COURTESY OF VISIT CENTRAL FLORIDA from the hotel rooms and pools to kids ’ areas , restaurants and other attractions . Her own children are featured in some of the social stories .
“ The social stories help eliminate anxiety ,” Thibault said . “ When a traveler and their family can shake that weight off , it makes the next steps easier .”
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
So , what does this mean for travel advisors ? Here are a few ways to be prepared for helping neurodivergent families enjoy their trips to the fullest .
A sensory guide outside a LEGOLAND elevator depicts touch , taste , sound , sight and smell .
San Diego locations ) and SeaWorld Orlando are all Certified Autism Centers .
Certified Autism Destinations means the majority of tourism-related organizations have completed autism and sensory disorder sensitivity and awareness training and completed an onsite review with IBCCES . High Point , North Carolina , is an example of a certified destination .
An Autism Certified City ( ACC ), according to IBCCES , means that all areas of a city , including health care , education , local government , hospitality , leisure , manufacturing and corporate members , are trained and certified to deliver their product or service to autistic guests , staff or residents . Mesa , Arizona , is the first ACC in the world . More than 500 city employees have completed training , along with 60 businesses and organizations representing more than 4,000 employees and community members . That includes attractions — such as the Odysea Aquarium and the Arizona Museum of Natural History — and hotels , including Delta Hotels by Marriott , Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and Hyatt Place
Phoenix / Mesa .
“ My favorite place is Mesa ,” Thibault said . “ There is so much to do . There ’ s hiking and kayaking and 60 businesses and attractions you can choose from .”
Families who seek Thibault ’ s help with trips often want to visit hotels , theme parks and destinations that are not autism certified .
“ This is when you have to do your research ,” Thibault advised . “ Every location is different , so you need to call them to find out about their accommodations , their processes for providing special services , even what ’ s available for meals and snacks .”
She also suggests joining Facebook groups for different destinations to find first-hand accounts or to get direct answers from destination spokespeople , other travel advisors and families .
“ Watch YouTube videos of the destination or attraction when you can ,” Thibault said . “ You want to prepare your clients for everything : the sights , the sounds and anything else they may encounter .”
In her business , Thibault offers social story videos to familiarize families with everything
QUALIFY CLIENTS THOROUGHLY During your first meeting with a potential client , ask about sensory processing issues , motor skills and the need for specialty devices . Ask how their neurodivergent child communicates : Do they speak ? Do they require an assistive communication device ? Do they use other kinds of communication ? Does the child prefer high- or low-sensory input ?
Some children may love very physical , boisterous activities , while others may want quieter activities like hiking . Ask about food allergies , food preferences , aversions and “ safe foods .” The more you know about the family ’ s needs and preferences , the better you can match travel destinations and accommodations .
GET CERTIFIED The IBCCES offers training and certification for Autism Travel Professionals including breakdowns of the target market and sales tactics . Certified travel professionals are included in an online directory .
RESEARCH , RESEARCH , RESEARCH Not every desired location is a certified autism destination . Some theme parks , for example , have special passes to help families avoid waiting in line or to help them find quieter spaces in the park . Ask the destination what services they provide , such as wheelchairs and noise-canceling headphones . Check out YouTube videos about the destination or the attraction to get a sense of the sights and sounds . Incorporate pictures and videos into social stories for families to view in advance of their trips .
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