The Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC has a "touch Tour" for the visually impaired- although there is no recorded audio component, visitors are allowed to touch certain sculptures that have been appproved by the curator. Tours must be docent-led, and as the visually impaired person is touching the sculpture, the docent describes the piece and its thematic and historical context. The tours seem to work best when there is a very small group or one-on-one with the docent. I believe that the Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New york have "touch tour" programs. Hope this is helpful. >>> Jeffrey Allison <[log in to unmask]> 08/11/98 12:13pm >>> I am posting this for a colleague here at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The Tour Services Department is developing a tour which would meet the needs of visually impaired visitors. Allowing blind and visually impaired people to touch art objects gives these visitors an intimate, personal and multi-sensory experience that docent-led audio tours cannot offer. This department is searching for any fine art museum that offers docent or staff-led 'touch tours'-tours which include audio description and direct touching of the objects--to visually impaired visitors. Names of individual institutions which offer such tours are sufficient, however, any additional information would be welcome. Thank you for your help and thanks to all who responded to my previous request for information on visitor designed tours software Jeffrey Allison Coordinator, Statewide Programs Virginia Museum of Fine Arts [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>