Recently, Andrew started investigating the ever-growing range of relevant certifications, training, and other industry schemes. For an upcoming trip, she chose to stay at a hotel that was designated an Advanced Certified Autism Center by IBCCES. But what do these kinds of certifications mean in practice? Like a lot of travelers, Andrew isn’t sure. “It feels like the Wild West with seemingly everyone creating their own certification,” she admits, noting that the range of claims being made in the travel space can be confusing to navigate.
So it’s perhaps a double-edged sword that the number of lodging properties, airports, group travel providers, attractions, venues, cruise lines, and travel booking platforms that advertise their inclusive cred appears to have surged. There are, for example, more than 1,800—and counting—of these kinds of locations now certified as Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity. Recently, Philadelphia even became the first-ever “sensory inclusive city.”
Can we really certify our way to a more inclusive future? Meaningful moves toward inclusion should be welcomed, advocates tell me, but whether they can affect substantive progress ultimately depends on what actions a destination has taken to achieve the certification. “It all depends on what is involved in the certification and the training you have to go through to get it and what changes have to be made,” Gross says. But that’s where the picture can get a bit opaque, as most certifications aren’t so forthright with that information.
Is a sensory inclusive city possible?
In late December, local news reporters gathered at Philadelphia City Hall with community activists, residents, and the Eagles’ mascot, a bald eagle named Swoop.
In 2019, the Eagles became one of the first NFL teams to open a sensory room at their home venue, Lincoln Financial Field—a key part of the venue’s certification as a sensory-inclusive stadium. Events and venues have been a main focus of KultureCity’s work—since they launched 11 years ago, they’ve helped create hundreds of sensory places at events from the Super Bowl to Coldplay’s world tours. And KultureCity has built an enthusiastic following for its work in venues, where “no re-entry” rules are a common crowd-control measure, which practically means you can’t easily step away for a moment to decompress, as you won’t be allowed back in the venue once you exit.
Since games and concerts can be overwhelming experiences, sensory rooms accessible to visitors can enable those with sensory needs to help regulate their own experiences. For example, an adult with a sensory need might head to a sensory room to cope with overstimulation or sensory overload, though the spaces are designed to serve a wide range of sensory needs ranging from young families to older folks. But KultureCity’s Sensory Inclusive Certification has become a popular go-to in the wider hospitality world, too. So far, venues, museums, zoos, aquariums, major league sporting facilities dot the map of certified places. It was the Eagles that first introduced KultureCity to the City of Philadelphia, which set Philly on the path to becoming the first entire city to receive KultureCity’s Sensory Inclusive Certification.
KultreCity’s rather vague website has little information for travelers about what a destination does to achieve the certification. But in an interview with Condé Nast Traveler, Uma Srivastava of KultureCity was transparent about what’s required before certification is awarded: At least 50% of staff must undergo training in supporting people with sensory needs. Additionally, certified places must provide sensory tools, such as headphones and fidget devices, as well as sensory rooms or dedicated sensory spaces. Visual narratives, known as social stories, are also created to help prepare travelers for their visit, familiarizing them with the facility’s layout, staff uniforms (for ease of identification), and available accommodations. Those social stories are made available on the KultureCity app, which founder Julian Maha describes as a “Yelp for sensory needs.” Additionally, to receive certification, organizations need to pay a fee (at a cost not disclosed on KultureCity’s website).
