Program Overview

Autism Friendly Business Program

Introduction

The Autism Friendly Business Program is an initiative by Florida Atlantic University's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) aimed at increasing autism awareness and supporting community involvement. The program provides businesses with training and support to create safe spaces and judgment-free zones for individuals with autism and their families.

Program Objectives

The primary objectives of the Autism Friendly Business Program are to:

• Improve autism awareness
• Expand community involvement
• Increase opportunities for individuals with autism

Strategies

To achieve these objectives, the program employs several strategies, including:

• Creating visual supports to predict events, anticipate change, and understand expectations
• Using social stories
• Offering sensory-friendly times of day or events
• Identifying quiet spaces
• Providing welcome kits

Program Developer

The Autism Friendly Business Program was developed by Dr. Jennifer Percival.

Benefits

By participating in the Autism Friendly Business Program, businesses can benefit from increased community involvement and improved customer relationships. It is estimated that 1 in 68 people are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and individuals and families want to be consumers of products, visit businesses, or be employed by them.

Recognition

Upon completion of the training, businesses will receive a decal to display, identifying them as "Autism Friendly." They will also be acknowledged on the Florida Atlantic CARD website.