The South Carolina State Museum will host its annual Disability Celebration Day on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event celebrates the approximately 1.1 million adults and nearly 250,000 children living with a disability in South Carolina. Guests of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in disability-adapted activities and sensory-friendly experiences throughout the museum.
“Initiatives like Disability Celebration Day, our monthly Accessibility Mornings and ongoing ADA-compliant facility improvements reflect our commitment to fostering greater equity and access throughout the museum,” said Ani Simmons.
A highlight of the event will be a ZotArtz Community Art Creation, where participants can help paint a large floor mural using adaptive art tools such as stamping tools and paint rollers attached to wheelchairs. Guests will also have the opportunity to create individual poster-sized paintings to take home.
Additional activities include a Silent Disco with adjustable headphone volume, hands-on history stations featuring objects from the museum’s teaching collection, and tactile materials from NASA. A sensory room will also be available for guests who need a quiet break during their visit.
Sensory-friendly planetarium and 4D theater shows will be offered with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, sponsored by Colonial Life, and provided by certified interpreters from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind.
Admission to Disability Celebration Day and most activities is free. Planetarium and 4D theater shows are $5 each. Online pre-registration is encouraged, though walk-up participation will also be accepted as space allows.
Program Schedule
9 – 11 a.m. | Sensory Hours
Museum lights and sounds will be reduced for a more sensory-friendly experience.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Main Event Activities
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Meet community resource partners and accessibility organizations
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ZotArtz Community Art Creation with adaptive art tools
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Silent Disco with music via headphones
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Hands-on astronomy and history stations throughout the museum
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Astronomy Sonification demonstrations explaining how space data can be converted into sound
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Sensory Room presented by The Behavior Co.
Sensory-Friendly Shows with ASL Interpretation
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9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Planetarium Show: Áróra
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11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4D Show: Sea Lion 4D
A full list of activities and registration information is available at scmuseum.org.
