Research has found that many visitors "on the spectrum flourish with a routine, as a change can be very overwhelming and lead to sensory overload and the inability to regulate emotions." (Johnson, 2022)
Providing simple resources (like those listed below) to support families in preparing for their visit to a California State Park can help to improve this access.
A portion of this project will work to create resources like those listed below for participating pilot park sites.
CA State Park Social Narrative (Template)
to customize please "make a copy"
Social Narrative Template.pdfAccessibility Literature Review Matrix The following is a compilation of academic research identified as relevant to this topic. For more information on scholarly research regarding access to parks, please contact scott.shepherd@parks.ca.gov
DLR_Cognitive_Guide_2023_SFS_Update.pdf"Planning a Trip to Disneyland" - A Resource for visitors with Cognitive Disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Sensory Friendly Map.pdfSensory Friendly Map of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Social Narrative Teen Adult.pdfSocial Narrative for Teens and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Social Narrative Children.pdfSocial Narrative for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
For an example of a similar project with National Parks please see: Taking Action for Accessibility in National Parks with Ashlyn Southard, OTS Made by Headliner
During this project, Ashlyn created a series of resources designed for families with children with disabilities. These were intended to be customizable templates that families could print out and use during their visit. Please see below for examples.
Communication Boards.pdfGrand Teton Wildlife Search.pdfVisualScheduleCards- ALL .pdfAccessibility-Guide-Book.pdfaccessibility_guide_web_09-02.pdf
