St. Johns Parks and Rec Gains Certified Autism Center Designation

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation was recently designated as a Certified Autism Center and county officials, staff and community members celebrated the achievement with Kite Day at Treaty Park in St. Augustine.

“[The certification] means that our parks, our programs, and our staff are now better equipped to serve individuals with autism and sensory differences, ensuring that everyone can enjoy our beautiful parks, our programs, and our outdoor spaces,” said Community Program Manager Tess Simpson in a media release.

In addition to staff training, the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards also conducted an on-site review of St. Johns County parks and facilities in order to create sensory guides and additional recommendations to improve the visitor experience. Certification was received in April 2024. Parks and Recreation sites will be included on IBCCES’s app and on AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals, the release states.

County Commissioner Clay Murphy spoke in support of Parks and Recreation’s efforts, funded by the Tourist Development Council, to make the county’s public spaces more inclusive.

“This is such an exciting milestone for St. Johns County,” Murphy said in the release. “We want all families to feel welcome. This is just the beginning.”

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation joins a growing number of tourism and recreation-related organizations in the area to complete certification as part of a larger initiative led by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, aiming to achieve the Certified Autism Destination designation. The initiative aims to ensure that the area offers multiple certified options for entertainment, recreation, and lodging for autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families.

“With one in 36 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism, and nearly 20% of the population experiencing sensory processing sensitivity, it’s crucial that businesses and organizations have the tools to provide a supportive and engaging environment for all,” Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Isabelle Renault said in the release. “We are now more than halfway to our goal of making St. Johns County the first certified autism tourist destination in Florida.”