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

St. Johns County has earned the Certified Autism Destination designation, becoming the first in Florida after a countywide effort involving the chamber, IBCCES and local tourism partners. The designation is meant to improve travel access for autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors and could help more families plan trips with confidence.

Why it matters: - St. Johns County is now the first Certified Autism Destination in Florida, giving autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors a countywide network of trained businesses and venues. - The designation is designed to make travel easier for families who may have avoided trips because of accessibility concerns. - The county’s certified organizations now appear on AutismTravel.com and in the IBCCES Accessibility App, which helps visitors find accessible locations and review accommodations.

What happened: - The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, IBCCES and the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council announced that St. Johns County has officially earned Certified Autism Destination status. - The announcement was made Nov. 10, 2026, in St. Augustine. - Twenty-one local hotels, attractions, cultural sites, restaurants and visitor-service organizations earned Certified Autism Center status as part of the designation.

The details: - To qualify, participating organizations completed autism and sensory training for at least 80% of guest-facing staff. - Each organization passed an assessment and agreed to ongoing renewal requirements. - IBCCES completed facility reviews for each organization and provided sensory guides and improvement recommendations. - IBCCES will continue support through regular check-ins and refresher training every two years. - Participating organizations include DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine, Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel, Sawgrass Marriott and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. - Other certified locations include Old Town Trolley Tours & Attractions, City of St. Augustine Visitor Services, St. Johns County Parks & Recreation, St. Johns County Visitors and Convention Bureau and The Waterworks operated by St. Johns Cultural Council. - Sensory guides are available at Old Town Trolley Tours, St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Potter's Wax Museum, Old Jail, St. Augustine History Museum and other certified locations. - The Accessibility App is free to download at theaccessibilityapp.com. - For more information about autism-inclusive travel in St. Johns County, visitors can go to AutismTravel.com or the St. Johns County Chamber's visitor resources.

Between the lines: - The chamber led local coordination and business participation, while the TDC helped fund the effort and businesses invested in staff preparation and visitor experience changes. - IBCCES said the designation recognizes collaboration across the county and marks a step toward broader accessibility. - In an IBCCES survey, 94% of families said they would take more vacations or visit more new places if they had access to autism-trained and certified options. - The move positions St. Johns County among destinations trying to compete on accessibility as much as on attractions.

What's next: - Certified organizations will continue renewal and refresher training to maintain status. - Visitors should see more accessibility information and sensory planning tools integrated into travel planning through IBCCES platforms. - The county’s tourism partners are expected to build on the designation to attract more families seeking autism-friendly travel options.

The bottom line: - St. Johns County has turned accessibility into a tourism asset, and Florida’s first Certified Autism Destination now gives families a clearer path to plan inclusive trips.