In honour of Autism Acceptance Month (April) Beaches Resorts is expanding its commitment to families with children on the autism spectrum with the goal of ensuring a safe, fun, and comfortable vacation experience that’s tailored to their needs.

Beaches notes that with one in 66 children in Canada diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, special needs travel continues to be one of the fastest-growing family travel segments and one that is severely underserved.

And to that end, the brand has extended its Advanced Certified Autism Center (ACAC) accreditation through 2023 and continues to build on its existing partnership with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), the global leader in cognitive disorder training and certification.

Through the ACAC recertification process, over the next several months, Beaches Resorts’ team members in Jamaica and Tursk & Caicos will be eligible to participate in advanced autism training virtually, with an emphasis on the resorts’ key touch point areas, including kids camps, entertainment, front desk/reception, food and beverage and watersports operations. The recertification process will also expand to training of team members at the Airport Arrival Lounge/Reception Area in Montego Bay, Jamaica and Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, which offer the first point of contact for Beaches Resorts’ arriving guests.

The all-inclusive family resort chain, a sister brand to Sandals Resorts, in collaboration with IBCCES, will also launch a Sensory Stimulation Guide for guests with sensory needs, providing comfort and an understanding of what to expect in each designated area of the resort. The guide, which outlines the degree of sensory stimulation in a specific area or event, allows families to easily plan and navigate their visit based on their individual needs. Designated Low Sensory Areas will also be identified at all resorts, allowing guests to find comfort in designated spaces should they need a break from sensory stimulation. These locations will be easily identifiable through resort maps, onsite signage and in pre-travel planning materials.

In 2017, Beaches Resorts became the first resort company in the world to be recognized by IBCCES as a Certified Autism Center (CAC) and, as part of their larger Sesame Street partnership, also introduced Julia, a four-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, who brought an exclusive new activity to Beaches Resorts: Amazing Art with Julia. Two years later, the resort company then became the first to attain the Advanced Certified Autism Center (ACAC), recognized by IBCCES.