Pal Experiences

Pal Experiences creates community access and inclusion for individuals impacted by developmental disabilities and their families by partnering with venues, creating supportive tools, and building communities where everyone gets to go.

Pal Experiences is a nonprofit that empowers individuals with developmental disabilities to explore their communities by creating customized accessibility tools for the facilities, events and places that all people have the right to enjoy. Just as a wheelchair ramp helps venues accommodate guests who move differently, Pal Experiences helps venues achieve the next level of accessibility for guests who think differently.

For too many people with developmental disabilities, going to public places such as restaurants, museums, movies, urgent care centers, and hotels, is a significant challenge. It can be overwhelming, causing so much anxiety that many families stay home. In fact, 70% of families impacted by autism, one diagnosis of 1,000 of developmental disabilities, are socially isolated.
Pal Experiences focuses on addressing the three the most common challenges faced by individuals with developmental disabilities including anxiety over new experiences, challenges communicating, and sensory sensitivities.

Pal Experiences addresses these challenges by designing unique digital tools, using evidence-based best practices in behavioral therapy, that help make experiences with businesses and other organizations more accessible to guests with developmental disabilities and their families. Each venue we partner with becomes a Pal Places. This gives them the tools to support guests with developmental disabilities including a custom video social story, digital guides and on-site resources that decrease anxiety by foreshadowing what to expect, and support individuals and families while visiting.

Pal's vision is to create a national network of Pal Places and build inclusive communities where everyone is accommodated. Pal Experiences, based in Phoenix, is working with a growing number of businesses throughout the Valley to serve the broader community. Museums, urgent health care centers, sporting venues, hotels and others are demonstrating the exciting and positive impact of being a Pal Place.

Testimonials

"WOW is what I have to say! This is an amazing resource for the kids to watch before they go! I was actually tearing up as I watched it! It's just the perfect thing that my son needs to make this outing successful!" - parent