Overview

Business leaders are those who are innovative in their vision.

Do you:
...appreciate employees who are loyal, responsible and make long term commitments?
...wish to increase your bottom line through a larger customer base?
...hope to retain your most competent employees?


Autism Fits BrochureThe Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida can assist you with any and all of these tasks at no cost. We began this innovative project in 2008 and it has been a model for Florida and other states to create welcoming communities. You are probably saying to yourself, "What do people with autism have to do with my business?" The fact is that an estimated 25,000 people with autism live in and around the Tampa Bay region. They want to be a consumer of your products, visit your businesses, or be employed by you. With low-cost to no-cost accommodations, you can have a competent person working for you, making purchases from you or for those family members currently employed by you, have an internal support network that will assist you in retaining these valued employees.

Autism Friendly DecalMany businesses have already seen the benefits of what CARD-USF can do to assist in meeting diversity goals. Please read the brochure, Autism Fits: Your Piece of the Puzzle, to learn more about this special community building effort by CARD-USF and be that innovative leader who can see how welcoming people with autism and their family members can benefit your business.

Click Here for Brochure


CARD-USF provides our constituents with this list of autism friendly businesses to create a more inclusive community for people of all abilities.

To learn more, contact:
Liz Burke
eburke6@usf.edu
813-974-6441

Autism Friendly Tampa

The City of Tampa and CARD-USF have joined forces on an initiative announced by Mayor Bob Buckhorn during his State of the City speech in April 2017 called “Autism Friendly Tampa”. It is our goal to create a more welcoming and sensory friendly experience for people of all abilities. CARD-USF has provided training and technical assistance to various departments within the City of Tampa and will continue its efforts into 2018. Here are some of the activities completed by CARD-USF:

 

“Autism Friendly Tampa” Sites

Parks and Recreation Facilities:

  Barksdale Senior Center and Freedom Playground MacFarlane Park
1801 N. Lincoln Avenue, Tampa FL 33607
  Gwen Miller Rec Center at Woodland Terrace Park
6410 N. 32nd St. Tampa, FL 33610
  Copeland Park
11001 N 15th St., Tampa 33612
  Hunt Community Center at Al Lopez Park
4810 N Himes Avenue, Tampa FL 33614
  Cyrus Greene Park
2101 E. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd, Tampa FL 33610
  Jackson Heights NFL Youth Education Town Center Glazer Family Field
3310 E. Lake Ave., Tampa FL 33612
  Dr. MLK Center
2200 N. Oregon Avenue, Tampa FL 33607
  Kate Jackson Park Community Center 821 S. Rome Avenue, Tampa FL 33606
  Fair Oaks Park
5019 34th Street, Tampa 33610
  Loretta Ingraham Rec Complex 1611 N. Hubert Ave, Tampa 33607
  Forrest Hills Park 724 W 109th Ave. Tampa FL 33612   Port Tampa Park 4702 W McCoy St. Tampa, FL 33616
  Giddens Park
5202 N. 12th Street Tampa, FL 33603
  Spring Hill Park 1000 E Eskimo Avenue, Tampa 33604

Tampa Riverwalk

The Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.6 mile continuous waterfront corridor along the banks of the Hillsborough River and the Garrison Channel. It offers a unique pedestrian path that links parks, museums, cultural and convention facilities downtown. The Riverwalk provides a safe and healthy venue for biking, walking, and rollerblading as well as a needed impetus for other transportation means such as a water taxi. For more information on the Riverwalk and waterfront events go to the Friends of the Riverwalk website at www.thetampariverwalk.com . View the Tampa Riverwalk Social Story.

 

Autism Friendly Business Directory

DISCLAIMER -- PLEASE READ

CARD-USF makes no representations, guarantees or promises on behalf of or for those listed, and assumes no liability nor responsibility for any service or product provided. CARD-USF does not certify practitioners or guarantee competence, skill, knowledge, or experience.

Autism Friendly FAQs