Mesa's 5-Year Autism Certified City Celebration
From November 2024 through April 2025, Mesa celebrates its ongoing journey as an autism-certified city.
- Check-in Challenge (November – April): Keep the adventure going! Explore Mesa’s autism-certified attractions, collect virtual check-ins, and earn a special prize* for participating. It's the perfect way for families to discover Mesa’s many autism-friendly destinations.
- Exclusive Hotel Offers: Starting in November, autism-certified hotels in Mesa will offer exclusive discounts and packages thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of families traveling with autistic individuals. Enjoy a comfortable, supportive stay that makes your Mesa experience even more memorable.
- "Spec(trum) Ops" Cider and Soda Release: Enjoy custom cider and soda creations, made in collaboration with Cider Corps in Downtown Mesa! These drinks will be available as early as November and will stick around through April. Stay tuned for flavor details as we raise awareness for autism acceptance with these special beverages.
- Autism Acceptance Month: Annually, organizations like Visit Mesa celebrate Autism Acceptance Month throughout the month of April. It is an especially great time to recognize and celebrate those within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community. The Autism Society focuses on acceptance, as acceptance has created a solid community where those in the Autism community can feel supported and connected.
Exciting updates are on the way! Visit Mesa will soon reveal new collaborations, events, and opportunities to celebrate this important milestone. Stay connected for the latest announcements.
What is an Autism Certified City and Why Does it Matter
Visit Mesa & IBCCES: On November 18, 2019, Mesa became the first-ever Autism Certified City in the U.S., designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), making travel planning easier for families with loved one(s) on the spectrum. Visit Mesa has partnered with IBCCES to introduce the path to the Certification process to our partners. IBCCES is setting the standard for autism (and other cognitive disorders) certifications as the only known organization focused on the hospitality/travel industry. Their key insights, paired with their Autism Travel nationwide presence, will help our partners better understand the ASD community and their growing need for autism-certified travel destinations, attractions, and hotels. By accomplishing certification, families affected by ASD can trust Mesa as a dedicated tourism destination serving individuals with autism.
What is an Autism Certification? Several Visit Mesa Partner businesses are now CAC’s –Certified Autism Centers. This designation illustrates to those families affected by ASD that they can trust Mesa as a dedicated tourism destination serving individuals with autism. Certification is achieved when at least 80% of guest-facing staff is trained and certified in the field of autism. Through IBCCES and Autism Travel, Mesa and our partners are now part of a network of trusted travel professionals already serving the ASD community.
Numerous visitor-related businesses and organizations in Mesa, the city’s regional footprint, have completed autism training. This includes Mesa Parks, City of Mesa museums, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, police and fire departments, and several other non-profits. Several businesses also participated in IBCCES audits and have developed sensory guides to further improve experiences for individuals with autism.
Why is supported Autism travel important? With a 600% increase in autism diagnoses in the U.S., autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world. Visit Mesa is committed to serving this growing audience of potential visitors. Visit Mesa and our governing Board of Directors believe certification is a great step towards better serving this growing, yet underserved community.