St. Johns County's Parks and Recreation Department has renewed its Certified Autism Center designation after at least 80% of staff completed updated autism and sensory training.

The renewal, announced by the county on Monday, Oct. 5, extends a certification the department first earned in April 2024 from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, or IBCCES. The designation covers all county parks, programs, events and facilities countywide, serving families across St. Johns County, including Ponte Vedra Beach and Nocatee.

Training helps staff respond to sensory needs

Tess Simpson, community program manager for St. Johns County Parks and Recreation, said the training gives staff practical strategies for recognizing and responding to a range of sensory and support needs.

"This isn't something we want to accomplish once," Simpson said. "It's a commitment we want to continue building on year after year."

The training is ongoing. When the department first earned the certification in 2024, IBCCES conducted on-site reviews of county parks and facilities to create sensory guides and recommendations for improving the visitor experience.

County parks and recreation sites are now listed on the IBCCES Accessibility App and AutismTravel.com, both free resources for families searching for certified locations.

County pursues broader autism destination designation

The certification effort was funded by the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. It is part of a broader initiative led by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber is working to help the county earn a Certified Autism Destination designation from IBCCES, which requires multiple recreation, hospitality and entertainment organizations to complete training and facility reviews.

At a March 8, 2025, Kite Day celebration at Treaty Park, Isabelle Renault, president and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, said the county was "more than halfway" to becoming the first certified autism tourist destination in Florida. No updated progress figure has been released since then.

Myron Pincomb, CEO and board chairman of IBCCES, said in a Sept. 22 press release that the renewal reflects the department's investment in continued staff training.

Families can search for certified parks and other locations through the free IBCCES Accessibility App or at AutismTravel.com.