Presented are guidelines drawn from surveys of programs and services provided for handicapped persons in U.S. museums. An initial section which reviews literature on museum programs for handicapped visitors focuses on problems and misconceptions regarding blind, deaf, physically handicapped, learning disabled and emotionally disturbed, and mentally retarded persons. Relevant federal legislation is reviewed. Discussed are findings of three surveys: a survey of 637 museums on such topics as average number of handicapped visits by type of museum, program responsibility, staff training, and methods used to inform the handicapped of program availability; a survey of special education teachers regarding special museum services, teacher opinions of museum roles and teacher suggestions concerning museum experiences; and a survey of blind, deaf, and physically handicapped consumers. Guidelines covering such aspects as staff training, museum accessibility, publicity, and programs for the handicapped are presented in separate chapters regarding physically handicapped, deaf, blind, learning disabled and emotionally disturbed, and mentally retarded students. (CL)