The Mosaic School in Axtell recently became the first Certified Autism Center in the state of Nebraska. The school joins four other learning and tutoring centers in the country with this designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

The designation indicates that at least 80 percent of staff have been trained and certified in autism and are committed to ongoing training. Mosaic went a step further; when we earned the designation, 100 percent of staff at the school qualified as certified autism specialists.

“The Mosaic School is a leader in innovative educational solutions for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Curtiss Dill, Executive Director of Mosaic in Axtell. “This designation is another stepping stone we are utilizing to deliver the best services possible for the people we serve.”

“Mosaic’s commitment to serving children with autism and other special needs is second to none,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman. “The amount of specialized training and certification required for each staff member really sets them apart from others in the field.”

“As the diagnosis rate and need for services grow, more organizations are looking to obtain certification in this area,” said Meredith Tekin, IBCCES President. “The process requires an additional commitment from staff, as well as the entire organization, so Mosaic is still leading the field when it comes to becoming a designated Certified Autism Center.”

Mosaic believes its partnership with IBCCES will continue.

“This center certification provides a model for other Mosaic agencies that want to build expertise in supporting people on the autism spectrum,” said Nancy Potter, Mental & Behavioral Health Senior Professional and Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Mosaic. “I believe we will see growing interest in this certification from other Mosaic agencies. Axtell has shown what can be accomplished when a team commits to professional growth.”

Under the guidance of Administrator Katherine Maxson, The Mosaic School serves more than 30 students in rural Nebraska, with a 2:1 student to paraprofessional ratio. The school partners with students’ local school districts to provide specialized supports that lead to improved outcomes. “Since Tyler has been at Mosaic, his life has blossomed,” said parents Steve and Susan King of Omaha, Neb. “He has come so far in his education, behavior and his ability to interact with people.” With this new designation in hand, The Mosaic School has plans to expand in the near future to serve more students like Tyler.

“Mosaic is currently working on the initial phase of an expansion to our school that will allow us to serve more students in an updated environment specifically designed with the needs of the students in mind,” Dill said.

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About Mosaic: Mosaic is a holistic healthcare provider whose network reaches across 11 states and provides supports to more than 4,400 people with complex needs. Services empower people with developmental disabilities, mental and behavioral health needs and autism, as well as aging adults to live full lives. Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.mosaicinfo.org.

About IBCCES: Delivering The Global Standard For Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders. As part of our commitment to sharing the latest innovations and research, IBCCES also hosts the International Symposium on Cognitive Research and Disorders to create a forum for collaboration among industry stakeholders. For more information, visit https://certifiedautismcenter.com.