Many of us grew up watching Sesame Street on TV and it seemed as if the characters, such as Big Bird, Grover, and Oscar the Grouch were our close friends. There were even those who lived close to Sesame Street and they would visit the physical location on a regular basis. When you were a little kid, any opportunity you had to see your dreams up close and personal made for a fantastic day.
Although we may not have kept up on watching Sesame Street now that we are older, it is nice to check it every once in a while and see what has taken place. The Pennsylvania amusement park received certification as an Autism Center for the work that they put into it. If you were to visit Sesame Street today, you will get a wonderful surprise.
The theme park, Sesame Place is based on the Sesame Street children show and they work along with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education to get the certification. Members of the staff also went through specialized training so that they could care for children with autism and others of special needs. It took a lot of effort but everyone is on board and ready to help.
Sesame Place offers the following:
“Sensory awareness, motor skills, autism overview, program development, social skills, communication, environment, and emotional awareness.”
Both the existing and new staff will receive ongoing training so that the park is able to maintain its status. Many amenities have been added to the park so that guests with autism are able to enjoy the experience fully.
In an area near Big Bird’s Rambling River, is an area where people can sit and relax for a break. The quiet rooms are private and offer adjustable lighting, a security code for entrance and proper seating. If children have a noise sensitivity, there are also noise canceling headphones available for use at the park.
Sensory sensitivity is a common issue for individuals who suffer from autism. Sesame Place has a few low sensory areas, including one that is behind the Sesame Street Neighborhood. The parents will not be left in the dark when it comes to how to use the sensory guide and plan any activities that the entire family can enjoy on the visit.
The guide shows information about each attraction and it helps for any that may be suffering from sensory issues.
Over the past few years, Sesame Street has been working hard to promote inclusion and even an autistic girl, Julia, and a child facing homelessness, literally have been added. They were added to help children have empathy for those in the world that suffer from those problems.
It’s easy to see why the company would extend these benefits and practices to the theme park. The park president, Cathy Valeriano had the following to say:
“Sesame Place is honored to be leading the theme park industry through our commitment to making our facility friendly for families with children on the spectrum. We’re dedicated to providing all of our guests with an exceptional and memorable experience. We look forward to applying this training and expanding our commitment to help spread awareness about autism.”
If you are planning a trip, get ready for loads of family fun.