Accessibility

The Saint Louis Science Center welcomes visitors of all backgrounds and ability levels. Our facility is accessible to visitors with disabilities, as well as visitors with strollers, scooters, and walkers.

Parking

The Oakland Building and McDonnell Planetarium parking lots feature parking for vehicles displaying disabled placards. Visitors may wish to drop off individuals with mobility concerns in the circle drives in front of either entrance.

Strollers, Wheelchairs, and Motorized Scooters

Elevators and ramps serve all public areas, including the OMNIMAX® Theater, McDonnell Planetarium, and GROW Pavilion and Gallery. Convenient wheelchair-accessible seating for the OMNIMAX is available via the third floor theater entrance.

As noted above, wheelchairs and strollers are free to rent and are available in the lobbies of the Oakland Building and the McDonnell Planetarium. The Science Center also has a limited number of motorized scooters available for a $25 fee. Please ask a Visitor Services team member and they will be happy to assist you. Please note that supplies are limited.

Closed Captioning and Assistive Hearing Devices

OMNIMAX Theater

The Omnimax Theater has enhanced accessibility experience for everyone. This includes:

More accessible seating space for visitors in wheelchairs and their guests available on the 3rd floor. Guests who are in wheelchairs, use walkers, or have difficulty with stairs should enter via the 3rd floor.

New adjustable captioning devices allow visitors to see captions for their film by using a cupholder device that they can adjust within their view.

New hearing assistance devices with optional Descriptive Video Services (DVS). This allows visitors with visual and hearing impairments to hear audio more clearly or hear descriptive narration of the film alongside film audio through headphones. DVS/Descriptive Narration is available for all films unless otherwise noted.

A hearing loop assisted listening system is installed in the Theater. Visitors can just switch their hearing aid or cochlear implant to the T-Coil (telecoil) setting, and the theater audio is directly transmitted to their device. Compatible with at least 70% of hearing aids currently in use. If visitors do not have a device with a T-Coil we also have headphones available that amplify the theater audio.

To access these devices or for more information speak with an OMNIMAX theater staff member.

James S. McDonnell Planetarium
The McDonnell Planetarium also offers hearing assist devices for star shows. When ordering tickets please let your reservationist know you’re interested in a hearing assist device, or see a Planetarium team member before your program begins.

Interpreters, Assistive Services and Aides

The Saint Louis Science Center is proud to partner with Paraquad and Deaf Way Interpretive Services to offer accessibility services for visitors. To ensure availability, please give us at least 48 hours’ notice before your visit by calling 314.289.4400.

Complete Braille guides are available for the Planetarium lobby’s Liftoff: Space exhibit at the Planetarium box office upon request. The Liftoff gallery also offers tactile models of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft, as well as models of the Planetarium’s StarBay and building exterior. The models of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft and StarBay feature large print materials for visitors thanks to a generous grant from Lighthouse for the Blind Saint Louis.

With advance notice, the Planetarium offers Feeling the Stars, a custom tactile program for visitors with vision impairments that pairs with The Little Star That Could.

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome inside the Science Center as they are specifically trained to aid a person with a disability. Pets are not allowed.

Groups & Camps

Groups with accessibility questions or special programming requests should contact our Group Sales Manager at 314.289.1419. Camp programs through the Science Center’s Public Programs department allow campers to bring their own aides. Call 314.289.4439 for more information.