Spark!Lab Accessibility Resources

Making Spark!Lab Accessible

One of Spark!Lab’s core messages is that “everyone is inventive.” This means everyone, regardless of physical ability, language, or academic background. Our volunteers and staff dedicate themselves to helping visitors from every background and language engage in the invention process.

In our ongoing work to make Spark!Lab accessible to all visitors, we are developing tools for visitors to use before and during their time at the Museum. We will add new tools as they are created, so be sure to check back for updates and resources that you can download. And if there is a tool that would be helpful to you, please tell us about it in the comments box below or email SparkLab@si.edu.

My Visit to Spark!Lab

I am going to visit Spark!Lab.

I will hear many sounds in Spark!Lab.

A grown-up in a yellow apron will say hi to me at the door and tell me what I can do.

I can touch many things in Spark!Lab.

This is a place where I can create inventions.

Sometimes activities in Spark!Lab change. That’s OK, I can try to solve new problems.

Activity Sounds

One older adult woman, one adult woman and one female child are gathered around an activity table and smiling. The picture is taken from the side view. In the middle of the picture is a light wooden table. On the table are lego pieces and wire is strung a

In Spark!Lab, I will hear many different sounds.

Most of the inventions make noise.

I might hear beeping, squeaking, or gears turning.

I might also hear people tapping on the tables or walls.

People Sounds

A view of the Sparklab interior space from the front of the room looking towards the back of the room. On the left and center of the picture, in the foreground is a curved table with many people standing around and some sitting on stools. In the distance

In Spark!Lab, I will hear people.

I may hear talking.

I may hear laughing.

I may hear crying.

I may hear footsteps.

I may hear clapping.

Things I Can Touch in Spark!Lab

In Spark!Lab, I can touch many things.

I can touch the invention materials.

A Spark!Lab activity station. A picture of an activity station, taken from the front view. In the middle of the picture is a light wooden table. teal title panel says Help Clean Up the Ocean.

I can touch the chalkboards.

Chalkboard and light wood cabinets and cubbies that have orange or blue interiors and objects on display in lighted glass cases. Below the cubbies and cabinets is a large square blackboard and a wooden shelf underneath with more cabinets and drawers.

I can touch the Sketch It! materials.

I can touch the books.

Things I Can Invent in Spark!Lab

I can solve a problem.

I can find problems to solve on purple signs.

Side view of an activity station comprising a stool and a light wooden table with an attached gray panel holding 3 purple plastic buckets, 2 green circles on gray shelves, 2 purple text panels, and a large orange text panel that reads Try It.

The bins have materials that I can use.

close up view of two large purple plastic bins, two small white bins and one gray shelf connected to a gray wall, at the end of the activity table. In the bins are Lego pieces, some wire, and controllers.

I will leave the materials behind when I switch tables.

I can work with others on my invention.

Things I Can Invent in Spark!Lab and Take Home

I will see the Hub make and take station and Sketch It! tables in the center of the room.

View of the Sparklab interior space from the front of the room. In the left foreground is a curved table with clipboards. In the distance is a wall with colorful display boxes, a wooden shelf unit, and the lighted sparklab sign overhead.

I can find problems to solve on the purple signs.

The bins and shelves have materials that I can use.

A curved, light wood table and two stools. Two vertical posts and a connecting horizontal plastic bar attached to the table hold white and yellow plastic bins filled with craft supplies in them.

Close-up of shelves with blue interiors. On the shelves are yellow and purple plastic bins with craft supplies in them. On the bottom shelf is a cardboard box with pieces of cardboard in the box.

I can take my invention with me when I leave.

Things I Cannot Touch in Spark!Lab

There are some things that I can’t touch in Spark!Lab.

I can’t touch Inventor Tim’s tools.

A blue wall with a clear window. Looking through the window, you can see a workshop. There are tools, 3D printers on a workbench, an orange cabinet on the right side, and pieces of paper hanging on the walls.

I can’t touch the exit door.

On the right is a photo is a blue wall with a white door and a green EXIT sign above the door. The door has a metal bar across it and a sign that says Badged Access Only. Alarm Will Sound.

Staying with my Grown-up in Spark!Lab

A female grown-up is sitting close to a small child. They both appear to be looking at the same thing. The grown-up is helping the child touch or explore an object that is out of sight.

My grown-up is older than me.

My grown-up will help me visit Spark!Lab.

My grown-up knows what to do in a big place with a lot of people.

Asking Grown-ups for Help

A teenage male wearing a bright yellow apron, a grown-up male, and small child are looking at a table with wooden and plastic materials on it. Their backs are toward the viewer and what they are looking at is out of sight.

When I am in Spark!Lab, I can ask questions.

I can ask my grown-up for help.

I can ask a Spark!Lab grown-up for help.

Spark!Lab grown-ups wear bright yellow aprons.

