ASM Global-Managed Venues Join Toledo Accessibility Initiative
(Ohio’s Glass City Center, pictured here, and The Huntington Center
have been designated as Certified Autism Centers. Photo by ASM Global.)
(Toledo, Ohio, November 15, 2023) – ASM Global [1], the world’s
leading venue management company, has announced that The Huntington
Center [2] and Glass City Center [3], two of Ohio’s premier event
facilities, have each been designated as a Certified Autism Center™
(CAC) by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing
Education Standards (IBCCES) [4].
This achievement is given to organizations that have completed a
comprehensive training and certification process to better understand
and accommodate the needs of autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals.
This process ensures that the organization’s staff are better equipped
with the knowledge and resources needed to provide a great experience
for all guests.
By completing the CAC program, The Huntington Center and Glass City
Center join the greater Destination Toledo movement to achieve the
Certified Autism Destination (CAD) designation, which IBCCES awards to
communities with a multitude of trained and certified lodging,
entertainment options, and service organizations. Some of the
organizations that have completed the CAC program include Destination
Toledo, Avenues for Autism and Wingate by Wyndham Sylvania/Toledo,
Boyd’s Retro Candy, Toledo Speedway BMX, Toledo Museum of Art, The
Valentine Theatre, Sylvania Chamber of Commerce, National Museum Great
Lakes and more, as well as others in the city that are in the process of
completion.
“We are truly proud to be certified by the global credentialing board
IBCCES and have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the organization to
become educated on how to better accommodate and assist autistic or
sensory-sensitive visitors and their families at our venues,” said
Steve Miller, general manager of The Huntington Center and Glass City
Center. “Our facilities should be welcoming and comfortable spaces for
everyone, and we hope that more venues throughout the city join the
Destination Toledo movement to earn this certification so our entire
community can host events that are inclusive for all.”
IBCCES conducted an on-site evaluation of The Huntington Center and
Glass City Center, where insights and recommendations were provided to
enhance accessibility and serve as a road map to implement ideas into
process.
As part of the certification journey, at least 80% of the public-facing
staff at the venues were required to undergo training with the goal of
being better prepared to provide adequate service and experiences to
all. Staff were trained to better understand autism, how to empathize
and understand how autistic individuals experience the world,
communicate more effectively, and be aware of common sensitivities and
concerns in a recreational environment.
“We are proud to recognize The Huntington Center and Glass City Center
as Certified Autism Centers™,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board
chairman. “This designation proves their commitment to creating an
inclusive environment and shows their dedication to serving all their
guests to their best ability by becoming autism certified. We are
thrilled that two of the area’s top venues have joined Toledo in the
city-wide effort to become a Certified Autism Destination™.”
IBCCES also created AutismTravel.com [5], a free online resource for
families that lists certified destinations and connects families to
other resources and each other including the growing number of options
in Toledo. Each destination listed on the site has met the Certified
Autism Center (CAC) requirements.
Committed to the communities in which it serves, ASM Global features a
growing number of venues in its worldwide portfolio that have received
similar sensory certifications, like INTRUST Bank Arena, Brookshire
Grocery Arena, Smoothie King Center, and Caesars Superdome, among
others. Additionally, through a partnership with KultureCity, several
ASM Global facilities, such as Paycom Center, Oakland Arena, State Farm
Stadium, Greater Columbus Convention Center and more, are designated as
sensory friendly and also created “sensory rooms” for guests, which
have become a permanent addition to the venues.
# # #
ABOUT HUNTINGTON CENTER
The $105 million-dollar state-of-the-art Huntington Center is located
in downtown Toledo, Ohio. The 8,000-plus-seat multi-purpose arena
utilizes both indoor and outdoor areas, features 20 private suites and
750 prestige club seats as well as a club-level lounge, a banquet
facility, a team merchandise store, and a modern scoreboard. Huntington
Center is one of the nation’s first LEED certified professional sports
arenas. For more information, please visit
https://
ABOUT GLASS CITY CENTER
Since opening in 1987, the Glass City Center has hosted hundreds of
national and regional conventions, trade shows, athletic competitions,
expos, fundraisers, dinner events and weddings. In 2020, the venue
underwent a $70 million expansion and renovation transforming it into a
spectacular downtown convention center. Glass City Center features a new
16,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom, reception area and terrace overlooking the
Mud Hens ballpark, as well as 26 meeting rooms with advanced technology,
and a 75,000-square-foot Expo Hall. For more information, please visit
https://www.glasscitycenter.
About IBCCES
Committed to providing The Global Standard for Training and
Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a
series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in
their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve.
These programs are recognized around the world as the leading benchmark
for training and certification in the areas of autism and other
cognitive disorders.
ABOUT ASM GLOBAL
ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment
experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and
management — delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge
technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The
company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio
of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums,
convention, and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. Follow
us on Facebook [6], Instagram [7], LinkedIn [8] and Twitter [9].
asmglobal.com [10]
