SJC Parks & Recreation to Host Press Conference and Kite Day for Autism Center Certification

28 February 2025
Category: SJC News Parks and Recreation
Tags: 2025

When: Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: 1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine

What: The St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department will hold a press conference to celebrate being named a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.

The CAC designation is granted to organizations that have completed autism-specific training to understand how to best welcome, assist, and support autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families. In addition to staff training, IBCCES also conducted an on-site review of St. Johns County parks and facilities to create sensory guides and additional recommendations to improve the visitor experience.

“We couldn’t be more excited at the opportunity to make St. Johns County parks and facilities even more accessible to our residents and visitors,” Community Program Coordinator Tess Simpson said. “I’m thankful to IBCCES for the chance to get most of our programming staff certified, so we can be better equipped to provide an inclusive environment for parkgoers and event participants on the autism spectrum.”

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation joins a growing number of tourism and recreation-related organizations in the area to complete certification as part of a larger initiative led by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, funded by the Tourist Development Council, aiming to achieve the Certified Autism Destination designation. This initiative will ensure that the area offers multiple certified options for entertainment, recreation, and lodging for autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families.

“IBCCES is excited to award St. Johns County Parks and Recreation with the Certified Autism Center designation, highlighting their efforts to create spaces where everyone feels welcome,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman. “We are excited to see the impact this certification and their role in the larger county-wide initiative will have on the entire community.”

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation sites will be included on IBCCES’s AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals.

Along with the press conference, Parks and Recreation will host its annual Kite Day celebration on Treaty Park’s multipurpose field. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Alive Credit Union, the first 100 participants will get a free kite.

Ice pops will be available for attendees, courtesy of Simply Healthcare Plans.

Who: Confirmed speakers include:

Krista Joseph, Chair and District 4 Representative of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners
Clay Murphy, District 3 Representative of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners
Tess Simpson, Community Program Manager for the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department
Isabelle Renault, President and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce
Brianna Angulo, Key Accounts Manager for the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards

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