Sesame Place becomes first theme park ever to be designated as certified autism center

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Sesame Place, a theme park dedicated entirely to the world of “Sesame Street,” is the first park to be designated as a Certified Autism Center.

Sesame Place, the theme park based entirely on the award-winning show, “Sesame Street,” has announced their completion of a staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training in the park.

This completion marks Sesame Place as a Certified Autism Center (CAC), as distinguished by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This makes Sesame Street the first theme park in the world to receive this distinction.

As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place is required to offer ongoing training so that their team members have the knowledge, temperament, skills and expertise to interact with all children with special needs and their families, specifically on the autism spectrum.

“IBCCES works with leading travel destinations to create safe, sensory-compatible travel options for parents and individuals on the spectrum. Our Certified Autism Center designation is awarded to premier organizations around the globe that have completed rigorous training and meet the highest industry standards,” said Myron Pincomb, board chairman of IBCCES. “Sesame Place is ideas because of its accessibility to families and convenient location, as we’ll as everything the organization has done to be inclusive for all. The CAC certification helps give parents and other guests on the spectrum peace of mind when visiting a new destination or attraction.”

Training takes place in the areas of environment, communication, sensory awareness, motor and social skills, emotional awareness, and program development as well as a comprehensive autism competency exam. The training must be taken every two years to maintain the park’s certification.

“As the first theme park in the world to complete the training and become a CAC, Sesame Place is better equipped to offer families inclusive activities for children with autism and other special needs,” said Cathy Valeriano, park president of Sesame Place.

Pre-visit planning resources will be added to the park’s website, including a sensory guide, developed by IBCCES. This sensory guide will make it easier for families to plan their trip while satisfying their child’s specific needs and accommodations by learning how a child with sensory issues may be affected by each attraction.

The park will also have two quiet rooms located on Sesame Island. These rooms will have adjustable lighting, and comfortable seating for guests to relax and take a break.

“Sesame Place is honored to be leading the theme park industry through our commitment to making our facility friendly for families with children on the spectrum,” said Valeriano. “We’re dedicated to providing all of our guests with an exceptional and memorable experience. We look forward to applying this training and expanding our commitment to help spread awareness about autism.”

To learn more about Sesame Place and its accommodations for guests with special needs, visit SesamePlace.com/Philadelphia.

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