Deaf / Hearing Loss

 

Cave tours and other programs take place at the visitor center. Exhibits and other activities are also available.

NPS Photo

Visitor Center Area

The visitor center is located at:
11149 U.S. Hwy. 16
Custer, SD 57730

In the visitor center area there is:

• A paved parking lot
• A passenger drop-off area
• A Ticket Kiosk
• A Theater showing the park movie (seasonally open)
• The Visitor Center with attached restrooms
  

 

Visitor Center

Information Desk

Rangers will be available to answer questions. If the ranger does not know American Sign Language (ASL) or a translator is not available, rangers will be prepared to communicate through writing as needed.

Exhibits

• There is one video screen in the exhibit space. The video has no sound and shows a slideshow of bat information.
• There is an interview exhibit with a handheld speaker. There is no script for the interview exhibit at this time.
• The park film is played in the Theater (seasonally inside the visitor center) and is captioned.

Programs

If you need assistance, contact the park for ASL interpretation at least 30 days in advance of your visit. The park will make every attempt to accommodate requests made within this 30-day window, but cannot guarantee that an interpreter will be available. Program transcripts are available at the information desk upon request for the Discovery Tour, Scenic Tour, and Historic Lantern Tour.

 

The Historic Cabin served as the first ranger station and housing for early rangers at Jewel Cave.

NPS Photo

Historic Area

The historic area is located one mile west of the visitor center on Hwy. 16.

In the historic area there is:

• A parking area
• Vault Toilet
• Historic Cabin
• Historic Cave Entrance

Historic Cabin

Rangers will be available intermittently to answer questions. If the ranger does not know American Sign Language (ASL) or a translator is not available, rangers will be prepared to communicate through writing as needed.

Programs

If you need assistance, contact the park for ASL interpretation at least 30 days in advance of your visit. The park will make every attempt to accommodate requests made within this 30-day window, but cannot guarantee that an interpreter will be available. Program transcripts are available at the information desk upon request for the Discovery Tour, Scenic Tour, and Historic Lantern Tour.

 

Relay South Dakota

Relay South Dakota makes it possible for someone who is deaf, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind to communicate via telephone. The service is available 24/7/365 with no restrictions on the length or number of calls placed. All calls are strictly confidential, and no records of conversations are ever maintained.

1. Dial 7-1-1 from anywhere inside South Dakota, or dial toll-free [phone] from anywhere outside the state.

2. Ask the communication assistant to dial the area code and telephone number you are calling.

3. The communication assistant will type the spoken words to the TTY user and voice the typed words back to the standard phone you are calling.

4. Speak slowly and directly to the person you are calling, not to the relay operator.

5. Remember to say "go ahead" (typed "GA" on the TTY) each time you finish your part of the conversation to let the other person know to respond.