St. Johns County is now Florida's first Certified Autism Destination, a recognition announced Tuesday, Nov. 10, during a ceremony at the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Visitor Information Center.

Twenty-one local hotels, attractions and restaurants completed specialized training to earn the designation through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), according to the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.

"It's an exciting time for the countless families and individuals who are going to have a better quality of life, a better experience because of what we're celebrating today," said Myron Pincomb, board chairman and CEO of IBCCES, at the ceremony.

The Chamber led the effort toward the milestone in partnership with IBCCES and St. Johns County, with funding support from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council (TDC). The initiative began in 2023, according to the Chamber.

What certification requires

To earn Certified Autism Center (CAC) status, each organization trained at least 80% of its guest-facing staff in autism and sensory awareness, passed an assessment and committed to ongoing renewal, according to IBCCES. IBCCES also conducted facility reviews and created sensory guides for visitors. Refresher training is required every two years.

Certified locations include the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Old Town Trolley Tours & Attractions, Sawgrass Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine, Fury Water Adventures, St. Johns County Parks & Recreation and Third Space Improv, among others.

A personal connection

Troy Blevins, chair of the TDC, wore a shirt with bold lettering that read "Proud Autism Parent." He is also a business partner with Jalaram Hotels, which operates several certified partners, the Chamber reported.

"It's so important to our tourism as a parent, having the confidence to go to a destination where you're not being stared at and those things," Blevins said. "I'm a very strong person, but it's very, very tough as a parent."

His voice cracked, and he stopped to collect himself. The crowd waited quietly. Then he continued.

Dave Chatterton, general manager of Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine, said the training left a lasting impression on his team. Old Town Trolley's parent company, Historic Tours of America, certified its local tours and attractions as part of the initiative.

Grant program open to businesses

The Chamber and the county offer a matching grant program for businesses seeking certification. After completing the process, a business can be reimbursed for 50% of its certification cost, up to $5,000.

In the U.S., 1 in 31 children is diagnosed with autism, and 1 in 6 people have sensory needs or sensitivities, according to the Chamber. An IBCCES survey found 94% of families said they would take more vacations if they had access to autism-trained and certified options.

Isabelle Renault, president and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, called the initiative "a wonderful example of how doing the right thing for people can also strengthen our businesses and our local economy."

Certified locations are listed on AutismTravel.com and in the free IBCCES Accessibility App, where visitors can review accessibility features and plan around individual needs.

St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst said the county's decision to support the initiative was straightforward. Pincomb closed the ceremony by noting the work is not finished, calling certification "the foundation of something much greater."