Copa Health in Mesa, AZ, is now a Certified Autism Center™, joining a growing number of organizations in the community to become certified. This movement, which was initiated by Visit Mesa and has resulted in Mesa becoming the first-ever Autism Certified City, was adopted early on by Copa Health.
Over the past few years, the attraction and travel industries have begun to take more steps to provide inclusive programs and accommodations for guests with special needs; however, many are now running into difficulties when managing the registration and identification of guests that would benefit from these accommodations. In order to provide a solution for this concern, the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) created an Accessibility Card program.
Delta Hotel Phoenix Mesa has completed the process to become a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC), a designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) that demonstrates the organization’s commitment to ensuring guests with autism and sensory sensitivities have the best possible experience. Delta Hotel completed evidence-based training as well as an onsite review and joins a growing number of organizations in Arizona and across the nation that are obtaining certification. This movement toward inclusion in Mesa, AZ, and the surrounding area was inspired by the work of Visit Mesa and that City’s goal to become the most autism inclusive destination in the world.
Dive Georgia a full-service scuba, snorkel and travel center has completed the process of becoming a Certified Autism Center (CAC), which is a designation that demonstrates the organization’s commitment to ensuring guests and families with children who have autism have the best possible experience when visiting their center or taking a dive class. They are the first dive shop in Georgia to earn this designation.
Kennywood is making a commitment to ensure all visitors, even those with sensory needs or on the autism spectrum, have an amazing experience. As part of this commitment, the amusement park recently earned the Certified Autism Center designation, which is awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to organizations who have completed a training and review process with the goal to better serve individuals with autism and other sensory needs.
“When we looked at ways to improve guest service over the offseason, becoming a Certified Autism Center was at the top of our to-do list,” says park General Manager Jerome Gibas. “Our mission at Kennywood is to provide the finest in family fun and entertainment, and ensuring we’re on the front lines in understanding and serving our guests who are on the autism spectrum is critical to achieving that mission.”
Guest post by: Dr. John Kelly
School Psychologist at Commack Schools
Past-President National Association of School Psychologists
Find him on Twitter: @jkellyphd
Depression has affected more than 10 percent of teenagers in the last year, yet most educators are not prepared to help students deal with depression.
The statistics are alarming; one out of every five adolescents between the ages of 13 – 18 years old will experience a mental health disorder that is significant enough to impact their daily functioning.
Do you ever feel like you are struggling to communicate with your child? Are constant tantrums challenging your daily routine or interfering with your child’s ability to learn and function?
In this big, fast-paced world full of distractions and frustrations, it is easy to forget that everything can look and feel so much bigger to a child. What happens when we don’t have the tools we need to cope with big feelings and challenges? When we don’t understand these feelings or the environment and its triggers? When we aren’t able to communicate what we feel or think or need appropriately? Now, conversely, imagine something wonderful happens, but you are unable to share it because you lack the communication skills. This has the potential to turn an exciting moment into a frustrating one.
The results of our annual Special Education Survey are in: Over 400 respondents – special education administrators, teachers and other professionals – from all over the country weighed in on a range of topics related to special needs education.
Although Autism-specific training and resources continue to be a primary focus, one of the largest increases was seen in the area of student mental health.
In light of these recent findings, IBCCES is hosting the 2019 Space Summit in Houston, TX on May 3rd, and mental health will be a primary focus of this unique one-day event. Located on-site at the Houston Space Center – an IBCCES Certified Autism Center – this symposium will feature TED style talks by some of the leading authorities in the areas of Autism and mental health. Attendees will benefit from sessions led by global experts on autism, cognitive disorders, mental health concerns, and innovation in these areas. These topics affect ALL students and adolescents, as well as many educators themselves.
Santa Barbara Zoo is the first zoo on the West Coast to become a Certified Autism Center (CAC), which is a designation that demonstrates the Zoo’s commitment to ensuring guests and families with children who have autism have the best possible experience. Parents with children on the autism spectrum often find vacationing and visiting new places to be a challenge due to sensory needs, dietary restrictions and safety concerns. With this certification, guests can rest assured staff and the grounds are prepared to welcome everyone, regardless of their needs.
