Visit Visalia classified as California's first Certified Autism Center

Lauren Jennings, Visalia Times-Delta
·2 min read
Vossler Farms is back for another year of Halloween fun for South Valley and Tulare County families. The pumpkin patch has taken a number of precautions to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, including extending business hours to reduce crowds and encouraging social distancing. Visit the Visalia family farm daily for pumpkins, hay rides and the corn maze - "The Mighty Dragon" this year.

Visit Visalia promises travelers "a new kind of adventure" providing a "spectrum of travel possibilities" throughout the duration of their stay.

More recently, Visit Visalia became California's first destination marketing organization classified as a Certified Autism Center, a designation given by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.

"It is not an understatement to say that we have millions of travelers that are impacted by autism – 32 million in fact," said Visit Visalia Executive Director Nellie Freeborn. "That is changing."

Freeborn, a Visalia parent of a child with autism, said she knows the challenges families face when traveling.

"We know we have the ability to impact travel memories, and we want to make sure that applies to all," Freeborn said. "We want to move families from 'If only we could?' to 'What if we did?'"

Visit Visalia offers multiple resources, like the Sunflower Program, a method of letting trained staff know of a hidden disability. Travelers can also check out a sensory backpack, which includes noise-canceling headsets, fidget toys, play doe, and a social story to help navigate the city.

Visalia Marriot, Comfort Suites Visalia, Hampton Inn Visalia, Valley Oak Golf Course, Wyndham Visalia, Lamp Litter Inn, Best Western Visalia, Naturally Nuts and Adventure Park are all working toward becoming Certified Autism Centers.

"We are not done," said Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks Superintendent Clay Jordan. "But, the list of accessible opportunities grows longer every year."

Visit Visalia initiated a movement with the help of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards to become a Certified Autism Destination, a separate designation for destinations trained to serve autistic individuals and those with other sensory disorders.

"Our goal of becoming a Certified Autism Destination is one of our most ambitious efforts to date," Freeborn said. "We are looking to give families options to travel and experiences that they otherwise may not happen."

Lauren Jennings covers education and news for the Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register. Follow her on Twitter @lolojennings. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Visit Visalia classified as California's first Certified Autism Center