Mesa, Arizona is the first-ever Autism Certified City in the US, designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
Specialized autism training
The effort behind the designation was launched by Visit Mesa to encourage hospitality businesses to participate in specialized autism training, geared toward executives and front-facing service staff to better recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and service the needs of ASD travelers from the planning stages of a vacation to when they arrive in the destination, and throughout their stay. To date, nearly 5,000 community members have completed or committed to the autism certification.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
As part of Visit Mesa’s ongoing mission to ensure Mesa, Ariz. is regarded as one of the nation’s most accessible travel destinations, the city is now offering the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. This globally recognized program has been hailed for supporting travelers with various needs as a way for them to secure additional support they may require while traveling.
Developed and launched in the United Kingdom, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a recognized icon that through identification by service representatives in the hospitality industry, travelers can be assured they will be given attention and support during their journey.
Visual interpretation service
The community also launched a partnership with Aira, an on-demand visual interpretation service available to visually impaired visitors to Mesa. The new accessibility technology serves people who are blind or have low vision. Prior to arrival, visitors can download the Aira app from their smart phone and get access to a trained Aira agent who can assist with trip planning. While in Mesa’s city limits, visitors can access agents to guide them throughout public buildings, attractions, restaurants, hotels and more.
For travel planning, download the Autism Travel Guide to view a complete list of Certified Autism Centers at www.AutismTravelMesa.com and learn more online at www.AccessibleMesa.com.
