- Autism Council of Utah
ACU AWARE Program
Updated: Jun 3
Recognizing establishments where Autism is Welcomed, Accepted & Respected Everyday.
The Autism Council of Utah created the AWARE program so families could have a listing of establishments recommended by others that welcome, accept & respect their customers who live with autism. These establishments are awarded the AWARE certificate by You!
If you know of an establishment that helps individuals with autism and their families have a more enjoyable experience, please nominate them to receive the AWARE Certificate. Please emailing us at ourworld.jessicakerr@yahoo.com
We want to hear all about your experience. Please include the companies info (Name and Address) so we can add them to our registry. We will then present them with an AWARE decal for their front window/door to display for all to see.
AWARE establishments may help to accommodate individuals with autism and their families anyway but here are just a few examples ~
Call ahead seating, offer the family and individual sit in a more quiet area, and/or have pictures to describe the menu
Offer a quiet room or place to go where parents can calm a child in case of overstimulation– such as coat room, unused room or area of the restaurant.
Signage that will inform other customers and promote understanding
Use dim, natural lighting
Use pale, pastel colors on walls
Reduce visual distractions
Avoid strong odors, use mild air freshening smells
Show services in words and pictures
Call ahead check-in, so families are able to wait in the car until they are ready to be seated
And/Or any other accommodations that help make the outing a success
For many people, going to the movies, grabbing something to eat, or even visiting a local doctor’s office are activities that require minimal planning to make them successful. This is not the case for most people who live with autism. Careful planning must take place to ensure their comfort and safety, to help them understand the purpose of the activity and to make it enjoyable for everyone involved.
We need establishments in our community to support our loved ones living with autism and their families. The Autism Council of Utah has FREE information to help educate companies and their employees about autism, how to better serve these customers and how to create the best atmosphere for them. An AWARE decal is given to be displayed on the front door or window of the establishment plus a certificate of recognition to display inside. The ACU will also post their logo, establishment address and contact info on our AWARE Registry on our website for families to access.
The AWARE Certificate
The Autism Council of Utah would like to thank the establishments for being one where ~ Autism is Welcomed, Accepted & Respected Everyday ~ AWARE
You can nominate or be nominated by one or more of your loyal customers who live with and/or has family or friends who live with autism.
Our autism community depends greatly on the awareness and understanding from our local businesses. How employees react to and accommodate those with autism allows the individual and their family and friends to enjoy many outings that most people don’t have to think twice about; a visit to the dentist, eating at a restaurant or grocery shopping. We are so grateful for businesses that help make our community a great place to live
Thank you, again, for your outstanding service to our autism community!
Belgian Waffle and Omelet Inn
7331 South 900 East
Midvale, Utah, 84047
801-566-5731
RubySnap Fresh Cookies
770 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101
801-834-6111
Utah Hogle Zoo
2600 Sunnyside Ave (840 South) Salt Lake City, UT 84108
(801) 584-1700
https://www.hoglezoo.org/accessibility/
Sensory Backpacks Include: Monocular, Amber and yellow glare-reducing glasses, Magnifying glass, Animal artifacts and animal models with labels printed in larger font. Braille labels are available upon request and grade 2 braille labels are also available upon request, courtesy of the State Library for the Blind, Laminated list of all sensory exhibits at the Zoo, Laminated copies of the Zoo Social Stories
Doug Smith Subaru
501 W. Main Street
American Fork, Utah, 84003
801-847-1048
ACU and Doug Smith ~ Share The Love
Olympus Burgers
6100 South 900 East
801-262-6293
9326 South 700 East
801-571-6868
McDonalds Locations - With noise cancelling headphones in the play area.
10550 S 1300 E, Sandy, Ut
895 E Ft. Union Blvd, Midvale, Ut
7024 S. Highland Drive, Cottonwood Heights
11229 S Automall Drive Sandy UT
The Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point
3605 Garden Dr, Lehi, UT 84043 (801) 768-2300
Sensory backpacks with helpful items like headphones, fidget toys, and a social story, to help have an easier time at the museum. The museum has many sensory inputs- colored lights, places to climb, play in the water, enter a wind chamber and more!
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
12033 Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper, UT 84020
(801) 355-3474 https://livingplanetaquarium.org
Special “inclusion” days where kids with sensory issues come experience the aquarium early before normal operating hours, so it won’t be loud and crowded.
All information provided on the ACU Web site is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between the ACU and any person or entity unless otherwise specified. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the ACU. Information on the ACU website is subject to change without prior notice. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, the ACU makes no guarantees of any kind.