ACCESS PROGRAMS
The Transit Museum is dedicated to honoring the strengths of people with disabilities and making its extensive collection accessible to all.
SUBWAY SLEUTHS
Applications have closed for the Fall 2024 semester.
Subway Sleuths is an after-school program that builds on a shared interest in trains and public transit among 2nd through 5th grade students on the autism spectrum to support social interaction between peers.
Participants explore the Transit Museum’s content and collection, sharing their enthusiasm with others while engaging in transit-themed games and activities. Groups are facilitated by Transit Museum Educators and professionals trained in ASD support.
Learn more about Subway Sleuths.
TRANSIT QUEST
August 19-23, 2024, 10am to 3pm
Applications have closed.
Developed for teens ages 14 to 17 who identify as neurodivergent, this week-long summer program will immerse participants in New York Transit Museum content and provide exciting opportunities to engage with fellow transit fans and guest speakers from the Museum and the MTA. Transit Quest combines building new connections with exclusive Museum experiences and offsite excursions in our transit system.
The Museum must review all applications as space is limited. We may contact potential candidates to confirm a strong passion for transit and ensure that this is an appropriate program.
The cost is $500 for all five days. Limited partial scholarships are available.
For more information, please email us.
SPECIAL DAY
Join the Transit Museum for a fun family program! We invite children with developmental disabilities or those on the autism spectrum and their families to join us for transit-themed activities, performances, and exploring the Museum before we open to the public. All ages welcome for this free event, and registration is required.
Our next Special Day will be in early spring.
For more information, please email us or join our mailing list.
DAY HABILITATION DAY
Day Habilitation Day allows individuals and groups to explore the Transit Museum and learn about the programs we offer for adults with disabilities. The event is FREE but registration is required. This event takes place twice a year, in the fall and spring seasons. For more information, please email our Special Education and Access Manager.
The next Day Habilitation Day is November 13th. Learn more about Day Habilitation Day!
READY TO RIDE: FAMILY EVENT
Practice how to travel by subway—from mapping a route to buying MetroCards from a station agent—in the safe environment of the Transit Museum. Become familiar with MetroCards, turnstiles, maps, and conductor boards, and role play various real-world scenarios on board a subway car.
This program is developed for participants ages 13 through adults with developmental/learning disabilities or autism, who are interested in independent subway travel. All participants must be accompanied by an adult caregiver, care manager, or parent. The cost of the program is $10 per participant and includes same-day admission to the Museum. Space is limited; registration is required.
Please email us for more information and to join the contact list for the next event.
ONGOING PROGRAMS:
SCHOOL VISITS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
We offer a range of programs that meet the learning needs of your students. Learn more about school programs.
TOURS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
Customized tours are offered for adults with developmental and/or learning disabilities. Learn more about adult group programs.
SUBWAY TRACKS GROUP PROGRAM
Explore New York City’s subway system from past to present. Track the history of our complex transit system on a tour of our vintage train collection while also discussing how we safely ride the subway today, from entering the system with a MetroCard or OMNY tap, to recognizing potential concerns and social cues.
This program is offered to 6th graders through adult learners with developmental and/or learning disabilities.
Learn more about booking a school program.
Learn more about booking an adult group program.
Additional information
To learn more about accessibility at the New York Transit Museum, please visit our accessibility page.
The New York Transit Museum recognizes that the choice to use identity-first language (an autistic person) or person-first language (a person with autism) is an evolving conversation. Like the MTA, the Transit Museum currently uses person-first language in its accessibility practices and respects however a person chooses to self-identify.
Funding for access programs is provided by the Taft Foundation, the FAR Fund, the Lemberg Foundation, and generous individual donors.