Huntington Beach, Calif., has become the first destination in California to earn the sensory-inclusive certification from KultureCity, a nonprofit focused on sensory accessibility and acceptance. The designation recognizes the destination’s efforts to create a more welcoming environment for people with sensory needs and invisible disabilities.
Destinationwide Training
The initiative brought together the public and private sectors, with employees at hotels, restaurants and other visitor-facing businesses training alongside lifeguards, police officers, firefighters and other public-safety personnel. In total, 1,538 employees completed specialized training designed to help them recognize, understand and support people with sensory needs.
"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," city manager Travis Hopkins and Huntington Beach mayor Casey McKeon said in a joint 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."
Broadening accessibility
In addition to KultureCity, Huntington Beach also has partnered with Wheel the World, a platform that connects travelers with disabilities with accessible hotels, activities and multiday trips. Through that work, nearly 30 Huntington Beach hotels, attractions and venues have been assessed for accessibility features ranging from step-free entrances and accessible pathways to roll-in showers. The assessments produced 1,141 data points that travelers can use to find experiences suited to their needs when planning a visit.
The initiative joins a broader range of accessible offerings throughout Huntington Beach, including Mobi-mats, beach wheelchairs, adaptive surfing lessons and accessible bonfires.
KultureCity expands its reach
The Huntington Beach designation is just one of KultureCity’s numerous contributions to accessible travel in recent months. In April, Carnival Cruise Line announced that its Celebration Key destination on Grand Bahama had become the first cruise destination to earn the sensory-inclusive certification, with more than 400 employees participating in the training program. Carnival itself became the first cruise line to earn the certification in 2019.
More recently, KultureCity unveiled plans for a $39.5 million accessibility, education and employment development in Birmingham, Ala. The project, planned in collaboration with the city, will include the nation’s first technical college designed specifically to train, support and place people with disabilities in careers, along with sensory-inclusive public spaces, green spaces, walking paths and a performance amphitheater.
The designation has implications for meetings, too. For planners, more accessibility information and trained hospitality staff can help take some of the guesswork out of site selection and make it easier to create an inclusive experience for attendees.
