The Independent Learning Center (ILC), with locations in both Jeddah and Riyadh, officially earns the designation of a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC), granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This designation recognizes organizations that have completed specialized training and certification in autism and sensory needs in order to provide more inclusive, compassionate, and effective care for autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals.
With a mission to empower children of all abilities, the Independent Learning Center provides therapy and educational services that are personalized to meet the needs of every child. Through this new certification, ILC joins a growing network of organizations worldwide committed to creating more accessible and supportive spaces for individuals with autism.
“This certification is more than just a milestone—it reflects our ongoing commitment to providing inclusive, transparent, and supportive environments for children with special needs in both Jeddah and Riyadh,” says Faiza Abdulaziz, owner of Independent Learning Center. “At the Independent Learning Center, we strive not only to empower every child, but also to raise awareness and set a higher standard for special needs care across the Middle East. We are proud to be part of this growing movement for change and inclusion.”
As part of the CAC designation process, staff at ILC completed comprehensive training and certification through IBCCES, focusing on areas such as sensory awareness, communication strategies, and evidence-based best practices. This ensures that all team members are equipped to provide expert, individualized care to children with autism and related needs.
ILC offers a wide array of services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral intervention, and feeding therapy. The center also provides sensory-friendly spaces, calming tools, and creative programs such as art therapy to support emotional and social development. Each location is staffed with trained professionals who understand the nuances of supporting autistic children and their families.
“IBCCES is excited to partner with the Independent Learning Center as they take this important step toward enhancing inclusivity and awareness in Saudi Arabia,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman. “Their commitment to providing high-quality, individualized care exemplifies the values we strive to promote through the Certified Autism Center™ program.”
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 the Independent Learning Center
The Independent Learning Center, with branches in Jeddah and Riyadh, supports children with special needs through tailored therapy and education. The center specializes in working with children who have autism, sensory processing challenges, and other learning differences. With a team of experienced therapists and educators, ILC provides speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral intervention, and feeding therapy in nurturing, sensory-friendly environments. The center also incorporates innovative approaches like art therapy to foster emotional expression and social growth. Through their mission-driven work, ILC aims to promote inclusion, independence, and awareness across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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.
