Accessibility

at The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford welcomes guests with disabilities to all of our venues. Our staff and volunteers are committed to providing the highest-quality visit for each and every guest to the extent that we are able to do so. For questions related to accessibility, please email accessibility@thehenryford.org or call 313.982.6001.

Is The Henry Ford wheelchair-accessible?

All public entrances to The Henry Ford, including Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Giant Screen Experience, Lovett Hall and Benson Ford Research Center, are wheelchair-accessible. Motorized doors are located at the Giant Screen Experience entrance to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Anderson Theater/Ford Rouge Factory Tour bus loading doors, Benson Ford Research Center and Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center.

Are there designated drop-off zones?

There are drop-off zones in front of Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (Clocktower and Giant Screen Experience entrances) as well as in front of the Greenfield Village ticket building.

Is there accessible parking at The Henry Ford?

Accessible parking is available in the west parking lot near the Welcome Center and Giant Screen Experience, and on Village Road by the Greenfield Village entrance. Be advised that on many weekends and heavily visited days, these parking spaces fill up very quickly.

Does The Henry Ford permit service animals on-site?

The Henry Ford abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and allows service animals — that is, animals trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability — into all public areas. Dogs and miniature horses are the only animals recognized as service animals by federal and state law. Service animals are required to be under control at all times by their owners. This means they must be harnessed, leashed or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the animal’s work or the owner’s disability. In such cases, the owner must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls.

The owner of a service animal may be asked to remove the animal from the premises if the animal is out of control and the owner does not take effective action to control it or if the animal is not housebroken. If the animal’s behavior warrants its removal from The Henry Ford, the animal’s handler can stay without the animal. Please note that service animals will be in close proximity to animals in Greenfield Village, including horses, sheep and chickens.

The Henry Ford abides by the ADA regarding the admission of service animals because they perform a specific job. However, animals such as “comfort animals,” “therapy animals,” “companion animals" or “emotional support animals” are not service animals as defined by the ADA because they are not trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability. Therefore, they are not allowed into The Henry Ford.

Are wheelchairs and motorized scooters available?

Wheelchairs and a limited number of motorized scooters are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not take advance reservations for wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Rentals are available in the Welcome Center and Greenfield Village ticket building. Wheelchairs can be rented for $4.00 for the entire day, and scooters can be rented for $20.00 per day. Rentals require a current driver’s license to leave at the renting desk and completion of a rental agreement form. Please note that on busy days (holidays, large/special events and summer weekends), the motorized scooters rent out quickly and may not be available, so it may be wise to make other arrangements. Motorized scooters are not available to rent during Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village or Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village because of safety concerns. Guests must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid driver’s license to operate motorized scooters. Maximum load capacity is 350 pounds. Motorized scooters rented at The Henry Ford cannot go on the Weiser Railroad in Greenfield Village

Complimentary wheelchairs are available at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center upon request. Motorized scooters are not available for rent at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. However, Factory Tour buses can accommodate smaller-model personal motorized scooters.

Personal motorized wheelchairs, electric scooters and wheelchairs are welcome. We do not allow bicycles, tricycles, recreational scooters, in-line skates or roller skates of any kind.

Are children's strollers and wagons available?

You are welcome to bring your own children's strollers and small wagons into all venues of The Henry Ford. Children’s strollers are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis for $5 per day in the Welcome Center. Children’s wagons are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis for $5 per day at the Greenfield Village ticket building. Rentals require a current driver’s license to leave at the renting desk. Please note that on busy days (holidays, large/special events and summer weekends), wagons rent out quickly and may not be available, so it may be wise to make other arrangements. Complimentary children’s strollers are available at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center upon request.

Are Segways permitted at The Henry Ford?

The Henry Ford recognizes that some guests with mobility impairments use Segways as mobility devices. As part of our commitment to making all reasonable efforts to ensure that our facility is accessible to guests with disabilities, individuals with mobility impairments are permitted to use Segway devices. Individuals without mobility impairments are not permitted to operate Segways at The Henry Ford. Segways must be brought by the guest. We do not rent Segways. Segways must be operated in a manner that does not compromise the safety of the user, other guests or the infrastructure of buildings. Please contact us at accessibility@thehenryford.org if you have questions or will need to use a Segway on your visit.

Where are accessible restrooms located?

