"Every day is Autism Acceptance Day in our
Community."
Find a video from Visit Visalia and images
here
VISALIA, Calif., March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 neurodiverse
travelers, earning the Country's first Certified Autism
Destination.
"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."
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:
- Social Media Takeover: Certified Autism Destination
(CAD) Partners will bring awareness to the "Every day is autism
acceptance day in our community" campaign through social media
posts and profile page graphics.
- Visual Displays: Hotels and attractions designated as
Certified Autism Centers (CAC) and key locations throughout the
city will have awareness posters.
- Visalia Rawhide Baseball at Valley Strong Ballpark:
April 23, Valley Strong Ballpark will
host the "Free to Be Me" night celebrating those with developmental
disabilities including autism. Sponsored by Able, Inc.,
complimentary tickets to individuals with developmental
disabilities, their families, and/or their caretakers are
available. (https://www.milb.com/visalia).
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):
(https://www.visitvisalia.com/certified-autism-center)
- Comfort Suites Visalia
- Hampton Inn Visalia
- Visalia Marriott Hotel
- Visalia Wyndham Hotel
- Best Western Visalia
- Lamp Liter Inn
- Visalia Adventure Park
- Imagine U Children's Museum
- Valley Oaks Golf Course
- Tulare County Museum
- Arts Visalia
- Visalia Fox Theatre
- Downtown Visalians Merchants Assn
- Visit Visalia
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.
ABOUT VISIT VISALIA:
Visit Visalia is a collaboration of the Visalia
Tourism 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.
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SOURCE Visit Visalia