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Accessibility & Amenities

The Carle strives to be a welcoming and comfortable place for all of our visitors. The Museum received a Universal Participation (UP) designation from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) in 2019. To learn more, visit MCC UP Network. For access information not found here please email info@carlemuseum.org or call 413-559-6301. 

Parking

There are four accessible parking spaces in the Museum’s parking lot, including one van space. Parking is free.  

Restrooms

The Carle has accessible male, female, and non-gender bathrooms each with multiple stalls and changing tables. 

Mobility  

The Carle is on one level and accessible by wheelchairs in all areas. 

  • Power-assist doors are located at the Museum’s main entrance and gallery entrance.                  

  • A power-assist door and paved pathway leads outside to Bobbie’s Meadow.  

  • There is a wheelchair-accessible picnic table. 

  • Manual wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are available free of charge.  To reserve wheelchairs or accessible seats in our auditorium, please call 413-559-6301. 

Medical Needs

Visitors are welcome to bring a large medical bag into the galleries if needed. Please check in with guest services at the admissions desk.

Personal care attendants

Admission is free for personal care attendants. 

Assisted Listening Devices

Headsets and a loop system are available in the auditorium. Please stop at the admissions desk to request a device. When available, films are subtitled.  

Seating

The Great Hall, Reading Library, Art Studio, Café, and Galleries all offer seating.  

Glasses for Color Blindness

The Carle is the first art museum in Massachusetts to offer eyewear by EnChroma® to visitors with color blindness so they may experience the Museum’s picture book art in clear, vibrant color. EnChroma glasses enable people with red-green color blindness to see an expanded range of color and enjoy enhanced detail and depth perception.

Eight pairs of eyewear are available, including glasses for both children and adults, indoor and outdoor use, and pairs adapted to fit over eyeglasses.  

Service Dogs

Trained service dogs are permitted: 

  • A service dog must be on a leash and under the control of the owner/handler. 
  • A service dog must be house trained. The owner/handler is responsible for the cleanup of any accidents the dog has and should have the necessary cleaning supplies on hand. 
  • If a service dog shows disruptive behavior, the owner/handler will be asked to remove the dog from the Museum. 

Café

The Carle Café offers a spacious area for eating but does not have a restaurant. We offer Berkshire Naturals, a vending machine stocked with healthy snacks. Visitors are welcome to bring food to eat in the Café or to picnic outside. Atkins Farms Country Market, less than a quarter of a mile away, has salads, soups, and sandwiches; Esselon, a ten-minute drive, offers a complete café menu.  

Public Transportation 

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses makes stops in Amherst. Some buses stop at Hampshire College, right next to the Museum or nearby at Atkins Farms Market.