Leading the charge for accessible travel in California,
Huntington Beach has achieved the state’s first Sensory Inclusive Certification
by
KultureCity.
The destination-wide initiative brings together both private
and public sectors to support sensory inclusion with visitor-facing employees
at hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions, lifeguards, police officers and
other public safety personnel helping to create a more supportive experience
for visitors. Through KultureCity’s Sensory Inclusive Certification, more than
1,538 frontline staff receive specialized training to better recognize,
understand and support individuals with sensory
needs and invisible disabilities.
"Accessibility is about more than getting to the beach
— it's about feeling confident and welcomed throughout your entire experience
in Huntington Beach," said John Urdi, President and CEO of Visit
Huntington Beach in a statement.
He added, "By bringing together our tourism partners
and the City through KultureCity, and providing travelers with verified
accessibility information through Wheel the World, we are working toward an
experience where more people can enjoy Surf City USA on their own terms."
The sensory-inclusive certification expands Visit Huntington
Beach's work with Wheel the World, a leading travel platform for disabled
travelers, which has been underway for the past three years.
Through the partnership, accessibility features such as
step-free entrances, accessible pathways and roll-in showers, have been
assessed at nearly 30 Huntington Beach hotels, attractions and venues,
resulting in 1,141 accessibility data points to help travelers determine which
experiences best meet their needs during the travel planning process.
The two initiatives are part of a broader effort to make
accessibility part of the entire Huntington Beach experience—from planning and
booking to exploring the destination and enjoying the beach. Accessible
offerings include Mobi-mats, beach wheelchairs, adaptive surfing lessons,
accessible bonfires and more. Together with verified accessibility information
and destination-wide sensory-inclusive training, these efforts are helping make
Surf City USA a more welcoming destination where travelers can know what to
expect before they arrive and feel supported during their visit.
"Huntington Beach has always been a place where people
come to enjoy and experience our beaches, and we want that opportunity to be
available to as many people as possible," said City Manager Travis
Hopkins/Mayor Casey McKeon, City of Huntington Beach in a statement. "This
is especially meaningful as it benefits not only the millions of people who
visit Huntington Beach, but the residents and families who call our community
home."
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