Continuous Efforts and Partnerships Help Visit California Showcase Accessible Tourism

Accessible travel is a high priority, Visit California strives to provide accurate information for travelers with special needs, work with creators that can share their personal experiences and support partners who are leaders in accessible tourism.

Visit California’s Outlook Forum back in March featured a breakout session called “Keeping Tourism Accessible,” which facilitated a discussion of what tourism organizations can do to improve accessibility for those with both hidden and visible disabilities among a panel of experts with first-hand experience. Speakers in this session included Hannah Grant, Director of Demand Generation & Growth at CrowdRiff; Cory Lee, Accessible Travel Writer & Content Creator of Curb Free with Cory Lee; Yat Li, Founder of Let There Be Ears; and Jenn Martin, Director of Sesame Street Brand and IP at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.

While in Sacramento for Outlook Forum, speaker Cory Lee spent time exploring the city’s accessible museums and attractions. He also went on a day trip to nearby Folsom, to showcase the accessible offerings in historic Folsom and along the American River Bike Trail. 

Cory also visited California back in October 2022, embarking on a Southern California road trip including Anaheim, Long Beach and Greater Palm Springs. His trip even included a visit to Disneyland, during which he informed his followers about the park’s many wheelchair accessible rides. 

Visit California has also partnered with several other content creators to highlight accessible travel offerings across the Golden State. 

In September 2022, Visit California partnered with Oakley Peterson of @nothingdownaboutit on Instagram to showcase a sensory-friendly NorthernCalifornia vacation including San Francisco, Carmel and Santa Rosa. During the trip, the family went on a private tour with Safari West, explored San Francisco’s iconic PIER 39, and played on the white sands of Carmel Beach.

In January 2023, Lily Yu of @deafjourney went on a trip around the San Francisco Bay Area, visiting San Francisco, Oakland and Tri-Valley. A few highlights of Lily’s trip included visiting the new Presidio Tunnel Tops in San Francisco, going on a walking tour of Oakland’s Chinatown, and enjoying a facial at Purple Orchid Spa before exploring Livermore Valley Wine Country.

Visit California also spotlighted an autism-friendly road trip on page 46 of the most recent “California Road Trips” guide. The itinerary includes stops at hotels, attractions and destinations carefully selected for their accommodations to the heightened sensitivities that children with autism face – some of the stops even provide specially trained staff.

One of California’s leading DMOs in this effort is Visit Visalia, which became the state’s first Certified Autism Center in September 2021. They created the sunflower badge as a subtle signal to their “hidden disability” to be able to access additional private support when necessary while still enjoying the city’s bustling tourism experiences.

Continuing the effort to make all visitors feel welcome, Visit California and its partners are including more people to represent different body types, abilities, ages and socio-economic backgrounds in their content and marketing efforts.

Please share your accessibility initiatives and stories with Visit California’s global audience through the content submission tool.