Reminders for My Visit to Spark!Lab

I am going to visit Spark!Lab.

I will hear many sounds in Spark!Lab.

I can touch many things in Spark!Lab.

There are some things I cannot touch.

I will visit Spark!Lab with my grown-up.

I can ask a grown-up for help.

I will be an inventor in Spark!Lab.

Things I Will See

Inventor Stories

A light wood vertical panel on gray metal wheels bearing three colorful, long, thin panels next to each other. From left to right, the panels are titled Think It, Explore It, and Sketch It. Each panel contains a small image and text.

Inventions on Display

A light wooden display case with a glass cover and glass shelves holds objects, books, and papers. At the back of the display case are colorful panels with logos that say think it, explore it, create it, and try it.

Inventing Station

Sketch It! Table

The Hub Make-and-Take Station

Sparklab interior taken from the back of the room. In the foreground a light wooden curved table with stools and some craft supplies in an orange bucket. Behind the table is are light wooden shelves with buckets of materials.

Prizewinners Wall

A wall in sparklab has blue text panels arranged across it. Each of the blue panels features a picture of an inventor with text about their invention.

Inventor Tim's Workspace

A blue wall with a clear window in the middle. Looking through the window you can see Inventor Tim and his workshop filled with tools, 3D printers on a workbench, an orange cabinet, and pieces of paper hanging on the walls.

Thinking Spot

Chalkboards

A wall of light wood cabinets and cubbies have purple or orange interiors and objects in lighted display cases. Below the cubbies and cabinets is a long rectangular blackboard and a wooden shelf underneath with more cabinets and drawers.

Thank you for visiting Spark!Lab!

A floor plan of Sparklab showing where activity station tables, objects on display, inventor profiles, and Inventor Tim's workspace are located. — *Floor plan of Spark!Lab*.

Spark!Lab General and Sensory Information

HOURS AND LOCATION

Spark!Lab is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except for Tuesdays and December 25.

Spark!Lab is located at the National Museum of American History, first floor, West Wing.

ENTERING THE MUSEUM

All visitors must go through the security process at the entrance, which includes a hand check of bags and walking through a metal detector. If your child has difficulty waiting quietly in line, plan accordingly and bring fidget spinners, music headphones, or a manipulative toy.

Enter museum at the Constitution Avenue entrance between 12 and 14 Streets.

You will be greeted by a Security Guard.

The Security Guard will check all bags.

You and your child will have to walk through a security scanner.

The Lobby is a large open space and can be loud if crowded.

The Lobby has display cases along the walls filled with a variety of artifacts.

Items such as markers, colored pencils, silly putty, Play-Doh, food, and drinks (except water) are not allowed in the museum.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IN SPARK!LAB

When you arrive at Spark!Lab, a greeter in a yellow apron will welcome you and tell you about the space.

Spark!Lab has hands-on invention stations throughout the room.

You can find the invention challenge for each station on the purple signs at each one.

You and your child can work together to create inventions that solve the challenges.

You and your child can create your own invention at the make and take station called The Hub and take it home.

Staff and volunteers in yellow aprons can help you if you have questions or need anything.

VISUAL STIMULI

Spark!Lab is brightly lit with brightly-colored walls and décor.

There could be large touch-screen monitors at a few of the stations.

Some of the invention stations may have bright lights or moving objects.

There is a wall of windows looking into Wegman’s Wonderplace, a hands-on space for children 0-6.

AUDITORY STIMULI

Spark!Lab is often full of young children and adults, so there is substantial crowd noise.

Some activities could make noise, such as beeping, scraping, or humming.

There are occasionally young children who cry or yell, and sounds can come in from Wegman’s Wonderplace.

The doors to Spark!Lab occasionally close with a loud bang.

Tables and chairs might scrape against the floor, or be knocked over.

The Thinking Spot can be a quieter area.

If your child is sensitive to sound, consider bringing noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.

TACTILE EXPERIENCES

Chalkboards and chalk are available for drawing.

All Spark!Lab activities and invention stations are hands-on.

Materials include Tinker toys, Legos, K’nex pieces, pipe cleaners, straws, cardboard, rubber bands, and construction paper.

MOVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Spark!Lab has many tables and chairs that are close together.

Movement around Spark!Lab can be limited when it is busy.

Spark!Lab is less crowded in the back of the space, near the Thinking Spot.

TEMPERATURE

Spark!Lab is often cold, even on hot days.

BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are located throughout the museum.

A Family/Companion Care bathroom is located inside Wegman's Wonderplace next door to Spark!Lab.

Public restrooms are located on the right side of the first floor, directly before you enter the West Wing.

Automatic toilet flush, on/off sinks, and hand dryers.

Loud and powerful hand dryers.

Loud toilet flush.

Published

September 26, 2017

Author

Lemelson Center

Invention Stories