Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is an inclusive oasis

It’s not often you get to feel the ground tremble as a rocket thunders into space, but NASA’s Kennedy Space Center offers guests that very thrill and more. Located just 40 minutes outside of Orlando, Florida, on Merritt Island, the space center is a top tourist destination and also ranks as the busiest launch facility in the United States. Since 2011, there has been a significant increase in commercial space launch activity, with launches from outside companies, such as SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin, outnumbering those from NASA by a factor of eight to one.

The country’s busiest launch center also ranks as one of the most accessible attractions in Florida. Each year, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, at the center of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, welcomes an estimated 1.5 million visitors from around the world. The visitor complex was built in 1967 as a place for astronauts and their families to observe space center operations, and today visitors can touch a piece of the moon, stand nose-to-nose with a real space shuttle and experience a simulated rocket launch. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has also been intentional about ensuring that visitors with varying abilities can experience the joy of space exploration.

“Our staff works tirelessly to make sure Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex isaccessible to all guests, so that regardless of physical or sensory needs, they canfully experience the excitement, education and inspiration of space exploration,” says Russell Bruhn, Senior Public Relations and Communications Manager at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “We’re committed to making sure every guest has the opportunity to connect with the wonder of space.”

From the wide, paved walkways throughout the park to the availability of American Sign Language interpreters, here is how the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has made strides to increase accessibility for its guests:

Mobility at the Space Center

Situated on a sprawling 42 acres, the visitor complex is a vast spectacle of larger-than-life exhibits, virtual reality experiences and interactive demonstrations. Some of the physical accommodations for exploring the center include mobility devices for rent such as manual wheelchairs, electric conveyance vehicles (ECVs) and single and double strollers for young guests. Bruhn says the entire complex is designed to be fully navigable by guests using wheelchairs and ECVs, and many of the exhibits include wide, level walkways and accessible entry points.

“Ramps and elevators are provided where necessary, and experiences like the ShuttleLaunch Experience, located inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis, feature accessible seating with supportive modifications, as well as an alternative viewing room for those who prefer not to participate,” he says. “Additionally, all Kennedy Space Center tour buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts, and guests requiring lift services are advised to make a request in advance or at the time of boarding.”

Sensory support for every explorer

For many guests, the sights and sounds of the visitor complex are a source of awe, but for others, a deluge of loud sounds and visual effects may be overstimulating. For those who may experience sensory overload, the visitor complex became autism-certified in 2023 with enhancements that Bruhn says, “ensure that guests with sensory sensitivities feel not only welcome but supported.”

All guests have access to a written sensory guide, which includes a summary of sensory levels ranging from one (least sensitive) to five (most sensitive). For example, the Rocket Garden, an outdoor exhibit of historic NASA rockets, ranks a five on the sound scale, a two for the sight and touch categories, and a one for the taste and smell categories. In addition to the guide, the center also offers quiet zones and low-sensory areas, allowing guests to take breaks when needed.

Translation and interpretation services

For guests with autism or hearing sensitivity, the visitor complex also offers a limited number of noise-cancelling headphones available for check out upon entry. Before visiting, guests can download the KSC SmartGuide app, which also features video content with American Sign Language (ASL) translations. Other available devices include assistive listening devices and hearing loops, which are available in the IMAX and Universe Theater, as well as at some ticket windows. Bruhn says that many video presentations and preshow briefings include closed captioning or reflective captioning panels, and captions are also available on bus tour monitors. In addition, guests may request an ASL interpreter for live programs or presentations, which require at least two weeks’ advance notice.

Mission complete

Though the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex was first built for astronauts and their families, ensuring the visitor complex is accessible to all abilities is a profound extension of that original mission, affirming that the dream of space belongs to everyone. Because of the intentional work behind the scenes, the complex guarantees that the awe of seeing a real space shuttle, or the thrill of space exploration can be experienced by all.