Two members of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) have created a long-term partnership to create options for families with autism and other cognitive disorders to enjoy amusement parks, rope courses and other attractions all over the world. UNO Parks is a treetop adventure park architect group in the Baltics with over 42 parks built worldwide. The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) is the industry leader in autism training and certification. Via this partnership they have a goal of training and certifying UNO Parks’ indoor and outdoor adventure parks both in Baltics and Worldwide.

The first park to become certified is UNO Park Vilnius in Lithuania. This treetop adventure park joins a growing number of theme parks, hotels and attractions that have earned the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation and will be the first attraction in Europe to do so.  The CAC designation is awarded to organizations who have completed staff training and an onsite review process with the goal to better serve individuals with autism and other sensory needs.

The growing frequency of autism diagnoses and the gap in travel services for those dealing with autism has made it difficult for parents with children on the spectrum to find destinations and attractions that accommodate their sensory needs, dietary restrictions and safety concerns.  In many cases, changes or accommodations made by these locations might seem minor, but they can make a big difference to the guest experience.

UNO Parks adventure architects are an inspired team of talented and certified professionals on a mission to add laughter and vivid adventures to the lives of worldwide customers. The company manages the largest chain of treetop adventure parks in the Baltics and offers high-quality custom services in designing, building and operating indoor and outdoor adventure parks.

“For us, this certification means a brand-new level of service and a deeper attention to clients’ special needs. Moreover, it means encouragement to all our staff to serve our clients with confidence and bring them more joy and satisfaction,” said Deimante Tarvydiene, Deputy Director of Business Development at UNO Parks.

For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in autism training for healthcare, education and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES recognized that many individuals with cognitive disorders have limited travel and entertainment options that have been trained to meet their needs, and created evidence-based, customized training and certification programs specifically for those industries.

“The partnership with UNO Parks is an exciting step in providing a wider range of certified destinations worldwide. We are proud to partner with organizations like UNO Parks that are seeking to provide inclusive services for all guests and look forward to the ripple effect this will have for individuals on the spectrum and their families,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman.

UNO Parks and IBCCES will both attend the 2019 IAAP Expo Europe, booth #4127. IAPPA is the premier global association for the attractions industry. This year’s expo will be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles 16-19 Sept. 2019 and will be an all-encompassing destination for leisure and attractions industry professionals.