Visalia recognized as country's first 'Certified Autism Destination'
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Visalia is taking action to make it easier for those with autism to enjoy everything the area has to offer.
It has been named the country's first certified autism destination by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
The city prides itself in being a welcoming community, and it's now leading the way when it comes to attracting and supporting a group of travelers that's often forgotten about.
"There are wheelchair ramps for people that have limited mobility, but hidden disabilities -- like autism -- are a little more challenging to deal with. So we felt like we wanted to just kind of confront that head-on," explained Visit Visalia tourism marketing director Suzanne Bianco.
A recent study by Autism Travel shows 87% of families with a child who is autistic do not travel, but 93% would be more likely to if autism-certified options were available.
This past year and a half, Visit Visalia has been taking action to get its tourism partners trained and certified - in autism and sensory disorder sensitivity and awareness -- by IBCCES.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
28 Dec 2022, 9:29 am
