Autism Friendly Destination

Traverse City Tourism is the first destination in Michigan to be a Certified Autism Destination through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), host of the resource AutismTravel.com.

The Destination Certification recognizes our community’s commitment to being accessible and friendly for autistic and neurodiverse individuals. Becoming a Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD) means that a range of tourism, hospitality, and entertainment organizations (listed below) have completed comprehensive, customized training, each earning the credential as a Certified Autism Center™.  Their staff and volunteer teams have received training in autism and sensory awareness and have access to support and options for visitors who need accommodations or special assistance to make their visit easier. Together, hundreds of Traverse City region’s hospitality professionals and those in related organizations have committed their time and attention to completing the program. The Autism Certification is one way our destination is working to be more inclusive and welcoming to all visitors.

Traverse City Tourism currently has a grant program in place to support the cost of certification for eligible member businesses and community organizations. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Kathy Bussell.

Media Coverage

Check out these great media mentions of Traverse City's IBCCES Autism Destination certification.

Autism Certified Centers