Universal Kids Resort, an all-new theme park featuring seven amazing themed lands in Frisco, TX, is now designated as a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
Through specialized training and certification provided by IBCCES, the team at Universal Kids Resort has gained a deeper understanding of autism and sensory needs or sensitivities. As part of the certification process, IBCCES conducted an onsite review to develop detailed sensory guides and provide additional recommendations to further enhance the onsite experience.
Universal Kids Resort, which officially opened on July 1, 2026, is Universal Destinations & Experiences’ first theme park designed specifically for young kids ages 3–8 and their grown-ups. This all-new regional park features seven themed lands, including DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, DreamWorks’ TrollsFest, DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar, and the Isle of Curiosity featuring DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse. Universal Kids Resort Hotel is located just steps away from the theme park, offering a variety of amenities near all the fun and creating an even more inclusive experience for families.
“The partnership between Universal Kids Resort and IBCCES reflects a shared commitment to creating truly inclusive experiences for all guests,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES CEO and board chairman. “By integrating specialized training and certification, the resort is demonstrating how major entertainment destinations can welcome and support children and their families from the moment they arrive.”
For 25 years, IBCCES has been a leader in providing autism, sensory and neurodiversity training and certification for professionals worldwide, including those in healthcare, education, public safety, travel, and corporate sectors. As the only credentialing board offering these programs, IBCCES provides training from subject matter experts and autistic self-advocates, along with long-term support, continuous learning, onsite reviews, and renewal requirements to ensure continued growth and lasting impact.
To further support inclusivity efforts, IBCCES also provides access to resources such as the Accessibility App™, AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com, which are free online tools for families that list certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the sites has met IBCCES certification requirements. The IBCCES Accessibility App™ provides individuals with a variety of disabilities real-time guidance on certified destinations, sensory-friendly spaces, and tailored recommendations.
About Universal Kids Resort
Universal Kids Resort is Universal Destinations & Experiences’ first theme park designed and built specifically for young kids ages 3-8 and their grown-ups. Located in Frisco, Texas, Universal Kids Resort features seven amazing lands including DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, TrollsFest, Puss in Boots Del Mar, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, and the Isle of Curiosity featuring DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse. With play areas and attractions right-sized for kids, Universal Kids Resort is a regional theme park with an onsite hotel where kids and their grown-ups can imagine, relax and create unforgettable memories together.
About IBCCES
Delivering the global standard for training and certification in the fields of autism, neurodiversity, and accessibility – IBCCES provides a series of certification programs that empower professionals to be industry leaders and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. For 25 years, IBCCES has been a global leader, setting the industry standard in autism and cognitive differences training. IBCCES works in over 125 countries and provides training in 8 languages, and its programs have been recognized around the world as the leading benchmark in training and certification.
In addition to individual certification programs, IBCCES partners with cities, destinations, and organizations on initiatives like the Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD) and Autism Certified City™ (ACC), ensuring autistic and sensory-sensitive residents and visitors feel welcomed and safe. Destinations that achieve the CAD designation have completed a specialized program that ensures a multitude of recreation, hospitality and entertainment organizations have completed an autism and sensory-sensitivity training, certification and IBCCES facilities review process. The ACC designation expands on that program and includes IBCCES training and certification for the public safety, education, healthcare and workplace sectors.
IBCCES also created the Accessibility App, AutismTravel.com, and AccessibilityCertified.com – free resources for individuals with a variety of neurodiversities and disabilities, listing certified locations and connecting individuals to other resources and each other.
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