In response to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts request for information about art museums that offer docent or staff-led 'touch tours'--tours which include audio description and direct touching of the objects--to visually impaired visitors, I know of two such programs that I'd recommend. The Denver Art Museum has developed Touch Tables which give visitors an opportunity to explore objects from the Pre-Columbian collection with their hands. They were developed by a museum educator who worked in concert with two people who are blind. They helped her select the objects that were most interesting to them because of their tactile qualities and choose the right words ("seeing words") to describe the objects on an audio tape that guides the exploration. Visitors can check out a free tape player, a Braille script, and a large print version of the audio script at the information desk. Contact Gretchen De Sciose at 303-640-7573. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center has a Tactile Gallery which visitors can experience on their own or with the help of a specially trained docent. Changing exhibits are drawn from a permanent collection of about 100 examples of contemporary sculpture that have been acquired for this purpose. Displays are low enough for children and visitors in wheel chairs and a guide rail channels them through the exhibit. Braille labels are placed beside printed labels. Contact Donna McElroy at 719-634-5581. I understand that the Museum of Folk Art in New York City also has a program but I don't know anything about it. Daryl Fischer