Michigan Tourist Destination Named State’s First Autism Certified City

A Northern Michigan city has been designated as the state's first autism-certified travel destination.

Families who have children or family members on the autism spectrum will find comfort in knowing that the Traverse City region has numerous businesses and organizations with staff members who have received special training to meet the needs of individuals with autism.

 Traverse City - an Autism Certified Travel Destination

Multiple organizations in the Traverse City region completed the necessary training to become certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). According to News 9 & 10, multiple organizations trained a majority of their staff members to complete the certification process.

SEE ALSO:  This Michigan Tourist Destination Ranked Cocaine Capital of the US

The training was completed by a variety of travel and leisure-related organizations and included strategies for recognizing and understanding autism and common sensory sensitivity concerns.

A Welcoming Environment for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

Whitney Waara is the CEO of Traverse City Tourism. She says making the city more accessible for families with children or family members on the spectrum is a positive step for Traverse City.

"The goal is to create a welcoming environment for all residents and visitors regardless of their unique needs, and to make the travel experience friendlier for families," Waara said. "Sometimes it’s as simple as creating a quiet space or helping provide accurate information about what a certain experience is like and how to navigate it easily before the visitors arrive."

 

Organizations that have received certification:

• Traverse City Tourism & Traverse City Visitor Center
• Blossom Hotel & Suites
• COGNITION Science & Discovery Center
• Crystal Mountain
• Dennos Museum Center
• Great Lakes Children’s Museum
• Great Wolf Lodge
• Inland Seas Education Association
• KOTI Experiences
• Lake ‘n Pines Lodge
• Michigan Legacy Art Park
• Mt. Holiday
• National Writers Series
• Rainbow Valley Family Farm
• Seaside Sailing Excursions
• Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART) Trail
• The Garden Theater
• The Inn at Black Star Farms
• Traverse Area District Library
• Traverse Tall Ship Company

Additional businesses in the region are working toward becoming certified.

More information is available at this website.