HEARTism Community Center is now a Certified Autism Centerâ„¢, designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). The community center staff have completed a training and certification program to build upon their ability to educate and help socialize children with special needs through the exploration of the arts, music, sensory movement and life.
Today, The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), the global leader in training and certification on autism and cognitive disorders, appointed Lawana Jones to its executive advisory board. Jones currently is the president and Chief Executive Officer of The Autism Council of Rochester. She has dedicated her life to advocating, supporting, and educating others on disability rights for children, young adults, and families living with autism and other special needs for over 25 years. Jones unique experience and passion are a welcomed addition to IBCCES’ diverse board.
Benchmark Behavioral Solutions is now a Certified Autism Centerâ„¢ (CAC), a designation granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). The CAC designation is given to organizations whose staff have completed autism training and certification through IBCCES.
A number of countries that did rely on BCBAs for treating people with autism will have to evaluate other viable options. With the prevalence and awareness of autism increasing substantially worldwide, many countries are not well prepared to serve this population.
People with autism vary significantly in how autism impacts them and the way they perceive the world, making it important to have qualified experts that truly understand autism to treat them. However, having qualified practitioners is a very common problem, especially across lower and middle-income countries throughout the world:
From Dr. Kerry Magro – Speaker, Author & Autism Self-Advocate
Dear ER & medical professionals,
Growing up with autism I dealt with severe sensory challenges. Bright lights would hurt my eyes. Loud noises would either have me covering my ears or bolting away from the noises. There were plenty of meltdowns. These are all too common reactions for many of us on the spectrum. Experiences like going to a doctor and/or hospital can be scary for all children (and adults) but especially for someone like me who has autism.
As teletherapy becomes more prominent across different settings, the therapist-facilitator relationship is more important and varied than ever.
Facilitators are incredibly important when it comes to the success of the client and they play a vital role in teletherapy. The facilitator can be anyone from the client’s parent, caregiver, teacher aid, student support specialist and so on.
A number of countries who relied on BCBAs for treatment for autism and other related disorders will have to find another alternative.
This article explores the prevalence of autism worldwide, the lack of diagnosis and treatment options in many countries, and why the BACB decided to make the decision. The next article focuses more on what these countries can do if they are looking for alternatives.
By Anita Lesko, BSN, RN, MS, CRNA, CAS, (and proudly autistic)
Temple Grandin and I share a lot of opinions about how important what we do in childhood can be in forming us as people.
I have the good fortune to be a friend of Dr. Temple Grandin, a self-advocate for autism who became one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2010 for her accomplishments with revolutionizing the meat processing industry through her unique understanding of helps to soothe and de-stress cattle.
By Anita Lesko, BSN, RN, MS, CRNA, CAS (and proudly on the autism spectrum)
Currently, 1 in 44 children in the US are diagnosed with autism, with many more children and adults being missed or receiving a diagnosis later in life as adults. This means a high percentage of individuals bring seen in hospitals, pediatrician or primary care offices, emergency rooms, and other healthcare settings have sensory and communication differences that need to be understood and addressed by providers.Â
Lack of specific training and knowledge in the healthcare field is constantly leading to people with autism not being diagnosed or treated properly as well as often avoidable situations that impede timely or effective care. The experience of a person with autism starts when they arrive at your facility and first get to intake, so the importance of training does not stop with the medical staff. It actually starts with the non-medical staff in intake, as often times overwhelm can start before the person with autism has even seen their healthcare provider, adding sometimes insurmountable challenges to effective care.
Pikeville Medical Center’s Emergency Department, a Pediatric Ready Emergency Department, is now the first ER in Kentucky to become a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Pikeville’s ED is deemed one of only four hospitals in Kentucky to be Pediatric Ready by the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (KYEMSC) Program, which makes their autism training and certification vital to caring for all patients, including those with autism.
