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IT TAKES A VILLAGE<br />
MESA, arizona:<br />
AUTISM CERTIFIED CITY<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong>, Arizona is the first-ever Autism Certified City in the U.S.<br />
designated by the International Board of Credentialing and<br />
Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). The effort behind<br />
the designation was launched by Visit <strong>Mesa</strong> to encourage<br />
hospitality businesses to participate in specialized autism<br />
training geared toward executives and front-facing service<br />
staff to better recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and<br />
service the needs of ASD travelers from the planning stages<br />
of a vacation to when they arrive in the destination, and<br />
throughout their stay.<br />
In total, almost 60 businesses and organizations in <strong>Mesa</strong> and<br />
the surrounding area completed autism certification training<br />
and each of those entities is now deemed a Certified Autism<br />
Center by IBCCES. The effort was immediately embraced by<br />
the <strong>Mesa</strong> Chamber of Commerce and numerous non-profit<br />
organizations. More than 500 <strong>Mesa</strong> Parks, Recreation and<br />
Community Facilities employees and 1,200-plus <strong>Mesa</strong> Police<br />
Department public safety and law enforcement officers have<br />
completed autism certification training, as well as the <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
Fire Department. To date, nearly 4,500 community members<br />
have completed or committed to the autism certification.<br />
In an analysis of 2018 data from nearly a dozen states,<br />
researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and<br />
Prevention found that among 8-year-olds, 1 in 44 had<br />
been diagnosed with autism.<br />
Jake's Unlimited Arizona Museum of Natural History<br />
CERTIFIED AUTISM CENTERS<br />
These hospitality-related businesses have all completed or committed to autism<br />
certification, helping establish <strong>Mesa</strong> as the country’s first-ever Autism Certified City. To<br />
download the Autism Travel <strong>Guide</strong>, view Sensory <strong>Guide</strong>s, and to search the most up to<br />
date listing of Certified Autism Centers that reach beyond the visitor industry to include<br />
residential and community resources, visit AutismTravel<strong>Mesa</strong>.com.<br />
LODGING<br />
• Courtyard Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong> (in progress)<br />
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix-<strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• Four Points by Sheraton at Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
Gateway (in progress)<br />
• Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix-<strong>Mesa</strong>/<br />
Chandler (in progress)<br />
• Hyatt Place Phoenix / <strong>Mesa</strong> (in progress)<br />
• Residence Inn Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong> (in progress)<br />
• Sheraton <strong>Mesa</strong> Hotel at Wrigleyville West<br />
ATTRACTIONS<br />
• Arizona Museum of Natural History<br />
• Butterfly Wonderland<br />
• Chicago Cubs/Sloan Park<br />
• Escape Rooms <strong>Mesa</strong>, LLC (in progress)<br />
• i.d.e.a. Museum<br />
• Jake’s Unlimited (in progress)<br />
• Longbow Golf Club (in progress)<br />
• <strong>Mesa</strong> Arts Center<br />
• <strong>Mesa</strong> Music Fest & Film Fest/Motor Media<br />
• Oakland A’s<br />
• OdySea Aquarium<br />
• Riverbound Sports Paddle Co.<br />
• True Garden<br />
DINING<br />
• AZ Brew at Delta Hotels by Marriott<br />
Phoenix-<strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• The Resident at DoubleTree by<br />
Hilton Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• Stats Sports Grill at Sheraton <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
Hotel at Wrigleyville West<br />
• 12 West Brewing Co. – Downtown <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
(in progress)<br />
SERVICES<br />
• Arizona Office of Tourism<br />
• Boeing<br />
• City of <strong>Mesa</strong>: Fire and Medical<br />
• City of <strong>Mesa</strong>: Parks, Recreation and<br />
Community Facilities<br />
• City Of <strong>Mesa</strong>: <strong>Mesa</strong> Police Department<br />
• Collegebound AZ<br />
• Copa Health, Powered by Marc<br />
Community Resources and Partners In<br />
Recovery<br />
• East Valley Hispanic Chamber of<br />
Commerce (in progress)<br />
• East Valley Partnership<br />
·<br />
I B C C E S ·<br />
CAC<br />
• Friendly Auto Center<br />
• Gateway Bank – <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• Heavens Urgent Care (in progress)<br />
• <strong>Mesa</strong> Chamber of Commerce<br />
• <strong>Mesa</strong> Public Library @ Dobson Ranch<br />
• <strong>Mesa</strong> United Way: Helen’s Hope Chest<br />
(in progress)<br />
• Salt River Project<br />
• Town of Queen Creek: Fire and Medical<br />
• Town of Queen Creek: Parks and<br />
Recreation<br />
• Town of Queen Creek: Police<br />
• Visit <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
*CAC status was current or in progress at the<br />
time of publishing<br />
• Barrio Brewing Company<br />
• The Bistro - Eat. Drink. Connect. ® at<br />
Courtyard Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• Copper Plate American Grill<br />
• Gegus at Four Points by Sheraton at<br />
Phoenix <strong>Mesa</strong> Gateway<br />
• Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea & Gallery (in progress)<br />
• Macayo’s Mexican Food, East <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• Macayo’s Mexican Food, West <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
• OHSO Brewery + Distillery – <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
Gateway<br />
• OHSO Brewery + Distillery – Phoenix Sky<br />
Harbor Airport<br />
• Panera Bread Sky Harbor Airport 1<br />
• Panera Bread Sky Harbor Airport 2<br />
• Panera Bread <strong>Mesa</strong> – Gateway Airport<br />
• Redstone Bar and Grill at Holiday Inn<br />
& Suites Phoenix-<strong>Mesa</strong>/Chandler<br />
For hours, tickets and more,<br />
visit phoenixzoo.org.<br />
visitmesa.com<br />
<strong>2022</strong> <strong>Visitors</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> | Active Family | 31
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