NEW YORK, NY (October 17, 2019) – The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has received a highly competitive National Leadership Grant for Museums from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in the amount of $588,882 to partner with New York University’s Ability Project to increase the capacity of historic sites to develop rich, sensory-based interpretive experiences that are accessible to visitors with disabilities.

The three-year project will focus on creating a free, digital publication titled Sensory Tools for Interpreting Historic Sites that will offer strategies for increasing visitor engagement through interpretation that is accessible for visitors with disabilities and achievable by historic sites of all sizes. Sensory Tools will outline a series of design processes and solutions that take into consideration a range of needs related to visitor movement, vision, hearing, range of motion, cognitive comprehension and sensory experiences. Sensory Tools will lead to increased access, enjoyment, and understanding of historic sites through their spaces and collections.

The Intrepid Museum and NYU Ability Project will partner with experts in the fields of accessibility and historic site preservation and interpretation to select members of a Core Working Group, comprising eight local individuals with disabilities and eight professionals representing historic sites across the United States. This group will work together to identify accessibility challenges, field test proposed solutions, and periodically convene to review, evaluate and provide recommendations.

“We are honored that the Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded us this grant to support our partnership with NYU’s Ability Project,” stated Susan Marenoff-Zausner, president of the Intrepid Museum. “One of the Museum’s top priorities is to break down barriers and provide an experience enjoyable and accessible for all. This funding will allow us to maximize this important effort and help provide a model for other historic sites to further their own access initiatives.”

“The FY19 National Leadership Grants for Museums awardees are well-poised to make significant contributions to address sector-wide needs of museums,” said Paula Gangopadhyay, Deputy Director of the IMLS Office of Museum Services. “We were very pleased to see applications that were not only closely aligned with IMLS’s strategic plan and the sector’s needs, but that focused on the five new categories we introduced this year.”

The solutions presented within Sensory Tools will be designed with longevity in mind, ensuring that the document will have long-lasting impact. In addition, the network of practitioners will serve as a resource for one another and a leader for other historic sites in their community or region.

About the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a nonprofit, educational institution featuring the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world’s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine. Through exhibitions, educational programming and the foremost collection of technologically groundbreaking aircraft and vessels, visitors of all ages and abilities are taken on an interactive journey through history to learn about American innovation and bravery.

The Intrepid Museum fulfills its mission to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth by connecting them to history through hands-on exploration while bridging the future by inspiring innovation.

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About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.