Accessibility at SBMA

SBMA is committed to making our exhibitions and programs accessible to all visitors. Below is a list of on-site accommodations for guests. If you have questions, please contact us at tickets@sbma.net or 805.884.6421 .

Planning Your Visit

• Personal Care Attendants. Admission is free for one person accompanying a visitor with accessibility needs.
• Accessible Restrooms. Restrooms at SBMA are ADA accessible. Family-friendly and all-gender restrooms are available throughout the Museum.
• Service Animals Policy. Service animals that are trained to do work or perform specific tasks for the benefit of an individual with disabilities are welcome at SBMA.
  
  Visitors with Service Animals must adhere to the following:
  • The animal must be under the handler’s control at all times.
  • No retractable leashes permitted. The animal must be on a six-foot or shorter tether.
  • Be mindful that some visitors or staff may be frightened or allergic to animals.
  • Handlers must pick up after their service animal.
  • Vacate the property if the animal is out of control or misbehaves.
  
  For more information about service animals please visit the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) informational webpage on service animals.


• Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted within the Museum.
• Nursing and Bottle Feeding. Visitors are welcome to breastfeed infants in all areas of the Museum, on all floors, including the galleries spaces. Please note that gallery seating may be limited. Visitors are welcome to bottle feed infants in all public areas on the Ground Level (GL) floor of the Museum. Bottle feeding is not permitted on gallery levels.

For Visitors Using Mobility Aids

• Accessible Parking. Accessible parking spaces are located in Downtown Parking Lots 6 and 7. Visit the City of Santa Barbara website for a map of downtown parking locations here, as well as a list of current parking rates. SBMA does not provide parking validation.
• Accessible Drop-Off. The most convenient location to drop off a guest who may have limited mobility is on East Anapamu Street between State and Anacapa Streets.
• An ADA accessible ramp leading to the Museum’s main entrance is located on East Anapamu Street. A self-serve door is available by pressing OPEN at the top of the ramp. For additional assistance, press the CALL button and someone from the Museum will be happy to assist you.
• Standard Wheelchairs. Two standard wheelchairs are available at the front desk and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Light, folding gallery stools are also available. To reserve a wheelchair in advance, please call our Visitor Services desk at 805.884.6423.
• Wheelchair Seating. Front- and rear-row seating for visitors using wheelchairs is available in the auditorium. Please arrive early to reach this area before a program begins. Visitor Services staff will be happy to assist you.
• Elevators: An elevator is available in one location to access the various floors of the Museum. Ridley-Tree Gallery is accessible via chair lift located in the Preston Morton Gallery. The lift’s dimensions are 32″W x 50”D. Security staff will be on standby to offer assistance.

For Visitors Who Are Blind or Partially Sighted

• Large Format Labels. Large format labels of exhibition texts are available at the visitor services desk.
• Verbal Description Tours. Verbal description tours will be available in fall 2021. To learn more about these tours, please contact our Education Department at education@sbma.net or 805.884.6457.
• Audio Headsets. SBMA does not offer audio headsets for visitors.
• Indoor Lighting. Lighting may be dimmed in galleries that contain photographs and drawings to protect the art.
• Tactile or Multisensory Tours. Tactile or multisensory tours are not being offered at this time.

For Visitors Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

• Audio Loop Technology. SBMA offers Otojoy hearing loop technology to hearing aid users for events in our auditorium that utilize the Museum's sound system. Those interested in using the technology are encouraged to contact their audiologist or Otojoy at 805.728.9114 or otojoy.com.
• Sign Language Interpretation and Open Captioning. Sign language interpretation and open captioning is not being offered during public programs at this time.
• Face Shields. To help promote social distancing, clear face shields are available at the Visitor Services desk upon request. Masks are not required for visitors who are deaf or their interpreters.

For Visitors on the Autism Spectrum

• Sensory Information. Some exhibitions or installations may have sensory components that could be overwhelming or disorienting to some visitors.

Contact Information

SBMA welcomes any suggestions on ways we can better serve the needs of our visitors. Please contact us at shaentjens@sbma.net or call 805.884.6421.