Guest examining rainbow merchandise on table at Pride Month event.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center recognizes that diverse communities are stronger, more resilient communities, both in nature and human society. Our organization has a critical responsibility to provide a welcoming, accessible, and educational space for all members of the diverse communities we serve. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive environment to conduct, share, and champion diversity and equity in marine science for all staff, visitors, and our global community. We are also deeply committed to do more to listen, learn from, and uplift the communities in our midst that suffer disproportionately from systemic racism, structural inequality, and environmental injustice.

How We Practice Inclusion

  • Aquarium staff participate in trainings to accommodate guests from diverse cultures, with disabilities, and from the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Signage and messaging throughout our galleries undergo an evaluation process to ensure inclusivity for all our guests.

  • Our internal Equity Team develops ways to accommodate individuals of all backgrounds among our guests and employees alike. This includes having our gallery educators create interactive items to share with guests who have disabilities, and celebrating diverse cultural holidays at staff gatherings.

  • We've partnered with community organizations such as Hampton Roads Pride , the LGBT Life Center , and the Health Equity team at the City's Health Department.

  • Our Equity Team also works with other Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion liaisons from other City of Virginia Beach departments.

Accessibility

A yellow labrador service dog sniffs at Bau the Malaysian painted river terrapin through the glass of his exhibit while the dog's handler waits.

Our Commitment

The Virginia Aquarium is a fully accessible facility and our team is pleased to welcome people of all ability levels to visit and enjoy our exhibits and animals.

About Accessibility

Have Questions?

If you have questions for us, or would like to request accommodation related to a disability, please call us at (757) 385-3474, or email us at VAMSCGSO@VirginiaAquarium.com.

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