By Larissa Gula

Did you know April is Autism Acceptance Month? Also known as Autism Awareness Month, organizers use this observance to help foster understanding, inclusion, and support for individuals with autism.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is committed to educating each one of our visitors on the importance of the Trolley Era and how it shaped today’s transportation technology and innovations. That includes individuals on the autism spectrum, who are among some of our most avid fans.

This month, and every month, we’re doing our part to help educate the public about what it means to live with autism – and we’re taking steps to make our museum accessible, accepting, safe, and fun for all.

Understanding What Autism Is – And What It Is Not

Did you know that “autism” is just a shorthand term? The proper medical term is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This neurological disorder affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, while autism can be diagnosed at any age, symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life. Because of this, it’s also described as a developmental disorder.

ASD is very much a “spectrum” disorder, because everybody with autism is different. Different people with autism have different needs, strengths, and challenges – all of which can change over time. (To learn more about autism in general, we recommend reading the Mayo Clinic’s write-up about ASD.)

Unfortunately, ASD remains a misunderstood and highly stigmatized disorder – in fact, many people call it a disease to this day. Put simply, in the words of developmental pediatrician Carrie Cuffman, MD, “Autism isn’t an illness at all. It’s just the way your brain works.” (We also recommend reading this Cleveland Clinic article about eight common ASD myths.)

Certifications, Experience Updates, and More at the Museum

For years, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum has welcomed aboard visitors of all ages with ASD. It was Jocelyn Farrell, our Manager of STEAM and Education Programs, who first pointed out that we served many children with ASD season after season at our field trips and summer camps, as well as during regular visits with their families. Her observation helped alert us that we needed to make adjustments to make our experience even better for these frequent visitors.

Work began behind-the-scenes to make changes, and, in March 2024, we became a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC). We were the first museum to do so in western Pennsylvania! This designation was awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). 

We received this certification after our staff and volunteers underwent autism-specific training to better understand and assist autistic or sensory-sensitive individuals and their families during their museum visit. Thanks to this training, our

team better understands how our neurodivergent visitors may experience our exhibits, spaces, and trolley rides. Staff in particular appreciated the information, which can be used to help update current programming as well as influence future visitor-related decisions.

As a Certified Autism Center, the following accommodations are now available for visitors:

General Visitor Support

• Sensory bags are available at the front desk. These include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and fidget toys. Each item helps address a different type of sensory sensitivity.
• We now offer a sensory guide to our exhibits, created by PTM with help from IBCCES. The guide assigns a number to each exhibit (on a scale of 1 to 10). The number is based on sensory variables like tactile experience, loudness, and brightness. The number assigned is neither good or bad – it’s a tool that helps someone decide what kind of sensory stimulation to seek out or to avoid during their visit.
• We offer sensory-friendly hours where the lights are a bit dimmer, and when music and sounds are softer. This includes the sounds made by the trolley running that day, as we’ll intentionally choose a quieter one for service.
• We created a multi-purpose room that now serves as a cool-down quiet space, giving overstimulated visitors a place to go if needed. The room is equipped with adjustable lighting, comfortable seating, and sensory fidgets. 

Classroom Support

• We added more inclusive materials to our classrooms, including flexible seating options, adaptive scissors, and larger writing utensils.
• Thanks to a woodworking class at nearby Trinity High School, two sensory boards now hang in our classroom. The boards have moving parts such as gears, laces to tie, doorknobs, and more, and are available for students of all ages to enjoy.

Caretaker Support

• This past winter, we installed an adult changing table for guests, ensuring that caretakers can properly assist adult museumgoers. This was an important update because, without access to an adult changing table, some families might not be able to experience the museum together.

All are Welcome

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is proud to be a Certified Autism Center. We want everyone to be able to visit and enjoy our museum. Thanks to the efforts of staff and volunteers, we’ve been able to make changes that ensure our community fosters a more welcoming atmosphere – not just this month, but every month.

Thoughts From An Autistic Volunteer

I’m in my 30s, and I only recently learned that I am autistic. The discovery was illuminating and helped me learn how to care for myself given my particular sensory needs. The realization also explained why I struggled to communicate with others as long as I did in life! Most importantly, I better understand myself as a person now. One day I hope I can be truly out and proud about my disorder. In the meantime, I appreciate the PTM respecting my concerns about potential discrimination, and allowing me to say anonymously: You have made the museum accessible in a whole new way. I probably would have benefited from some of today’s accommodations when I was younger, and I am so glad others now have that opportunity thanks to your hard work!