Just how accessible is Corpus Christi? — Visit CC partners with Wheel the World to promote inclusive tourism<\/p>\n
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 Corpus Christi is making waves in accessible travel – becoming the first Texas Gulf Coast destination to partner with Wheel the World<\/a>, a global platform that helps travelers with disabilities find destinations that fit their accessibility needs.<\/p>\n RELATED: Local Artists celebrate victory as Downtown Murals saved from State mandate<\/a><\/p>\n Seven local attractions have joined the program, offering travelers with mobility devices more confidence when planning\u00a0a trip to the Coastal Bend.<\/a><\/p>\n For San Antonio native Todd Hargroder, the Texas coast has always held a special place.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about a two-hour drive. I enjoy the whole process of coming down,\u201d he said. “And Corpus Christi is our sparkling city by the sea!”\u00a0<\/p>\n Hargroder, who\u2019s been using a wheelchair for nearly 40 years after a motorcycle accident at 19, has seen Corpus Christi evolve over the decades – from Spring Break trips in the 1980s to now.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBe very aware of where you\u2019re rolling,\u201d he said. \u201cThose small cracks in the sidewalk can really catch you off guard, lose your balance.\u201d<\/p>\n After his accident, Hargroder began designing adaptive products to support his independence,\u00a0creating the company Soul Mobility.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI started modifying products to better suit my drive for independence and started my first company out of my parents\u2019 garage and then grew that to where we were selling in 23 countries,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n Still, travel can be a challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cMy biggest barrier for coming to the coast is trying to find accessible accommodations,\u201d he said. \u201cI would say the accessible rooms are much to be desired. It seems like most of the accessible rooms are on the lowest floor, from the furthest ocean view, and some of them are even looking at the dumpsters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s already hard enough to travel and get away, you just want to enjoy yourself. But then once you arrive at your destination, you face additional barriers with something as simple as being able to brush your teeth with an accessible sink,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n That\u2019s exactly what Visit Corpus Christi<\/a> hopes to change through its new partnership with Wheel the World.<\/p>\n “By partnering with Wheel the World, Visit Corpus Christi is tapping into a $50 billion accessible travel economy here in the U.S., according to a 2024 Open Doors Organization and Harris Poll. That\u2019s 25.6 million travelers with disabilities, and that doesn\u2019t even include their friends and families who travel with them,” explained America Segura, Director of Communications for Visit CC.<\/p>\n “When we make it easier for everyone to visit with confidence, we\u2019re not just being inclusive \u2014 we\u2019re expanding our visitor economy and proving that Corpus Christi is truly open to all.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The Wheel the World program functions similarly to a booking engine powered by Expedia, offering verified information about accessible lodging, attractions, and activities, with each audit evaluating key accessibility factors such as wheelchair access, sensory-friendly design, and mobility support to ensure transparent, inclusive travel experiences for all visitors.\u00a0<\/p>\n Seven local attractions and businesses were designated as participating partners:\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Texas State Aquarium, President and CEO Jesse Gilbert explained how accessibility has long been a focus.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important to us as the state\u2019s leading aquarium and one of the leading aquariums in North America to make sure that we can let people know that we\u2019re an accessible facility,\u201d Gilbert said. \u201cWhen you\u2019ve got animals and visitors in the same world, you\u2019ve also got water \u2014 so how do we manage that?\u201d<\/p>\n And with every feature built into the facility, working behind-the-scenes are teams to ensure its accessibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJust looking at how we move guests through the jungle, which actually presents an interesting space for guests because it\u2019s not a linear path – which is on purpose. We want people to feel like they\u2019re in the jungle,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we went to design that, we made sure we had specialists who helped us create that experience so it was easily traversable by all guests.\u201d<\/p>\n For Hargroder, improvements in accessibility are noticeable – but not done yet.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s getting better around the world. Accessibility has certainly improved over my 40 years in a wheelchair,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we\u2019ve still a ways to go.\u201d<\/p>\n And he\u2019s ready to help however he can.<\/p>\n \u201cSome people just don\u2019t know. They want to help, they want to make things more accessible – \u00a0they just don\u2019t know,\u201d Hargroder said.<\/p>\n More from 3NEWS on KIIITV.com: \u00a0<\/p>\n