Philadelphia, PA – As Philadelphia welcomed millions of visitors for the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, America’s 250th celebration, and other major events this summer, Bancroft partnered with the Philadelphia Visitor Center to help create a more welcoming experience for neurodiverse travelers and their families.
On June 23, Philadelphia Visitor Center staff members and high school-aged Phambassador volunteers gathered at the Liberty View Ballroom inside the Independence Visitor Center for a specialized training led by Bancroft’s Carolyn Piro, MSW, LCSW, and parent to an autistic individual herself.
The session helped participants better understand how neurodiversity, including autism, can affect a visitor’s experience in crowded, noisy, or unfamiliar public spaces.
Participants learned to recognize signs of sensory stress or overwhelm and explored practical ways to respond with patience, empathy, and confidence.
“I appreciated how the training encouraged our students to think about how a neurodivergent traveler experiences the world and how they can better relate to and support those visitors,” said Jacleen Mowery, Phambassador Program Director for the Philadelphia Visitor Center.
“Autism awareness is more than just knowing what autism is or knowing someone with autism,” Piro said. “It is understanding that autistic people have value and knowing them will enrich your life.”
For Bancroft, the training was a natural extension of its 143-year history of supporting children and adults living with disabilities. Bancroft has also shared its expertise with hospitals, emergency responders, schools, and other community organizations to help professionals feel better prepared to interact with and support neurodiverse individuals.
“One World. For Everyone. is at the heart of our mission,” said Karen Lindgren, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Bancroft. “Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love, and we want to help make it a shining example of acceptance. Everyone deserves a great vacation.”
Lindgren said she hoped participants left the training remembering that every visitor experiences the world differently and wants to be part of the celebration.
“Everyone has different styles, and everyone wants to connect in some way,” she said. “Lean in. It’s worth connecting because you can make someone’s experience stellar.”
Bancroft is grateful for opportunities like this to share its expertise with organizations that want to create more welcoming communities. By working together, we can help ensure more neurodiverse individuals and families feel understood, supported, and included wherever they go.
