Tanner Urgent Care for Kids has earned the Autism Friendly Designation from Autism Speaks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating an inclusive world for autistic people through advocacy, services, support and research.
The Autism Friendly Designation signifies that the recipient has been trained by Autism Speaks and is committed to promoting autism acceptance, providing autism-friendly service and building community with autistic people.
At least 80% of customer-facing staff must complete Autism Friendly Training; Tanner Urgent Care for Kids achieved 100% compliance for staff education, underscoring the team’s dedication to delivering thoughtful and inclusive care. Organizations must also participate in an experience conversation with Autism Speaks to review the customer service environment and implement meaningful accommodations to better serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
“This designation reflects our commitment to meeting children where they are and providing care in a way that respects their unique needs,” said Christina Smith, clinical coordinator for Tanner Urgent Care for Kids. “For families of children with autism, a visit to urgent care can feel overwhelming. We have taken intentional steps to create a more supportive, understanding and accommodating environment, so every child can receive high-quality care with dignity and compassion.”
Children with autism often experience sensory sensitivities, communication barriers and social challenges that can make medical settings particularly stressful. Creating an autism-friendly environment helps increase well-being while fostering more equitable, supportive communities.
As part of the designation process, Tanner Urgent Care for Kids evaluated its customer service environment and implemented accommodations to better support children with sensory needs. Examples of autism-friendly accommodations may include sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones or fidgets, simple environmental adjustments like reducing lighting or sound levels, quiet spaces for breaks and autism-friendly hours.
Nicole Lake, PNP-C, a nurse practitioner at Tanner Urgent Care for Kids, said the training has already made a difference in how staff approach patient care.
“This experience has helped our team better understand how autism can impact a child’s healthcare experience,” said Lake. “By coming up with new communication strategies and implementing new sensory considerations, we are more prepared to adapt our approach and partner with families. Our goal is simple: We want every child and caregiver who walks through our doors to feel safe, respected and understood.”
To maintain the Autism Friendly Designation, organizations must continue ensuring that at least 80% of customer-facing staff complete the required training each year.
Autism Speaks believes that when more businesses and organizations commit to becoming autism-friendly, communities move closer to a world where all people with autism can reach their full potential — and Tanner Urgent Care for Kids is excited to support this vision and remains committed to further enhancing the patient experience.
Families seeking urgent pediatric care can visit Tanner Urgent Care for Kids knowing the team is trained, prepared and committed to creating a welcoming environment for children of all abilities.
Learn more about the Autism Friendly Designation at autismspeaks.org/autismfriendly.