Access Programs

Sensory Friendly Sunday

Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly, free event for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities and their families. Join us 8–11 am on the second Sunday of the month before the museum opens to the general public. Explore the exhibitions, grab an art kit to take home with you, or just hang out in a different setting. All friends and family members are welcome, from sibs to primary caregivers to grandparents.

Sensory Friendly Sunday strives to be a calm and no-judgment environment. Visitors can choose from social narratives, sensory maps, quiet spaces, fidgets, sunglasses, and more.

Created in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota’s Occupational Therapy department.

This activity is made possible by the voters Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board Art, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Contemporary Journeys

Contemporary Journeys is the Walker’s program for people with early- to mid-stage dementia and their care partners, family members, and friends.

To ensure the health and safety of our visitors, we are not offering Contemporary Journeys in person at this time. However, we are pleased to offer a fun and engaging video version of the program to individuals or care facilities free of charge. Just email tours@walkerart.org for more information.

Tours for Neurodiverse Visitors

The Walker offers customized tour options for individuals of all ages with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Led and designed by trained educators, these tours serve day center facilities, group homes, and other organizations.

School Programs additionally provides specific offerings for Special Education classrooms, including Citywide Autism Program and inclusive classrooms. View tour options.

All tours for individuals with ASD or developmental disabilities are free.

Verbal Description and Touch Tours

Verbal Description and Touch Tours give visitors who are blind or have low vision an opportunity to experience the Walker’s rotating exhibitions and permanent collection. Trained educators provide dynamic descriptions of artworks, in addition to incorporating a range of sensory tools—ranging from touch objects to sound clips—to enhance each visitor’s tour experience.

You can book a Verbal Description tour of an exhibition on view in the Walker or in warmer months, schedule a Touch Tour of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, featuring a tactile and verbal exploration of newly commissioned sculptures and the redesigned space.

All Verbal Description and Touch Tours are free. Please provide at least three weeks’ advance notice.

The Walker would like to thank BLIND, Inc., a local nonprofit that provides adjustment-to-blindness training, for reviewing our Verbal Description and Touch Tour programs.

Tour Programs are sponsored by

Education and Public Programs are supported by the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation.

Family Programs are supported by the Manitou Fund, thanks to Rosemary and Kevin McNeely.