Capital Access: Touring D.C. with Special Needs Kids

While most D.C. museums are accessible, many are more hands-off than ‘please-touch’. So stop in the gift shop, especially if you have a child with a visual impairment. “For a child who’s tactile,” says Gwen Botting, president of the Michigan chapter of the National Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, “the gift shop produces enough things that give your child a sense of what’s going on there.” You may not be able to get close enough to the Washington Monument to touch it, but you can get a feel for it by sifting through the various Washington Monument statutes at the gift shop. 

And that brings us to memorials. All the memorials are accessible, from Lincoln to Vietnam to World War II. The White House is accessible, but to see the Capitol, call your senator or representative to arrange an accessible tour, whether you need a sign language interpreter or a wheelchair-accessible route. Call the Congressional Special Services Office at 202-224-4048 or visit the Congress’ accessibility Web page.

For kids’ entertainment, check out the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater. It offers a much-welcome respite from the busy, sunny Mall. (Note: for children who are easily overwhelmed, this small, dark theater may be a challenge). The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is fully accessible and worth a visit even if you don’t see a show. Be sure to take the elevator to the top floor to see the view from the balcony. (Read our D.C. theater for kids article for more information about shows.)

Hotel and Restaurant Tips

When booking a hotel room, make sure that the location is accessible to Metro or other transportation and close to most of the sights you want to see. For dinner, there are restaurants in D.C. that are both accessible and family-friendly. Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 U Street NW) is right across from the U Street Metro and serves fresh, homemade, secret-recipe chili in a relaxed atmosphere. Jaleo (480 7th St NW) is a Spanish tapas restaurant that serves as many little plates as you and your kids can handle. America (50 Massachusetts Avenue) in Union Station offers regional American cuisine. For more restaurants, hotels, and accessible visiting tips for D.C., order a disability guide from www.disabilityguide.org.