Finding somewhere to go with your family can take more work when you need to think about noise, crowds, routines, and whether staff will understand your child. A place may look suitable online, but that does not always tell you what the visit will feel like.
PlaceAut was created to help Florida families find autism-friendly places, events, and resources. It gives parents a way to discover options, save places they may want to visit, and recommend places for review. The aim is simple: make it easier to find places where families can feel welcome and supported.
What families can look for
PlaceAut brings several useful tools together in one place. Families can search for places and events, look through social stories, and use Sensory Match to find details that may help with planning a visit.
That planning step matters. Knowing what to expect can make a new place feel less uncertain. Social stories can help children and parents prepare, while sensory information can help families decide whether a place is a good fit for their needs.
Families can save places they may want to visit later and look for events that could work for them. Parents can also recommend a place for review. This gives families a way to share places they have found helpful and gives other parents more information to consider.
PlaceAut also offers in-person family evaluations for certified listings. This gives businesses a way to show that families have visited and provided feedback as part of the evaluation process. For parents, that kind of information can be useful when deciding whether to try somewhere new.
A badge for autism-friendly businesses
For a business, being welcoming is more than adding a statement to a website. Families may want to know whether the space has been looked at from a family’s point of view and whether the information available reflects the experience of visiting.
The PlaceAut autism friendly badge gives evaluated businesses a way to show families that they have taken part in an in-person family visit. Businesses can download the badge for use online and in print through the PlaceAut Badge Kit.
The kit is useful for businesses that want to make this information easier to see. It can be placed where families already look, such as a website, printed material, or other business information. The badge does not replace clear details about a place, but it can help families recognise that an evaluation has taken place.
Businesses can also list and manage their place through PlaceAut. Families can then find the listing, review the available information, and decide whether it may suit their needs. Keeping a listing clear and current helps parents make plans with the information available.
For families, small details can make planning easier. For businesses, listening to families and sharing useful information can help create a more comfortable first visit. A clear listing, practical sensory details, and an honest evaluation give parents more to work with before they leave home.