All restroom locations in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience are wheelchair-accessible, except for those in the Davidson-Gerson Modern Glass Gallery hallway of the museum and the restroom on the first floor of Lovett Hall. A family restroom is located in the Greenfield Village ticket building.

What should I know about accessibility at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation?

All exhibits at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation are wheelchair-accessible with the exception of the following: interior of the Allegheny Locomotive cab (stairs; virtual tour available near stairway); interior of the Sperry-New Holland Combine cab (stairs); interior of the Rosa Parks Bus (stairs); and Dymaxion House (narrow doorway).

What should I know about accessibility at Greenfield Village?

All public entrances to Greenfield Village are accessible. Sidewalks throughout Greenfield Village were installed with accessible curbs. Care should be taken when crossing streets, as historic vehicles, antique bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles use our streets on a daily basis. Railroad crossings are located near the entrance of Greenfield Village and at Firestone Farm. Please approach the tracks cautiously; wheelchairs should cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle to prevent wheels from being caught and damaged. Whenever possible, wheelchairs are admitted into historic buildings. However, not all buildings can accommodate wheelchairs or electric scooters because of the physical limitations of the building (i.e., entrance steps, narrow doorways, stairs to second floors) and temporary constraints caused by ongoing conservation projects. Download a list of Greenfield Village buildings with limited accessibility. Please contact us in advance for a listing of any buildings that may not be open during your visit or if you have further questions or needs.

What should I know about accessibility on Greenfield Village Historic Rides?

Access to historic rides in Greenfield Village varies by type of vehicle. The Model T's, Omnibus Shuttle, 1931 Ford Model AA Bus and Herschell-Spillman Carousel require transfer from a wheelchair or scooter to the seat of the vehicle. The Weiser Railroad has a wheelchair or motorized scooter lift that is limited to 500 pounds. Motorized scooters rented in Greenfield Village cannot fit on the train. You are welcome to transfer from your motorized scooter to the train and leave your scooter for pickup later, when the train returns to the stop where you left it.

What should I know about accessibility at Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

Ford Rouge Factory Tour buses are wheelchair-accessible. Our buses can accommodate smaller-model electric scooters. Complimentary wheelchairs are available at the Factory Tour Visitor Center upon request. All exhibit areas of the Visitor Center and factory walkways are accessible.

What should I know about accessibility at the Giant Screen Experience?

Giant Screen Experience has stadium seating that includes stairs upon entering or exiting. For those who are unable to climb stairs, an elevator is available for assistance. An employee or volunteer will accompany the guest and one companion to the elevator and into the theater. Please make inquiries upon arrival to any cashier, ticket attendant or Giant Screen Experience host. A limited number of spaces are held specifically for wheelchairs for our guests who wish to stay with, or who are unable to leave, their wheelchairs. Each of those spaces has seats for a companion or aide.

What should I know about accessibility at Lovett Hall?

Motorized doors are available at both north and south entrances to Lovett Hall, and both entrances are wheelchair-accessible. An elevator is available for second-floor (ballroom) access. Please see a Henry Ford staff member for assistance with locating and using the elevator.

What should I know about accessibility at Benson Ford Research Center?

Motorized doors are available at the south entrance to the Benson Ford Research Center, near the Greenfield Village entrance and directly across from Josephine Ford Plaza. All areas of the research center and reading library are wheelchair-accessible. A public elevator is available for second-floor access.

What offerings are available for guests who are blind or have low vision?

Large-print maps of Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation are available at the Clocktower entrance and the Welcome Center. Guests may find large-print maps of Greenfield Village at the village ticket building. Large-print maps of the Ford Rouge Factory Tour are available from bus greeters at the tour Visitor Center.

Tactile tours are available for The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. They are 90 minutes and included with the admission price. Allow three weeks’ advance notice.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation tactile tours open to the public in 2018 are:

Saturday, March 31
Thursday, June 7
Saturday, October 6

Advanced registration is required.

Download a list of areas in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village that are recommended for their tactile and multisensory opportunities.

Staff members at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour have received training on working with guests who are blind or visually impaired, and have been given tips on providing detailed descriptions during their presentations.

Descriptive audio is available for select films at the Giant Screen Experience. Contact accessibility@thehenryford.org for a list of films that have descriptive audio

What offerings are available for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Sign language interpretation can be scheduled for any tour, program or event with at least two weeks’ advance notice. Shorter notice requests are accommodated if possible. To make arrangements, please contact our Call Center at 313.982.6001.

