St. Johns County has been officially recognized as Florida’s first Certified Autism Destination.
Civic, government and business leaders gathered Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Visitor Information Center to mark the occasion. The designation follows the benchmark of more than 20 local tourism and hospitality businesses completing comprehensive staff training to become Certified Autism Centers.
In many cases, training costs were made possible by a matching grant from the county.
“Today is really an exciting milestone for our entire community,” said Isabelle Renault, president and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.
Each designation is made through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a locally based organization that sets the international standard for training and certification in the fields of autism, neurodiversity and accessibility.
Three years ago, the Chamber became involved, and through its efforts many businesses chose to commit to this project.
Through the training, customer-facing staff members learn to better serve guests with autism or sensory needs.
“For families with individuals who have autism or sensory sensitivities, planning a vacation or even just a simple, local outing can present very unique challenges,” said Ann Taylor, vice chair for the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners. “Knowing that destinations, attractions and businesses understand those needs and have taken steps to accommodate them can make an incredible difference.”
“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” said David Chatterton, with Historic Tours of America, the company behind Old Town Trolley Tours & Attractions. “Everyone has their own preferences, strengths and needs. And this training reminded us to listen, ask and respond to that individual.”
Myron Pincomb, board chair and CEO of IBCCES, praised the willingness of community leaders, tourism partners and businesses to come together for this effort.
“Your commitment sends a powerful message to families throughout Florida, across the United States and around the world,” he said. “You send a message that: ‘You are welcome here. You belong here. And we are prepared to serve you.’”
The effort will also have some economic benefits, as it is certain to encourage greater tourism.
“It is a wonderful example of how doing what’s right for people can also strengthen our businesses and our local community,” said Renault.
Among the many certified organizations and businesses, the Castillo de San Marcos earned its certification on Jan. 15, 2025, making it the first national park in the United States to do so.
But, having achieved this landmark status, local supporters are not finished. Businesses that have not yet enrolled may do so by calling the Chamber and asking for Chris Norman. For further information, email info@ibcces.org.
Families can learn more at sjcchamber.com. They can find partner businesses at floridashistoriccoast.com. Other useful resources are autismtravel.com and the IBCCES Accessibility App, available at TheAccessibilityApp.com.
