with ASL interpretation at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., Noon, and 1:15 p.m. Please note: throughout the year, the theater offers hearing assistance accommodations that are not readily available in any other theater in the region, including adjustable caption devices (Dolby Captiview), hearing assistance devices with Descriptive Video Services (DVS) and the Telecoil assisted listening system. DVS narration is available for all films shown in the theater, unless otherwise note.
- Planetarium Star Shows with ASL interpretation at 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:45 p.m. Please note: although star shows rely heavily on live, spoken narration, hearing assistance accommodations are available for all guests throughout the year while supplies last.
- Presentations at the Energy Stage throughout the event, including a special visit by Deaf advocate Sonya Smith at 1:15 p.m., who will discuss how STEM influenced her career and how she’s been able to build bridges between science and the deaf community.
- An interactive Pre-School Science presentation at the Energy Stage at 10:30 a.m.
- An agricultural demonstration inside the GROW gallery at 11 a.m.
- Open access to the Science Center’s 10 galleries and hundreds of hands-on exhibits for all guests.
In addition to Deaf Day activities and accommodations offered throughout the year for those with hearing difficulties, the Science Center offers Sensory Friendly Science Time — a period on Sunday mornings when sensory friendly modifications will be made — and features several mobility accommodations throughout the institution for guests requiring assistance. For more information on accessibility and inclusivity within the Science Center, visit slsc.org/accessibility
Contact:
Doug Bolnick, Public Relations Manager
Email or call 314.289.4461
About the Saint Louis Science Center
The mission of the Saint Louis Science Center is to inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science. Named a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate in 2016, the award-winning Science Center engages guests through on-site experiences, including hundreds of hands-on exhibits, the OMNIMAX® Theater, which is one of the only IMAX® Dome with Laser theaters in the world, and the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, which was recently named America’s Best Planetarium by the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards. For more information about the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org.
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