WHAT'S HAPPENING

ALL-NEW SESAME PLACE SAN DIEGO WILL OPEN AS SENSORY FRIENDLY CERTIFIED AUTISM CENTER

A new Sesame Place, a theme park in San Diego, CA dedicated to the beloved kids' show Sesame Street, opened last month, featuring multiple accommodations for children with disabilities.

Sesame Place San Diego was designated a Certified Autism Center when it opened to the public last month, officials said. As noted in a press release shared by Sesame Place, team members at the park will receive proper training in order to ensure that they have the "requisite knowledge, skills, treatment, and expertise to cater to all children, including those with autism and special needs." Sesame Workshop announced that Sesame Street's favorite furry friends are ready to welcome guests from all over the world to the all-new Sesame Place San Diego theme park starting Saturday, March 26."

The park, designed to bring the iconic show "Sesame Street" to life, will have a host of accommodations in place to welcome children with disabilities when it opens to the wider public this Spring..

As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place San Diego offers designated quiet spaces throughout. All staff completed autism sensitivity and awareness training before opening and there will be a sensory guide available on the park's website to help families prepare for their visit, officials said. The Certified Autism Center designation is granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. The original Sesame Place, some SeaWorld parks, Six Flags and Legoland's forthcoming Peppa Pig Theme Park are among the destinations that have been certified by the board.

"It can be very noisy, and a challenging environment for people on the spectrum. We have a planning guide online. This helps guests to read ahead and understand what the experiences will be like before they come; preparation is very important for those families."

The 17-acre park is the first inspired by "Sesame Street" on the West Coast and only the second such attraction in the country. The original Sesame Place opened outside of Philadelphia more than 40 years ago.

Sesame Place San Diego, which is located in Chula Vista, Calif., will feature a replica of the Sesame Street neighborhood complete with the 123 stoop as well as 18 rides like the Sunny Day Carousel, Elmo's Rockin' Rockets and a roller coaster dubbed Super Grover's Box Car Derby. In addition, the park will offer an inner-tube adventure called Big Bird's Rambling River, a 500,000-gallon wave pool with a sandy beach and other water activities. There will also be live character shows, parades and more.

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS: Sesame Street character Julia visits with guests; Robust pre-visit planning resources will be featured on the park's website, making it easier for parents to plan activities that satisfy their child's specific needs and accommodations.

"Since 1980, Sesame Place has been a key part of the Sesame Workshop extended family and mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder," said Steve Youngwood, CEO of Sesame Workshop. "Sesame Place San Diego will offer kids and families an immersive opportunity to play and learn with their favorite furry friends, and continue enriching their experiences with Sesame Street."

Guests of the theme park will be able to meet Julia, a recent addition to the Sesame Street cast. Julia is a bright and curious four-year-old girl who has autism. Her autism means that she does things a little differently than some people. Her good friend, Abby Cadabby, says she does things in "a Julia sort of way." Children can say hello to Julia and take photos in the Sesame Street Neighborhood.

"In terms of inclusivity, autism awareness is very important," says Clint Brinker, corporate project manager, global theme park development. "The original Sesame Place park in Philadelphia was the first certified autism centre. It was a big deal to see a theme park become a certified autism centre; SeaWorld and Sesame Workshop really pioneered that. Now, opening a second Sesame Place here, we are going to carry that legacy on, and open as a certified autism centre."