MIAMI, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean
International will be the first in the hospitality industry to
offer complimentary on-demand access to exclusive content from
The Autism Channel onboard most of its ships. Starting in
late October 2015, this new offering
enhances the cruise line's highly successful Autism Friendly
program, designed to provide inclusive cruise vacation experiences
for families living with autism and other developmental
disabilities.
The Autism Channel is a streaming television service providing
information and resources to families and professionals supporting
and improving the lives of people with autism spectrum disorders.
Educational and entertainment programming on The Autism Channel
ranges from a look inside the daily lives of several families with
children on the spectrum, to interviews with medical and legal
professionals.
"The Autism Channel is delighted that Royal Caribbean has chosen
to make this valuable content available on many Royal Caribbean
ships. For every one person on the autism spectrum there are six
more persons directly impacted by that person. Complimentary access
to The Autism Channel's exclusive content will benefit many Royal
Caribbean guests and bring more awareness to Autism," said
Jeffrey A. Kasky, president, The
Autism Channel.
Some of the programs available for viewing are:
- I Am Autistic with Daniel
Heinlein – Diagnosed with Asperger's as a teenager,
Daniel Heinlein talks about autism
with doctors, researchers, and others on the spectrum.
- Dr. Judy – A board-certified developmental and
behavioral pediatrician, Dr. Judith
Aranson-Ramos, MD talks about early diagnosis and treatment
for people on the spectrum.
- Real Look Autism – From renowned executive producer
Mary Beth Marsden, an unfiltered
look at ASD children and their progress.
- Direct From Autism Service Dogs America – Follow a
therapy dog's journey from selection through life as a working
dog.
- The Rocket Family Chronicles – A mockumentary about the
life and times of Rocket, an on-the-spectrum filmmaker and his
unique family.
- Cooking with Jana – Gluten and Casein free cooking with
Chef Jana McMahon, featuring easy to
make recipes low in allergens.
Complimentary on-demand access to The Autism Channel will be
available in all staterooms onboard Quantum, Oasis, Freedom,
Voyager and Radiance-class ships on LED flat-panel interactive
televisions. Programming will be initially offered in English as
well as closed captioned for guests who are deaf or
hard-of-hearing.
Royal Caribbean International was the first cruise line to
become certified Autism Friendly by Autism on the Seas™ the
leading travel organization catering to vacationers with autism and
other developmental disabilities in February
2014. As part of its program, Royal Caribbean has introduced
autism friendly services including sensory friendly movies, an
autism friendly toy lending program, and social story (downloadable
from RoyalCaribbean.com/AutismFriendly), and all youth staff from
the cruise line's award-winning children's program are provided
autism awareness training. The training will be extended to other
members of the staff and shipboard crew as part of their
job-specific training.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal
Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand
with a 46-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry
"firsts" never before seen at sea. The cruise line features
an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only
found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style
entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to
families and adventurous vacationers alike. Onboard, guests are
catered to with the cruise line's world-renowned friendly and
engaging Gold Anchor Service by every staff and crew member. Royal
Caribbean has been voted "Best
Cruise Line Overall" for 12 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly
Readers Awards.
The cruise line sails 23 of the world's most innovative cruise
ships to the most popular destinations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, South
America, Asia, and
Australia and New Zealand. Media can stay up-to-date by
following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter, and visiting
RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to
make reservations, vacationers should call their travel agent;
visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
About The Autism Channel
The Autism Channel is
currently available free via Roku and Panasonic Viera Connect Smart
TVs with other set-top boxes and smart TVs to come soon. The Autism
Channel programming is of interest to the 16 million in
the United States, and the 500
million+ in the world affected by a diagnosis of an autism spectrum
disorder. For more information on The Autism Channel, visit
www.TheAutismChannel.tv.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-announces-first-tv-channel-at-sea-dedicated-to-autism-programming-300152545.html
SOURCE Royal Caribbean International