This Pennsylvania Theme Park Was The First In The World To Become A Certified Autism Center

Originally opening its doors in 1980, Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, made history in 2018 when it became the first theme park in the world to be designated as a Certified Autism Center. After extensive staff-wise autism sensitivity and awareness training, the "Sesame Street"-themed amusement park — one of the most unique theme parks in the U.S. — earned the prestigious recognition from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) just in time for its 38th season.

In terms of requirements, the park's certification process called for all team members to undergo a series of specialized training in key areas that included everything from sensory awareness to environment, communication, motor and social skills, program development, and emotional awareness. Beyond that, members were also required to pass a thorough autism competency exam, as well as commit to retaking the training every two years in order to maintain active certification. As a result, the park — and its guests — can rest assured that everyone working there has the knowledge and skills necessary to interact effectively and respectfully with children with special needs. All of which makes it a much-loved vacation destination for kids and their parents alike.

A direct reflection of Sesame Place's commitment to creating a more inclusive environment, the certification announcement even aligned with the brand's efforts to launch a broader initiative around understanding, accepting, and supporting autism. A move that included the introduction of Julia, a new "Sesame Street" character with autism, who made her debut on the show in 2017.

One of the happiest places on earth (that isn't Disney), Sesame Place boasts lots of specialized features that are designed specifically to help visitors with autism navigate the park more comfortably. Specifically, one of these accommodations is the park-wide sensory guide, which ranks all of the rides on a scale from one to 10 in terms of touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight stimulation — a comprehensive resource that can ultimately help parents better plan for activities that'll be sure to match their child's specific needs and comfort level. For even more comprehensive planning, parents can enroll in the park's Ride Accessibility Program (RAP) near the park's entrance. Once there, they can fill out a questionnaire to receive a personalized list of rides and attractions that's tailored to their child's specific needs.

Additionally, two quiet rooms with adjustable lighting are also available on Sesame Island, both of which offer a comfortable space where children can take breaks from the sensory stimulation of the park. Similarly, there are also designated "low sensory areas" throughout Sesame Place where guests can enjoy a moment of quiet time without having to go too far. As an extra resource for single-day visitors with auditory sensitivities, Sesame Place even offers noise-canceling headphones for its guests — just keep in mind that these are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To wrap it all up, special accommodations are also available for guests who want to experience the park's signature parades with reduced sensory input, as well as for families who prefer quieter dining environments or character dining experiences with limited interaction. Finally, as a treat for park guests who visit during Autism Acceptance Month in April, the park gives away free Sesame Street storybooks that celebrate how all children are amazing in their own ways.

Although Sesame Place offers many sensory-friendly ride options for children with processing challenges, some can be a little more accommodating than others. For guests with touch sensitivities, for example, the Mini Monster Clubhouse (with its low sensory touch rating of 1.5) provides soft play areas perfect for gentle exploration. Alternatively, the Christmas Light Display during the holiday season offers a hands-off visual experience, but also provides a mid-level sight and sound sensory rating of five.

Meanwhile, park guests with sound sensitivities will appreciate Snuffy's Slides (sound rating: 1.5) for the minimal noise level. Another great option that won't overwhelm is the Flying Cookie Jars (sound rating: 2.5), where riders can soar high and enjoy a birds-eye view of the park

For visitors with visual sensitivities, attractions like Captain Cookie's High "C's" Adventure, Big Bird's Tour Bus, and Oscar's Rotten Rusty Rockets all have a sight rating of one — meaning they'll feature gentle movements that likely won't trigger any visual processing issues. As for smell sensitivities, most attractions hold pretty low smell ratings (one to 1.5), with dry rides like Elmo's Cloud Chaser, the Honker Dinger Derby, and Oscar's Wacky Taxi Roller Coaster particularly suitable for visitors with smell sensitivities.