The Sesame Street
them
e
park in Philadelphia
has received the world’s first autism certification accreditation.
The park, Sesame Place, is based on the world-famous television show Sesame Street which has
been shown
around the world for almost
fifty years
. The park received their accreditation after initiatives in staff development where all staff at the park underwent autism sensitivity and autism awareness training. The park includes quiet rooms for children as well as a sensory guide that will help parents and caregivers plan their visits to the park.
This
coincides with the television show introducing their first character with autism last year.
Sesame Place
received their award as part of the
US National Autism Awareness Month
and is in preparation for its
season
–
opening
in April. While it may be the first park to receive the accreditation, many other parks across the United States are moving to
ad
o
pt
new
changes to ensure their parks are accommodating to all visitors, including people with autism. In Mach 2017, another park, Legoland in Florida also introduced illustrated guides, quiet rooms and free passes to help people with autism and other conditions avoid lengthy ques.
Autism, also known as autistic spectrum disorder or ASD, covers a wide range of conditions. Currently, there are no known cures for autism,
and
it is a lifelong
development
al
disability which affects language skills, physical behavior, and social interaction among sufferers. Asperger syndrome, a milder version of autism, children can have either above average
intelligence
or below average, while also still experiencing difficulties with social interaction and behavior. Many experts believe that the increases in ASD diagnosis
are
n’t
due to external or environmental factors, but more likely due to better recognition of the conditions.
Sesame Place received their award from the
International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards
. The IBCCES is a body which provides international autism certification to health and education sectors around the world.