VISIT VISALIA RECOGNIZES AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH IN APRIL
"Every day is Autism Acceptance Day in our Community."
Find a video from Visit Visalia and images here
Visalia, Calif. (March 27, 2024) - Visalia, the nation’s first Certified Autism Destination, recognizes Autism Awareness month in April. Visit Visalia and local tourism partners will highlight Visalia’s initiative: Every day is autism acceptance day in our community. A recent survey conducted by Autism Travel (https://autismtravel.com/) shows that 78% of parents with an autistic child do not travel, but 94% would be more likely to if autism certified options were available.
Visalia leads the country in deploying training and initiatives to welcome the neurodiverse travelers, earning the Country’s first Certified Autism Destination designation.
“Visalia acknowledges Autism Awareness each April to reinforce our commitment to autistic and sensory sensitive adventurers every day, every month, all year long,” said Sherrie Bakke, executive director of Visit Visalia. “A trip to spectacular Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks offers health benefits and a full-sensory experience for every family member, which can be of value to autistic individuals.”
Visalia tourism partners are committed to empowering travelers of all abilities to confidently plan their trip to our destination and our nearby national parks. Properties complete specialized training provided by International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to earn their designation as a Certified Autism Center.
Autism awareness will be highlighted in Visalia throughout the month of April:
Growing Options
Visalia entertainment, recreation and travel options continue to increase for autistic or sensory sensitive adventurers. Visalia visitors are cared for by trained staff at these tourism designated Certified Autism Centers (CAC):
Newly opened lodging properties are pursuing the CAC Designation and intend to complete the IBCCES Certification before the peak summer travel season.
Autism Facts
Autism Spectrum Disorder is no longer in the shadows, with 80 million people worldwide living with Autism. Autism diagnoses are on the rise each year with about 1 in 36 children in the U.S. identified as having ASD according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html) It is estimated that 1 in 6 people have sensory needs and millions of adults are on the spectrum but undiagnosed.
Visalia is known for having the famous Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in its backyard. The city’s natural charm, welcoming locals and abundance of experiences are why this Central California city is much more than a gateway to the great outdoors. Along with great outdoor adventures and the arts, Visalia’s local food scene, from thriving food truck culture to fine dining, offers foodie lovers even more to explore. We look forward to greeting all travelers.
For more information or to book your stay, go to www.visitvisalia.com.
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ABOUT VISIT VISALIA:
Visit Visalia is a collaboration of the Visalia Tourism and Marketing District and the Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau (VCVB) dedicated to marketing, advertising, public relations and other promotional efforts that inspire travel to the City of Visalia. Visit Visalia works closely with local lodging properties, restaurants and attractions to foster interest in Visalia as a year-round destination for leisure, family, and meeting and convention travelers. For more information about Visit Visalia go to www.VisitVisalia.com and follow Visit Visalia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
ABOUT IBCCES:
Delivering the Global Standard for Training and Certification in the Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are the only training and certification programs endorsed by the largest grassroots autism organization in the world.
Media Contact:
Visit Visalia
Suzanne Bianco, Tourism Marketing Director
Suzanne@VisitVisalia.com
(559) 334-0141
