Alia Autism Center renews its designation as a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC), granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This designation is awarded to organizations that complete autism-specific training and certification to better understand and serve individuals with autism and other sensory needs.
As a premier facility in Bahrain, Alia Autism Center provides specialized services to children, teens, and young adults with autism and developmental challenges. Their renewal as a CAC reflects their continued dedication to inclusive education, therapy, and community-based support programs.
“Becoming a Certified Autism Center™ reflects our unwavering commitment to creating inclusive, structured, and supportive environments for autistic individuals across all ages. This milestone is not just an achievement—it’s a reflection of our mission to lead with purpose, empathy, and excellence,” says Dr. Rania AlKhalifa, president of the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral and Communication Difficulties.
To earn this designation, staff at Alia Autism Center completed specialized training from IBCCES in areas such as sensory awareness, communication strategies, and best practices for inclusive programming. The certification ensures that the center’s team is equipped to create supportive environments that meet the diverse needs of autistic individuals and their families.
Alia Autism Center’s programs include sensory integration therapy, structured classrooms, speech and behavior therapy, and vocational training for young adults. The facility is designed with accessibility in mind—featuring quiet sensory rooms, PECS systems, adjustable lighting, and an occupational therapy sensory gym. Staff are also trained in de-escalation techniques and emotional regulation to provide safe, empathetic care.
“IBCCES is honored to continue partnering with Alia Autism Center. Their innovative and inclusive approach to autism support exemplifies the kind of leadership that makes a meaningful difference in the region,” says Myron Pincomb, CEO and board chairman of IBCCES.
In addition to educational and therapeutic offerings, the center is home to Halla by Alia Café, a social enterprise fully run by young adults on the autism spectrum. Through job training and real-world experience, this initiative helps bridge the gap between learning and employment and demonstrates Alia Autism Center’s holistic, community-integrated approach.
To support broader accessibility, all our certified partners are featured on the IBCCES IBCCES Accessibility App, a free digital resource connecting users to certified inclusive locations worldwide. The app provides access to venue details, sensory accommodations, contact information, and hours of operation—empowering individuals and families to navigate public spaces with greater confidence.
IBCCES has been the global leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for over 20 years, working with professionals across healthcare, education, and hospitality. As demand grows for more inclusive travel experiences, IBCCES continues to set the global standard, offering training led by subject-matter experts and self-advocates within the autistic community.
IBCCES also provides access to resources such as CertifiedAutismCenter.com and AutismTravel.com, free online tools for families that list certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) requirements.
About Alia Autism Center
Alia Autism Center, located in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a comprehensive and inclusive facility that provides individualized therapeutic, educational, and vocational services to individuals with autism and other developmental challenges. Operated by the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral and Communication Difficulties, the center serves individuals across all ages with a focus on communication, life skills, independence, and community inclusion. The center’s highly qualified team offers ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education, and job training programs. Through initiatives like Halla by Alia Café and strategic partnerships with Bahraini businesses, the center helps students build skills and transition into the workforce. Alia Autism Center is proud to be a Certified Autism Center™ and remains committed to creating inclusive opportunities and environments for every learner.
About IBCCES
Delivering the global standard for training and certification in the fields of autism, neurodiversity, and accessibility – IBCCES provides a series of certification programs that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. For over two decades, IBCCES has been a global leader, setting the industry standard in autism and cognitive differences training. IBCCES works in over 111 countries and provides training in 8 languages, and its programs have been recognized around the world as the leading benchmark in training and certification.
In addition to individual certification programs, IBCCES partners with cities, destinations, and organizations on initiatives like the Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD) and Autism Certified City™ (ACC), ensuring autistic and sensory-sensitive residents and visitors feel welcomed and safe. Destinations that achieve the CAD designation have completed a specialized program that ensures a multitude of recreation, hospitality and entertainment organizations have completed an autism and sensory-sensitivity training, certification and IBCCES facilities review process. The ACC designation expands on that program and includes IBCCES training and certification for the public safety, education, healthcare and workplace sectors.
IBCCES also created the Accessibility App, AutismTravel.com, and CertifiedAutismCenter.com – free resources for individuals with a variety of neurodiversities and disabilities, listing certified locations and connecting individuals to other resources and each other.
