Miami Children’s Museum: A Certified Autism Center
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The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) has awarded the Certified Autism Center (CAC) to the Miami Children’s Museum, recognizing its efforts to create an accessible play environment for all children, including autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals.
To earn the certification, museum staff completed autism and sensory training to equip them with a deeper understanding of autism and provide knowledge of best practices to welcome, support, and include autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals.
“We believe every child deserves a place where they can be themselves, play and explore their curiosity freely,” said Deborah Spiegelman, CEO and executive director, Miami Children’s Museum. “As a Certified Autism Center, it is our promise to every family who walks through our doors that they will be seen, understood and welcomed exactly as they are.”
Autism training provides staff with clear, standardized protocols for interacting with guests with autism and other invisible disabilities. This reduces hesitation, guesswork, and the time it takes for staff to decide how to handle a situation, leading to faster and more confident service.
Optimized resource allocation and reduced service recovery costs are direct benefits of operational efficiencies often seen as a result of certification. Building guest loyalty and expanding the definition of “accessibility” are tangible results that help organizations expand their reach and serve a larger market.
“By achieving the Certified Autism Center designation, Miami Children’s Museum is leading the way in redefining what inclusive play looks like,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chair. “The museum’s dedication to accessibility sets a powerful example for museums everywhere and reinforces that learning and fun should be open to everyone.”
In addition to equipping staff with autism and sensory awareness training, Miami Children’s Museum offers several additional accommodations. On the second Saturday of every month, Miami Children’s Museum hosts a sensory-friendly experience for children with disabilities and their families. Visitors can explore the museum in a sensory-modified and supportive setting with limited admission, as well as lowered sound and lighting. Museum visitors also can enjoy a sensory-friendly stage performance and participate in a variety of sensory-based activities.
Miami Children’s Museum’s goal is to provide every child with the opportunity to engage in social interactions and improve the processing, modulation and regulation of sensory input to increase their understanding of and participation in a natural environment. Visitors also will have the opportunity to network with other families. Admission to Sensory Friendly Saturday is free with required RSVP. Event sponsors are The Ethel and Harry Reckson Foundation/Michael Spritzer and Marjorie Baron.
By completing the CAC process, the Miami Children’s Museum joins a wider movement initiated by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors
Bureau (GMCVB), helping Miami work towards achieving the Certified Autism Destination (CAD) designation. The CAD designation means visitors have multiple trained and certified options to choose from when in the area, including entertainment, recreation, and lodging.For more than two decades, IBCCES has been a leader in providing autism, sensory and neurodiversity training and certification for professionals worldwide, including those in healthcare, education, public safety, travel, and corporate sectors. As the only credentialing board offering these programs, IBCCES provides training from subject matter experts and autistic self-advocates, along with long-term support, continuous learning, onsite reviews, and renewal requirements to ensure continued growth and lasting impact.
To further support inclusivity efforts, the Miami Children’s Museum is featured on the IBCCES Accessibility App, which is free to download.
This app provides individuals with a variety of disabilities real-time guidance on certified destinations, sensory-friendly spaces, and tailored recommendations. By connecting users to accessible locations worldwide, the app helps ensure seamless, enjoyable experiences for everyone.
IBCCES also provides access to resources such as AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com, free online tools for families that list certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met IBCCES certification requirements.
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