St. Johns County Parks and Recreation renews autism certification

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation has renewed its Certified Autism Center designation from IBCCES after completing updated staff training across the department. The renewal supports the county’s broader push toward a Certified Autism Destination and more accessible parks, programs and facilities.

Why it matters: - The renewal signals that St. Johns County Parks and Recreation is keeping accessibility work active, not one-time. - The certification supports more welcoming public spaces for autistic people, sensory-sensitive visitors and their families. - The department’s renewed status also feeds into a county-wide effort to reach Certified Autism Destination designation.

What happened: - St. Johns County Parks and Recreation renewed its Certified Autism Center designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. - The department originally earned the designation in 2024. - As part of the renewal, at least 80% of staff completed updated autism and sensory training. - The renewal was announced Sept. 22, 2026, in St. Johns, Florida.

The details: - The department says it is using the certification process to improve accessibility across parks, programs, events and facilities. - Staff training is built into day-to-day practices to help employees recognize and respond to different support needs. - The CAC program gives parks and recreation staff practical strategies for handling sensory and support needs. - The department says those tools help create more consistent experiences and more confidence when serving autistic participants and families. - Tess Simpson, community program manager for St. Johns County Parks and Recreation, said the department wants every family to feel like there is a place for them in Parks and Recreation. - Simpson said the renewal reflects an ongoing commitment to training staff and making programs and facilities more welcoming and inclusive. - Myron Pincomb, CEO and board chairman of IBCCES, said the renewal shows the value of ongoing education and training in creating more welcoming community spaces. - Pincomb said the department is strengthening its ability to provide inclusive recreational experiences for individuals and families throughout the county.

Between the lines: - The renewal suggests the county is trying to turn autism accessibility from a special program into a standard operating practice. - The certification also helps St. Johns County align parks and recreation with broader tourism and community accessibility goals. - IBCCES positions the renewal as part of a larger network of certified destinations and organizations. - The effort ties into a wider county initiative led by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. - That initiative brings together tourism, recreation, entertainment and lodging organizations. - IBCCES says it has spent 25 years providing autism, sensory and neurodiversity training and certification. - IBCCES says it works in more than 125 countries and provides training in 8 languages. - The organization says it is the only credentialing board offering these programs.

What's next: - St. Johns County Parks and Recreation will continue applying autism and sensory training across its programs and facilities. - The county-wide effort will keep working toward Certified Autism Destination status. - St. Johns County Parks and Recreation remains listed on the free IBCCES Accessibility App. - IBCCES also directs families to AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com for certified locations and professionals. - The organization says those sites only list organizations that have met IBCCES certification requirements.

The bottom line: - St. Johns County Parks and Recreation is using renewal of its autism certification to deepen accessibility efforts and support a larger push for a more inclusive countywide visitor experience.