Manual wheelchairs and motorized scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center during normal Garden hours. 

Wheelchair rental is free. 

Motorized scooter rental is $35. Visitors must be age 18 or older and possess a valid driver's license to rent motorized scooters. During days of high demand, including some signature events, motorized scooter rentals may be limited to a specific window of time to allow for recharging between uses.

Stroller rentals are not available at this time. 

During Whitaker Music Festival , a limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Motorized scooters are not available for rent on Whitaker performance evenings. We apologize for any inconvenience. For more information or to inquire about specific days, please call (314) 577-5100.

Service animals are welcome, but no pets please.  

"A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks that benefit an individual with a disability" per the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, Title III 2010 Revised Regulations-36.104. Emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals and are not permitted at the Garden, Shaw Nature Reserve, or Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House.  

Please keep in mind these additional regulations pertaining to service animals in the Garden: 

• The animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using the devices.  In cases of device interference, the handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.  

• The service animal must be with its handler at all times.

• You are responsible for controlling your service animal's behavior. You are also responsible for cleaning up after your service animal.  

• We ask the animal stay on paths at all times, except for events that include non-pathed areas.  

• The animal must not demonstrate disruptive, agitated, or aggressive behavior, including but not limited to barking, whining, biting, growling, jumping, scratching, leash pulling, sniffing, or harassing Garden visitors or staff.  

• The animal must not injure, damage, sever, or kill any animal, tree, planting, flower, shrub, or other vegetation. 

• If at any time your animal's behavior becomes a threat to the safety or wellbeing of other visitors, the Garden reserves the right to ask you to enjoy the Garden without your service animal present. 

• Parking: Accessible parking spaces are located on both the east and west parking lots at the Garden's main entrance. View Garden map
• Elevators: A few of our buildings are multiple levels. Elevators are located in the following:
  • Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum
  • William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening
• Restrooms: All restrooms are accessible to visitors. Family/Companion Assist restrooms are located at:
  • Spink Pavilion
  • Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum
  • Brookings Exploration Center and PlantLab
• Exploring the Garden by tram: The Garden tram is manual wheelchair-accessible. Due to safety concerns, we are not able to accommodate personal motorized equipment on our trams at this time. Visitors are welcome to leave their motorized equipment at the tram shelter until the end of the tour and may transfer to a complimentary wheelchair to enjoy the tour. A printed copy of the tram script is available upon request. Please ask a visitor services tram attendant or pick up a copy at the Ticket Counter in the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. 
• Unique Display Gardens:
  • The Zimmerman Sensory Garden features raised beds planted with multi-sensory plants just waiting to be touched and smelled. Each plant is labeled with Braille, raised letter, and large-print signage for visitors who are blind or visually impaired.Learn more
  • The Garden for All in the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening highlights innovative ideas for individuals with physical disabilities. Learn more
• Large Print, Braille, and American Sign Language:
  • Braille or large print handouts available for classes. Please contact (314) 577-5140 at least two weeks prior to start date of class.
  • American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting is offered at all Whitaker Music Festival concerts.
• Pre-visit Tools:  The Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden is a place for families to discover, explore, pretend, observe, and have nature adventures together. A visit to this special garden offers a variety of sensory experiences that encourage socialization, motor skill development, and foster a love of the natural world. These pre-visit tools were developed to help make a child’s experience a more meaningful and comfortable should they be living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other sensory disorders:
  • Caregiver Narrative
    Children's Pre-Visit Guide
    Visual Schedule Garden Glow Sensory Map and Visual Schedule
• Calming Corner: A comfortable room for nursing moms and for young visitors who need a quiet space and relief from sensory stimulation. Located in Edward Jones Hall near the Brookings Exploration Center and Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden, the room is purposefully designed with soft lighting, soothing colors, and comfortable seating. Calming activities in the room include books, tactile toys, plush forest critters, and soft mats. The room is available on a first come –first serve basis. Learn more 
• Low Sensory Areas: Visitors in need of a less stimulating environment in the Garden are encouraged to visit the English Woodland Garden, Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Brookings Exploration Center before 10am and after 4pm, and the Children’s Garden before 10am or after 2pm most afternoons.

• Please note: Due to its historic nature, Tower Grove House is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Explore Tower Grove House virtually and learn more about the history of Henry Shaw's former country home.

For questions regarding accessibility, please email accessiblegarden@mobot.org.