Sesame Street's theme park has become the first in the world to receive an autism accreditation, it has emerged.

The 14-acre Sesame Place, on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and based on the long-running children's television show, features quiet rooms and a sensory guide to help parents plan visits.

It was handed the award as part of the US National Autism Awareness Month after staff underwent special training on autism awareness and sensitivity.

The accreditation comes a year after the groundbreaking show introduced a new character, a muppet named Julia who has autism.

Sesame Street's theme park has become the first in the world to receive an autism accreditation, it has emerged

The 14-acre Sesame Place, on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and based on the long-running children's television show, features quiet rooms and a sensory guide to help parents plan visits

The accreditation comes a year after the groundbreaking show introduced a new character, a muppet named Julia who has autism

As for other characters, the show conducted extensive research, including consultations with educators and child psychologists, and in this case autism organizations, to understand how best to normalize autism for non-autistic children.

The purpose of Julia's character was to combat stigmas associated with the autism spectrum, as diagnoses have continually grown.

The park, which reopens for its new season at the end of April, broke the news of its new designation in a tweet, saying it was the first theme park in the world to be named as a Certified Autism Center.

The park was handed the award as part of the US National Autism Awareness Month after staff underwent special training on autism awareness and sensitivity

The purpose of Julia's character was to combat stigmas associated with the autism spectrum, as diagnoses have continually grown

The message said: 'It's our goal to provide every family with an enjoyable and memorable visit.'

Sesame Place was awarded the designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.

Diagnoses of autism have risen steadily in recent years to the rate of one in every 68 US children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.