As a continuing effort to heighten the park’s commitment to providing a welcoming environment for autistic and sensory-sensitive guests, Water World renews its Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) status. Initial certification in this designation involved specialized training and certification focused on enhancing communication and engagement with guests who have sensory needs and their families.
Big Kahuna’s Water Park in New Jersey is proud to announce its achievement of the Certified Autism Center™ designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This recognition reflects the park’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all guests, including those autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families.
Splish Splash Water Park is proud to announce its continued partnership with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) by achieving recertification as a Certified Autism Center™. This designation reaffirms the water park’s unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for autistic and sensory sensitive individuals and their families, further solidifying its position as a leader in accessibility within the water park industry.
Ellis & Associates (E&A) Joins International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to Offer “Lifeguard Autism Training”
Ellis & Associates (E&A), the world leader in aquatic safety and risk management consulting, has joined the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) in an effort to provide autism training and certification to lifeguards around the globe. This proprietary program is designed to strengthen aquatic safety for individuals with autism and other cognitive disorders. The partnership will make IBCCES training and certification available to lifeguards internationally through E&A training and certification programs. Currently, one in 59 children in the US are diagnosed with autism, with diagnosis rates rising in countries all over the world.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism and recent reports show that children with ASD are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than the general population of children (Gleeson, 2016), which sometimes leads to parents avoiding water all together.
Also, if individuals on the spectrum have not developed a level of comfort or the proper skillset to know what to do when confronted with water, this could lead to sensory overload when those encounters occur. Signs of sensory overload can vary for each individual, but typically there are ways to recognize these signs and reduce or prevent sensory overload or “meltdowns”.
This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to have children with autism have experiences in water with trained professionals. If they can develop a comfort level and get practice in the water under proper supervision, then being around water will be that much safer for them in other areas of life.
