Businesses can make themselves more inclusive and friendly to everyone. Child Guidance Resource Centers in Havertown has a free program to show them the way.

The Autism Family Friendly Business Initiative teaches companies how to become more accessible and welcoming to people with autism and other sensory needs, opening up ways to attract customers, said Tiiu Lutter, director of Development for Child Guidance.

Autism affects one in every 59 children and those families are always on the lookout for autism-friendly businesses.

“We’re trying to drive people to their businesses and create spaces that are more inclusive of everyone in our community. We’re also trying to engage people in the conversation of how relatively simple it is to include the neuro-diverse in public spaces,” Lutter said.

To participate in the Initiative, business owners and their staff simply have to watch a 17-minute video. Check out a teaser on the Child Guidance Resource Centers’ website that tells you how to get set up.

The video shows how to create a sensory friendly environment, and how staff can recognize and interact with an individual on the autism spectrum.

When companies commit to becoming more autism friendly and participate in this initiative, they receive:

1. A perpetual link to the video for future employees.
2. An Autism Friendly Business seal of approval identifying the business as Child Guidance endorsed autism friendly that the business can use. The business gets its logo on the Child Guidance website along with a link to that business’ website.
3. An announcement to the press letting everyone know that business is autism friendly.
4. Recognition on the Child Guidance Resource Centers’ Instagram and Facebook pages, as well as its 17,000 subscriber newsletter.
5. A window sticker with the Autism Friendly Business Initiative logo, letting families know that they are in a safe and welcoming space.

“Our goal would be that all over Southeastern Pennsylvania, someone with a neuro-diverse child or any special need could be walking down the street and see these stickers and know that they are welcome and the companies have made small changes to support everyone,” Lutter said.

Child Guidance will also work with business owners at no cost to make minor changes in the business environment or create policies to help reach the autistic community.

Child Guidance, one of Philadelphia’s Autism Centers of Excellence, decided about three years ago they wanted to help parents of neuro-sensitive children.

Parents were surveyed and they overwhelmingly wanted the stigma around autism removed and they wanted people to learn how to interact with neuro-sensitive individuals, whether in a place of business or when a plumber or repairman visits the home.

Businesses can create quiet spaces in stores, or set specific time aside when customer volume is low to offer sensory friendly shopping experiences. Those small steps can make special needs customers feel welcome.

On the other side of the counter, someone on the autism spectrum can make a great, loyal employee.

“Just because you have autism doesn’t mean you should be excluded from the work place, and yet many people are. People with autism make wonderful, valuable loyal employees,” said Lutter.

To find out more about participating in the Autism Family Friendly Business Initiative, visit Child Guidance Resource Centers’ website here, or click on the teaser link here.​

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