Home to a vibrant dining scene, world-class attractions, and a welcoming Deaf community, Rochester is filled with all kinds of unforgettable adventures for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Grab a bite to eat at a Deaf-owned cafe, explore a state-of-the-art gallery showcasing artwork by Deaf artists, take an ASL tour of the National Susan B. Anthony House, and more! Here’s your guide for spending a Deaf-friendly weekend in Rochester.  Photo credit: @bg_imaging on Instagram

FRIDAY

1PM: Settle into your hotel 

Start your Rochester weekend right and check into your cozy accommodations at the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown. This hotel features a variety of accessible rooms including hearing accessible rooms that come equipped with visual alarms and notification devices for the doorbell or door knock as well as incoming phone calls. Plus, you’re steps away from the Strong National Museum of Play!   

1:30 PM: Views and brews

Credit: @bg_imaging on Instagram

After settling into your hotel, check out one of Rochester’s most iconic views, High Falls! This 95-foot waterfall is the tallest of three on the Genesee River and can be viewed from the rooftop of historic Genesee Brew House. Be sure to grab a bite and a brew from this brewery – it’s one of the largest and oldest in the country.

3PM: Explore the George Eastman Museum

Credit: @jbocianski on Instagram

As the world’s oldest photography museum and Eastman’s former estate, the George Eastman Museum is home to unparalleled collections of photography and cinema dating back to the beginnings of the medium. Take a tour of the historic mansion. Printed transcripts of the mansion tour are available at the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center for those who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Interpretive videos throughout the museum also have closed captioning and screenings of films in languages other than English in the Dryden Theatre have English subtitles. The George Eastman Museum also uses the free Bloomberg Connects app, which provides features such as audio transcripts for all media pieces, alt-text for all images, zoom and font adjustments, and multilingual support. For more information about accessibility, visit the museum website. 

SATURDAY

10AM: Play the day away at Strong Museum of Play

Discover the ultimate play destination for kids and kids at heart! The National Museum of Play at The Strong has something for everyone with the world’s largest collection of toys, dolls, and games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, and the Hasbro Game Park filled with your favorite games, but gigantic! For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, ASL interpreters are available to request during your visit. Requests for interpreters or any additional accommodations should be made two weeks in advance to Cathy DeBellis at [email protected]. General museum admission is also available at no additional cost to licensed care providers and interpreters for visitors requiring assistance. For more information regarding accessibility, visit the museum’s website. Each year, the Strong also holds an annual Deaf Day of Play celebrating the Deaf community with ASL storytimes and other fun activities.  

12PM: Stop for lunch at a Deaf-owned cafe

For sandwiches, salads, soft pretzels, and locally roasted coffee, stop by Golden Harvest Cafe for lunch. This local favorite is Deaf-owned and staff can communicate using ASL. The atmosphere is always warm and welcoming, and the baked goods (especially the donuts) are especially delicious!

2PM: Admire art at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Credit: RIT/NTID Dyer Arts Center

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is the first and largest technological college in the world for Deaf and hard of hearing students. It’s also home to the Dyer Arts Center, a state-of-the-art gallery that showcases an incredible collection of artwork from nationally and internationally renowned artists who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or allies of the Deaf community.

SUNDAY

11AM: Travel through Women’s Rights history at the National Susan B. Anthony House

Credit: National Susan B. Anthony House and Museum

Head over to the historic home of women’s rights leader Susan B. Anthony, now a museum that showcases exhibits and artifacts related to her life and work. Follow along the museum and house tour, where you’ll get to explore the home, including the front parlor where she was arrested after attempting to vote in the 1872 election, as well as see original furniture, her famous black silk dress, and a statue featuring Anthony with abolitionist Frederick Douglass. ASL-interpreted tours of the historic home are available and can be provided with 3 days notice. To reserve an ASL-interpreted tour, reach out to [email protected] or call 585.235.6124 during museum hours.

GETTING THERE

By plane: Frederick Douglass–Greater Rochester International Airport; 1200 Brooks Ave., Rochester, NY

The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) utilizes visual cues such as color-coded LED lighting that’s been integrated with the flight information displays to show gate activity and flight status. For those who use hearing devices, hearing and counter loops can be found at all airline and car rental counters, food and beverage concessions, and airline gate counters and are marked with hearing loop signage.

By train: Amtrak to Rochester station (ROC) at 320 Central Ave. Taxi service is available to the downtown shopping district and city attractions. 

By bus: RTS Bus Service & Megabus

By car:

From NYC: 5.5 hours

From Toronto: 3 hours

From Boston: 6 hours

From Buffalo: 1 hour 15 min

Don’t forget to post photos of your New York adventures on Instagram and Twitter with #ILoveNY and #iSpyNY and tag us on Facebook