Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: A Sensory-Friendly Destination for All

Autism- and Sensory-Pleasant Holidays Made Potential 12 months-Spherical at The Seashore

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — April is World Autism Month, and Go to Myrtle Seashore and the communities alongside the 60 miles of shoreline have been dedicated to creating an autism- and sensory-friendly vacation spot all year long since 2016. As a acknowledged autism-friendly vacation spot, Myrtle Seashore continues its rising efforts to offer a secure, accessible, and welcoming vacation spot for all, together with a sensory-friendly pledge and quite a few initiatives to advertise and foster inclusivity all through the area.

“We imagine that everybody belongs at The Seashore, and our high precedence at Myrtle Seashore is to offer an inclusive vacation spot for guests of all skills,” stated Karen Riordan, President and CEO of Go to Myrtle Seashore. “Households with youngsters recognized with autism typically really feel holidays are out of their attain — and we need to change that. At Go to Myrtle Seashore, we imagine within the restorative and life-altering energy of journey and proceed to additional our efforts to offer higher assist and entry to memorable trip experiences for all.”

Highlights of sensory-friendly providers and packages obtainable all through the Grand Strand embody:

• Along side the Champion Autism Community (CAN) and TravelAbility, Go to Myrtle Seashore launched The Seashore is for everyBODY: Sensory-Pleasant Pledge in 2022. Thus far, greater than 150 companies alongside the Grand Strand have pledged their assist or obtained CAN certification. Taking part organizations are dedicated to welcoming company with autism and different neurodiverse disabilities by tangible and significant actions designed to assist residents and guests.
• Myrtle Seashore Worldwide Airport has launched its participation within the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. This system gives a discreet manner for vacationers with a hidden incapacity, together with autism, to self-identify, alerting airport personnel that they might require further help or endurance all through their journey journey. People wishing to make the most of this system can request a sunflower lanyard at one of many two data cubicles within the terminal (pre-security at baggage declare and post-security close to Nacho Hippo and Gate A2). The airport additionally provides a “Quiet Room” in the bags declare space to offer households an area to decompress earlier than or after a flight.
• The Autism Journey Card provided by CAN (previously the CAN Card) is an easy manner for company to establish their household as one that features somebody with autism, while not having to say a phrase. Taking part eating places, lodges and venues have been skilled within the wants of people with autism and their households and to offer a particular or expedited service. Autism Journey Playing cards can be found on-line at AutismTravel.Membership for a $7 membership price and supply a number of advantages together with providers and reductions with taking part companies.
• Taking part lodges, together with the 15 properties of Trip Myrtle Seashore and plenty of others, assist create a secure and sensory-friendly expertise for kids with Autism and their households, together with room placements, eradicating probably harmful or set off objects from rooms, coordinating distinctive experiences and extra.
• Wait employees at taking part eating places are skilled to seat company in a quiet area, expedite meals and verify outs as wanted, and deal with potential sensory-overload conditions with understanding and compassion.
• Myrtle Seashore sights supply providers equivalent to skilled employees, particular programming and reductions to households that current the Autism Journey Card. Examples of the obtainable experiences embody SkyWheel Myrtle Seashore the place households obtain expedited attraction entry together with discounted tickets and Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Seashore the place noise-cancelling headphones and particular pricing can be found.
• Throughout the month of April, the staff at CAN has put collectively a month-long marketing campaign referred to as, “You are Invited!” The marketing campaign consists of occasions and promotions at associate companies, together with sensory-friendly attraction and film days, particular SkyWheel illuminations, and group gatherings, equivalent to seashore sweeps within the city of Surfside.
• By means of Challenge Lifesaver, Myrtle Seashore space police and tourism professionals are skilled to manage a GPS monitoring band program for kids who’re liable to wandering off or are prone to turning into misplaced. These sporting the band, whether or not on the wrist or ankle, may be rapidly positioned by search groups and returned to households/caregivers.
• This summer season, Go to Myrtle Seashore will probably be launching a brand new youngsters’s e book, titled Splish, Splash, Squawk! Discovering Pleasure in a Sensory-Pleasant Trip. In partnership with creator and illustrator, Lynda Farrington Wilson, the e book will assist to encourage households with youngsters on the autism spectrum to trip collectively by a fictional story that helps readers uncover the enjoyment and marvel in a household trip, regardless of the ignored challenges of acclimating to new atmosphere, and experiences.

For extra data on Myrtle Seashore’s autism-friendly choices and accessible journey planning sources, go to www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/autism-friendly-vacations.

About Myrtle Seashore, S.C.

Myrtle Seashore is not only a seashore. It is The Seashore. Popularly often known as the Grand Strand, Myrtle Seashore is one vacation spot made up of 14 distinctive communities that stretch 60 miles alongside the northeast coast of South Carolina. Households, {couples} and people looking for a heat welcome will discover greater than only a day at The Seashore once they come collectively to attach and revel in vibrant leisure and household sights, together with world-class golf, buying and recent coastal Carolina delicacies. From the second you arrive, you may discover you belong at The Seashore – Myrtle Seashore, South Carolina. For added data on tourism choices within the Myrtle Seashore space, go to www.visitmyrtlebeach.com or name (888) Myrtle-1.

SOURCE Go to Myrtle Seashore