Assistive-listening headsets are available for use at the Giant Screen Experience. Please contact a staff member for assistance. Closed-captioning is available for select films at the Giant Screen Experience. Contact accessibility@thehenryford.org for a list of films that have closed captioning.

Printed transcripts of the audio in the Legacy Theater at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour are available.

What offerings are available for guests who are on the autism spectrum and/or have other sensory sensitivities?

Noise-canceling headphones, earplugs and a communication board are available in a sensory assistance kit located at the Welcome Center ticket desk and the Greenfield Village ticket building. Rental of noise-canceling headphones requires a current driver’s license or ID to leave at the rental location during the period of use.

Earplugs are available for use in the Manufacturing Innovation Theater at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour to minimize the sound. Please contact a staff member for assistance.

Please note that the Manufacturing Innovation Theater at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour is a multimedia, multisensory experience that may be overwhelming to some guests with sensory sensitivities or other medical conditions.

Staff members of The Henry Ford have participated in the Michigan Autism Safety Training provided by the Autism Alliance of Michigan to better understand the characteristics of autism and how to recognize and communicate with someone with autism. The Henry Ford has worked with the Autism Alliance of Michigan to create social narratives (pre-visit planning tools that use pictures and text) to help prepare guests on the autism spectrum for a visit. View the social narrative for Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village and Ford Rouge Factory Tour.

Sensory-friendly events for guests on the autism spectrum and with other special needs are scheduled for the following dates in 2018. More information coming soon.

Saturday, March 10 (Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation)
Saturday, May 5 (Greenfield Village)
Saturday, June 23 (Ford Rouge Factory Tour)

Sensory-friendly Teacher’s Choice screenings, in which the lights are turned up and the sound is turned down, are available upon request. These screenings are in 2D only and recommended for groups of people with autism and other sensory issues/special needs. Please call 313.982.6001 for more information.

Quiet spaces are located throughout all venues of The Henry Ford. Quiet spaces in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation include: front of the museum near the Allegheny Locomotive, back wall behind the Railroads and Driving America exhibits, and back wall behind the Made in America Power exhibit. In Greenfield Village, there are many quiet, open outdoor spaces. At the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, quiet spaces include the lobby or Legacy Gallery on Floor 1, the mezzanine before entering the assembly plant on Floor 2 and the small conference room at the end of the first assembly plant walkway near windshield install. A quiet space at the Giant Screen Experience can be found on the second level, outside the exit doors.

What offerings are available for guests with dementia and their caregivers?

The Henry Ford is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter – on a series of Community Connect outings. The Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter’s Community Connect program is designed to provide people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and their care partners with a broad range of socialization and culturally significant events and outings. To register for a Community Connect outing, please call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800.272.3900.

Upcoming Community Connect outings at The Henry Ford include:

Friday, February 9, 2018 1 pm (Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Theme: Celebrate Black History)
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 1 pm (Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Giant Screen Experience; Theme: Music)
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 1 pm (Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Theme: Home)
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 1:30 pm (Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Special performance by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
Tuesday, May 1, 2018 1 pm (Greenfield Village; Theme: Historic Crafts and Trades)
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 1 pm (Greenfield Village; Theme: School)
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 1 pm (Greenfield Village; Theme: Song and Dance through the Decades)
Tuesday, August 7, 2018 1 pm (Greenfield Village; Theme: Historic Homes through Time)

What offerings are available for guests with food allergies?

For allergen information or questions regarding menu items, please ask staff in any of our on-site dining establishments, email accessibility@thehenryford.org, or call 313.982.6001.

Are other accessibility offerings available at The Henry Ford?

A resting room is available in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation for use by guests (i.e., as a quiet space or room for nursing mothers).

The Donald F. Kosch Village Playground in Greenfield Village is designed for the use and enjoyment of children of all abilities. Most of the activities are accessible from ground level or by ramp. There are varying sculptural swings so all children, whether fully abled or not, may enjoy them. The playground is for children ages 10 and younger and for school groups with students in preschool through second grade. For members of families, children over age 10 are permitted to use the playground when in the company of younger children. Children of any age with special needs are welcome with an adult caregiver.

For additional questions related to accessibility at The Henry Ford, please email accessibility@thehenryford.org or call 313.982.6001.

Is there Accessibility Information for events at The Henry Ford?