Mesa: America’s First Autism Friendly City

On a family vacation in 2018, Marc Garcia was shocked by the strange looks and lack of patience hospitality staff had with his autistic son. As executive director and president of the Visit Mesa tourism bureau in south-central Arizona, he made a commitment upon his return to ensuring that neurodiverse travelers who visited his city had a better experience on their trip than his family had at the yours.

In fact, traveling can be so stressful for neurodiverse people that 87% of autistic families do not go on vacationaccording to a survey of autism trips, an arm of the International Board for Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). The sensory overload involved in travel, including loud noises, dietary changes, and routine disruption, can cause discomfort and outbursts if not compassionately managed and addressed. But cities like Mesa are finally rolling out the training and accessibility tools so everyone can enjoy the benefits of travel, not just the neurotypicals.

As a starting point, García worked so that the entire tourism bureau was trained and certified by the IBCCCES, which works to provide training and certification in cognitive disorders to professionals so they can be better equipped to interact with neurodiverse people in different settings. For businesses like hotels, restaurants, and attractions, this means front-facing staff are trained to understand what autism is, how to empathize with how autistic people experience the world and possible common sensitivities, and how to communicate more effectively with them.

In 2020, one in 36 children was diagnosed with autism in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Controland the World Health Organization estimates that one in 100 children have autism worldwide, a number that continues to rise year on year, making it the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world. In addition to sharing statistics and education about autism, the IBCCES training also provides practical guidance on ways to better accommodate people with neurodiversity.