Many San Diego parks, museums and attractions offer accommodations for families with disabilities. These local spots have amenities such as companion passes, early entry, discounted admission, sensory features and social stories. Visit each website for specific amenities offered. Pre-registration may be required.
Balboa Park Museums
www.sdnhm.org/visit/accessibility/social-stories
Free social stories (in English or Spanish) are available for seven museums, including The Fleet. Balboa Park also offers accessible parking and bathrooms, sensory programming and audio tours.
Cabrillo National Monument
www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm
Visit for free with an America the Beautiful Interagency Access Pass. This lifetime pass is available free to people with a permanent disability.
Fleet Science Center
www.fleetscience.org/accessibility
Accessibility Mornings provide access to Fleet galleries one hour before the public on every third Saturday. Free entry for one individual and an accompanying adult. Amenities: assistive listening devices, captioned screenings, noise-canceling headsets and more.
LEGOLAND California
www.legoland.com/california/plan-your-visit/know-before-you-go/accessibility-information
A Certified Autism Center across the theme park, water park and on-site hotels. Their Assisted Access Pass is for individuals who would have difficulty waiting in line due to disability.
Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA)
www.mopa.org/visit/accessibility
Call about ASL tours. MOPA is now part of The San Diego Museum of Art.
The New Children’s Museum
www.thinkplaycreate.org/visit/accessibility
Caregivers accompanying a child with a disability receive free admission. Quiet, sensory-friendly spaces and a digital Sensory Guide available.
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
www.sdcdm.org/visit/amenities
Discounted membership for families with disabilities. Free pass available for aides accompanying children with special needs. Sensory-Friendly Mornings on Sundays from 9:30–11:30 am. Braille and sensory aides available for check-out from the front desk.
San Diego Natural History Museum
www.sdnhm.org/visit/accessibility
The Nat offers a free escort pass for a person with a disability. Free wheelchair rental and assistive listening systems.
San Diego Zoo & Safari Park
Zoo: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/visit/guests-with-disabilities
Safari Park: https://sdzsafaripark.org/guests-disabilities
There are many available accommodations for guests with disabilities, including a complimentary pass for one caregiver and an Easy Access Pass for those who have trouble waiting in line for attractions. Visit each website for details.
SeaWorld San Diego
www.seaworld.com/san-diego/park-info/accessibility-guide
Enroll in the Ride Accessibility Program to learn about Special Access that allows visitors with disabilities to be placed in a virtual queue for attractions.
Sesame Place San Diego
www.sesameplace.com/san-diego/help
A Certified Autism Center with a Ride Accessibility Program and supports for visually and hearing impaired. Ask about their sensory amenities.
Tecolote Shores South Playground
1740 E Mission Bay Dr., Mission Bay
San Diego’s newest and most accessible park where kids of all abilities engage in inclusive play.
Timken Museum of Art
http://timkenmuseum.org/visit/tours//accessibility
Complimentary special needs amenities available to borrow. Free ASL tours every first Saturday at 11 am.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30236
Use a California State Park Disabled Discount Pass for half off the vehicle day-use fee. This lifetime pass is available to people with permanent disabilities for a nominal one-time fee.
USS Midway Museum
www.midway.org/visit/accessibility
Free admission for a professional caregiver accompanying a guest with a disability. ASL and audio tour scripts available. Free loaner wheelchairs are first-come, first served.
Linda St. Angelo Burritt is an educator, resource specialist and local mother of two kids, one of whom has multiple disabilities.
Photo credit: Dr. Monali Patel
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