The Cleveland Museum of Art has introduced two additions to its ADA-compliant offerings: Sensory-Friendly Saturdays and Enchroma color-blind glasses.
Sensory-Friendly Saturdays are held on the third Saturday of the month. On those days – the next scheduled for Nov. 18 from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. — CMA offers adaptations to meet diverse sensory processing needs.
Guests on the autism spectrum, experiencing dementia, and with intellectual or developmental disabilities are invited to participate in a calming museum experience with less stimulation, before the museum opens to the public—reducing crowds, noise and distractions. Guests can explore the galleries at their own pace, relax in the designated quiet area, and share this time and space with open-minded members of the community.
Additionally, CMA has introduced EnChroma color-blind glasses for guests with color vision deficiency to experience art the way it was intended. According to CMA, color blindness affects more than 350 million people globally, impacting the hues and tones of many colors. It’s estimated that only 10 percent of hues and shades can be seen by those impacted by color vision deficiency.
“Since we opened our doors in 1916, the CMA has been committed to making all visitors feel welcome,” says Todd Mesek, chief marketing officer. “The statement ‘for the benefit of all the people forever’ was written into Jeptha Wade’s 1892 deed of gift for the land on which the museum stands. It reflects our strong belief that the CMA should serve as a place for inspiration, wonder, and meaning for all people. By making the museum more accessible, we hope a wide array of guests can experience the CMA in new ways.”
