St. Johns County becomes Florida’s first Certified Autism Destination

St. Johns County is now Florida’s first Certified Autism Destination. It was recognized during a ceremony in St. Augustine Tuesday, Nov. 10. The certification, earned through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), demonstrates a community-wide commitment to understanding, acceptance and inclusivity.

“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.

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with IBCCES and the county, has led the effort toward this milestone since 2023. The Chamber and the county offer a matching grant program for businesses to become Certified Autism Centers. 

“When I first learned about IBCCES, headquartered here in our region, we connected,” said Isabelle Renault, president and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.

IBCCES is a Northeast Florida-based organization that delivers the global standard for training and certification in the fields of autism, neurodiversity and accessibility. It provides a series of certification programs that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve.

More than 20 St. Johns County attractions, hotels and restaurants completed specialized training to become Certified Autism Centers through IBCCES, contributing a substantial investment of time and resources to this achievement.

In the U.S., 1 in 31 children is diagnosed with autism. Millions of adults are also living with autism, and 1 in 6 people have sensory needs or sensitivities.

These are people who want to experience St. Johns County and all it has to offer. The designation sends a clear message that the county is ready to welcome them.

“Today, it’s really an exciting milestone for our entire community,” Renault said. “For families, it means greater confidence in planning their trip, knowing that many of the places they visit have employees trained to understand and accommodate their needs.”

Renault called the initiative “a wonderful example of how doing the right thing for people can also strengthen our businesses and our local economy.”

“We’re so proud to be the first county in Florida to receive this,” said St. Johns County Commission Vice Chair Ann Taylor. “But really, the real measure of this achievement will be the families who can now visit, explore and create lasting memories.”

St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst said the decision was an easy one.

“We have a lot of controversial items that come before the Board of County Commissioners, and that’s not a secret,” Whitehurst said. “Supporting this initiative was not controversial whatsoever.”

Speakers talked about the economic benefits of welcoming more visitors, but for many of them, this is also a personal project.

Troy Blevins, chair of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, said he had the honor of representing three groups at the news conference. The TDC has been very involved in supporting and funding the initiative. Blevins is also a business partner with Jalaram Hotels, which operates several certified partners. But his most important role is the one clearly printed on his shirt in big, bold letters: Proud Autism Parent.

“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 with him. Then he continued.

“It’s so important. Isabelle knows how important it is for this initiative. And I’m so proud that it’s our community that was the first.”

St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline followed him to the podium. “We appreciate that personal touch for someone who lives it every day,” she said.

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.

“One thought from this training has really stayed with me,” Chatterton said. “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”

He said the work has “made our company even kinder and more attentive.”

“In hospitality, we invite people to come experience our community,” Chatterton said. “And today we’re giving more families the confidence to say yes, we can.”

IBCCES works in 130 countries, but the organization calls Northeast Florida home.

“It’s really nice to be able to sleep in my bed at night and come see our local community,” Pincomb said.

He said St. Johns County has some of the most beautiful beaches and best attractions in the world. “But we also have a community with heart,” he said.

Pincomb closed the ceremony with a reminder that the work continues.

“Certification is not the finish line,” he said. “It’s the foundation of something much greater.”

The CAD designation is awarded to destinations where a significant number of hotels, attractions and entertainment venues have completed specialized training and certification to better serve autistic visitors. In St. Johns County, 21 locations and organizations across hospitality, recreation, culture and visitor services have earned Certified Autism Center (CAC) status.

To achieve certification, each organization completed autism and sensory training for at least 80% of its guest-facing staff, passed an assessment and committed to ongoing renewal requirements. IBCCES also completed facility reviews of each organization to recommend improvements and provide sensory guides for visitors. Throughout an organization’s certification, IBCCES provides ongoing support for accessibility and inclusivity efforts, including regular check-ins and refresher training every two years.

The Chamber and the county offer a matching grant program for businesses to become Certified Autism Centers. After grant approval and completion of certification, the business will be reimbursed for 50% of its certification cost from IBCCES, up to $5,000.

For more information about autism-inclusive travel in St. Johns County, visit AutismTravel.com or the St. Johns County Chamber’s visitor resources.