For families travelling with someone who has sensory needs, a beach holiday involves more than finding somewhere to stay and packing the swimmers. Knowing what support is available makes a huge difference to planning a trip.
Huntington Beach has taken a step towards making that easier, becoming the first destination in California to achieve Sensory Inclusive® Certification by KultureCity. The certification brings together tourism businesses, city departments and public safety teams to better support visitors and residents with sensory needs and invisible disabilities.
More than 1,500 staff have completed training
Led by Visit Huntington Beach in partnership with the City of Huntington Beach, the initiative reaches beyond hotel reception desks. More than 1,538 visitor-facing staff have completed sensory-inclusive training, including employees at participating hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions, alongside lifeguards, police officers, firefighters and other public safety personnel.
The training helps staff better recognise, understand and support people with sensory needs and invisible disabilities. For visiting families, that means the initiative extends into the beaches and public spaces they might use throughout their stay.
“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.
What does sensory inclusive certification mean for families?
KultureCity’s certification combines staff education with practical resources, including sensory bags and signage at participating locations. Its programme also includes ongoing training and support.
According to Visit Huntington Beach’s accessibility fact sheet, sensory bags are available at all Sensory Inclusive certified locations. Resources listed include headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, visual cue cards or a feeling thermometer, weighted lap pads and KultureCity VIP lanyards.
Participating locations include:
- Kimpton Shorebreak Resort
- Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa
- The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel
- Pacific City
- Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center
- Huntington Beach Art Center
- Main St. Library
- McKinnon Surf & SUP
- Yoga on the Beach
For families, the practical benefit is access to staff who have received training and tools that may help someone manage sensory overload during an outing. The certification does not mean every venue will be quiet or free from sensory triggers. Families can still contact individual businesses before visiting to discuss their needs, check available equipment and ask what to expect.
Accessibility information before you book
The sensory-inclusive initiative builds on Huntington Beach’s partnership with Wheel the World, which assesses accessibility features in person to help travellers make informed decisions before booking. Across around 30 participating hotels, attractions and venues, the partnership has recorded 1,141 accessibility data points. These cover features such as step-free entrances, accessible pathways and roll-in showers.
That detail gives families more useful information than a general “accessible” label, helping them assess whether a particular property or experience suits their requirements. The two programmes address different parts of a holiday: researching suitable places before departure and finding informed support once you arrive.
Beach wheelchairs, adaptive surfing and more
Huntington Beach’s broader accessibility offerings include free beach wheelchairs at selected beachfront concessions, Mobi-Mats to improve access across some outdoor areas, and an all-inclusive beach playground at Huntington City Beach. Families can also explore adaptive surfing through McKinnon Surf & SUP, beach wheelchair yoga with Yoga on the Beach, and an accessible beach bonfire experience at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa.
These experiences have different arrangements and availability, so it’s worth checking with providers before building them into your itinerary. For families considering a Southern California beach break, the certification adds another useful planning resource: a network of participating places working to better understand and support sensory needs.
Explore participating venues and accessibility information at AccessibleHB.com.
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