This April, we join autistic advocates and their allies around the world in honoring Autism Acceptance Month. At the Intrepid Museum, we strive to foster multisensory and inclusive experiences for all visitors, partners, staff and volunteers, including those with autism or other disabilities.
For over 10 years, the Museum has offered specialized sensory-friendly programming for visitors with autism and their families. Early Morning Openings take place before the Museum opens to the public, helping to ensure a welcoming and calm environment with additional multisensory learning opportunities.
Over the years, many of these practices have been woven into our other education programs and exhibition design to make the Museum more inclusive. Visitors planning a visit can also find resources like a social narrative and sensory guide on our website and can borrow sensory bags from the Information Desk.
We are proud to serve as a model for other museums developing sensory-friendly programs and initiatives for visitors, staff and volunteers with autism. Our efforts have been recognized through prestigious awards that highlight our commitment to accessibility:
These accolades reflect our dedication to fostering inclusivity not just within our museum but across the broader cultural landscape. All this work has been guided by the Museum’s Neurodiversity Advisory Council of self-advocates and parent advocates. Having diverse perspectives on the advisory council members is crucial to our work.
For this post, we invited one of our Museum educators, Miranda Lee, to share her perspective. Miranda is autistic and is an educator and access consultant at the Museum who focuses on doing work for autistic people of all ages and their families.
Miranda’s Intrepid Experience
Why did you want to work at the Intrepid Museum?
“I wanted to join Intrepid as an educator in part because of the abundance of programs and resources Intrepid has for disabled and neurodivergent people, which, to me, already shows a commitment to those communities.
The Accessibility team not only has these programs and resources, but they also have a genuine goal to ensure autistic people, and their families have welcoming and rewarding experiences in the Museum space. Resources such as touch objects are also implemented in regular tour programs, which helps normalize accessibility and show [sic] that anyone can benefit from accommodations.
Overall, I feel the Accessibility team at Intrepid has done very well in providing for autistic people and their families and with making accessibility holistic.”
Why is it important for museums like ours to include staff with autism?
Miranda: “I believe a museum shows a true commitment to inclusivity when it puts effort into making its space accessible for autistic people and opens up opportunities for autistic people who want to work in Museums.
I know many autistic people who love museums. Some want to make museums more accessible and inclusive—others simply love what museums have to offer. All are eager to contribute their passion and strengths.
Some autistic people might want to contribute to or start access initiatives. Some autistic people might want to put their all into a role they care about. Whatever the approach, what I can say from personal experience is that when an autistic person works in a field they care about, they are locked in, sometimes going beyond 100%.
Plus, I feel people learn so much when they work with someone whose experiences are different from their own, which is a general value that applies outside disability and neurodiversity.”
What makes a workplace inclusive for you?
“I think understanding what autism and neurodivergences are, is the first step to workplace inclusivity.
The second step is learning what an autistic person’s individual needs are, which means going outside of an “accessibility checkbox” and getting to know the autistic person you are working with, just as you would get to know a non-autistic person. What are their traits? What are their hobbies? What are their interests?
The third step is learning about and bonding with the autistic person. At Intrepid, the educators have been extremely kind to me, not because I am autistic, but because they enjoy my company. Some discuss shared interests with me. Many invite me to socialize with them. That openness and acceptance, I believe, leads to true inclusivity.”
Fostering True Inclusivity
As we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, the Intrepid Museum reaffirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all visitors, including those with autism and other disabilities. Through specialized programming, thoughtful resources, and the invaluable guidance of our Neurodiversity Advisory Council, we continue to evolve and expand our accessibility initiatives.
Voices like Miranda Lee’s highlight the importance of representation, understanding and collaboration in creating spaces where everyone can thrive—not just as visitors but as contributors to the Museum’s mission.
Together, we strive to ensure that inclusivity is not just a goal but a lived reality, enriching the experiences of all who walk through our doors.
Access programs at the Intrepid Museum are generously supported by The FAR Fund, the J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation and the Frank J. Antun Foundation. The Museum’s Access programs are supported, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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