Strawbridge United Methodist Church (UMC) including the staff from their pre-school program, Bright Beginnings Learning Center, has earned the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation. This designation is granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and means that staff have completed an autism-specific training and certification program through IBCCES.
“Strawbridge United Methodist Church strives each and every day to not only be the best church in the community, but rather the best church for the community. Becoming a Certified Autism Center enables us to be more inclusive and to live out that mission,” said Rev. Dr. Todd Jordan, Senior Pastor at Strawbridge UMC. “Equipping our staff and volunteers with these skills will better enable us to love all God’s children and further support them in their journey. We are very excited for this training and the multitude of resources we will gain. We can’t wait to see what God will do!”
Strawbridge UMC activities and events are setup to provide opportunities for students to have a buddy if they prefer. If a student needs a quiet space or adjustment in the activity to help them learn better, their team is better equipped to assist. They are currently brainstorming ways to offer more low-sensory opportunities.
“We’re excited to work with a church like Strawbridge United Methodist Church to enhance their ability to assist and welcome the neurodiverse population in their community,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman.
For more than 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for education, healthcare, and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES provides evidence-based training and certification programs created in conjunction with clinical experts and individuals with autism in order to provide professionals serving individuals with cognitive disorders a better understanding of what these disorders are, industry best practices, and the latest research in these areas.
