Autism Friendly Cities: How to Develop an Inclusive Community

Access. Inclusion. Diversity. All people deserve to be embraced by their community. Autism Friendly Cities: How to Create an Inclusive Community is the first book designed to guide city leadership and staff through the processes of training and evaluation, development, and implementation of an Autism Friendly initiative that will help you open your doors to everyone.

People with autism should be able to participate in all that is offered and facilitated by their city, including services, activities, events, and points of connection. Being an Autism Friendly City is not only socially responsible, it will improve engagement, outreach, economic development, and resident satisfaction.

Jennifer Percival, Ph.D., CRC

Dr. Jennifer Percival is the Assistant Director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. She holds a Doctorate from FAU in Educational Leadership and Research Methodology with a research area of Disability Studies. She is a Nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, published author, expert on inclusion, disability employment strategies, and the transition experience. Jennifer is a sought-after speaker and presenter, and a consultant on program development.

Jennifer created the FAU CARD Autism Friendly Business and Cities program and the Developmental Disability Small Business Network. She is the founder and coordinator of the world’s only Autism Friendly Cities Institute. She serves on the Royal Caribbean International Autism Advisory Board, the South Florida Business Leadership Network Board, the CareerSource Palm Beach County Youth Employment Board, the City of Boynton Beach ADA and Inclusion Board, Palm Beach County’s Special Needs Advisory Council, the Palm Beach Council for In Transition Youth, and the Treasure Coast Transition Council. Jennifer was the 2019 Florida Graduate Research Symposium second place state-wide winner for disability-specific dissertation research. She was the state of Florida’s Workforce System’s Barbara Griffin Workforce Excellence Award winner in 2017, FAU’s Lifelong Learning Society Lunafest Scholarship recipient in 2017, and FAU’s College of Education North Campus Student of the Year in 2016.

Prior to working at FAU, Jennifer divided her career between the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Florida Department of Children and Families. Jennifer is a community leader who develops infrastructure through her work with collaborations and regional planning, while assisting professionals and individuals with program improvement, planning, and strategic implementation.