The National Autism Center renews its designation as a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC), which is granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This renewal underscores the center’s continued commitment to advancing the quality of care and support for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and aligns with Oman Vision 2040 to expand inclusive and specialized services.
Leadership Commentary
Dr. Nadia Ali Al Ajmi, director of the National Autism Center, says: “The renewal of the National Autism Center’s accreditation represents a culmination of our joint efforts and our firm commitment to achieving the institutional vision. It reaffirms that our children deserve to receive the highest standards of care globally. We will continuously work to develop and improve our services to ensure the center remains at the forefront of institutions specialized in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Sultanate of Oman.”
Commitment to Global Standards and Measurable Impact
The center, first accredited in 2023, has worked closely with IBCCES to maintain the highest international benchmarks in autism care, ensuring that staff are equipped with up-to-date knowledge, specialized training, and evidence-based strategies to better serve the community. This renewal marks a significant step in reinforcing a shared mission to build a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with autism and their families in the Sultanate.
Since achieving its initial certification, the National Autism Center has reported measurable improvements in several key areas, according to a collaborative impact assessment conducted with IBCCES. The accreditation has helped increase staff confidence and readiness, enhanced operational consistency, and strengthened community trust in the services provided. These outcomes have contributed to a more coordinated and effective approach to supporting individuals with autism, and they have laid a stronger foundation for long-term institutional value and sustainable growth.
Certification from IBCCES
Myron Pincomb, board chairman and CEO of IBCCES, says: “We commend the National Autism Center for their ongoing dedication to enhancing accessibility and care for individuals on the autism spectrum. Renewing the Certified Autism Center™ designation reflects a continued investment in staff readiness, operational quality, and community trust. This commitment ensures that families across Oman can access services that meet globally recognized standards and support meaningful outcomes.”
IBCCES Efforts to Support Inclusivity
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 National Autism Center 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 AccessibiltyCertified.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.
About the National Autism Center
The National Autism Center plays a leading role in providing comprehensive rehabilitation services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Sultanate of Oman. The Center was inaugurated on February 2, 2023, under the gracious patronage of Her Highness the Honourable Lady Sayyida Ahd Bint Abdullah Al Busaidiyah, and represents a unique model of fruitful cooperation between the government and private sectors in the Sultanate.
The Center offers an integrated package of rehabilitative and therapeutic services that cover all age groups, from early childhood up to adulthood. These services aim to enable individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder to achieve the highest possible levels of independence and social integration, through specialized programs based on scientific evidence. The scope of services provided is diverse, encompassing special education, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and behavioral therapy, in addition to psychological and social counseling services, vocational preparation and rehabilitation, and cultural, sports, and recreational programs.
In affirmation of its commitment to Oman Vision 2040, the Center achieved international accreditation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) on August 30, 2023. This accreditation reflects the Center’s dedication to providing high-quality services that align with the latest global standards in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder. This achievement is a pivotal step toward enhancing the quality of services available to individuals with ASD, which in turn strengthens the Center’s ability to create a positive and sustainable impact on the community.
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 AccessibilityCertified.com – free resources for individuals with a variety of neurodiversities and disabilities, listing certified locations and connecting individuals to other resources and each other.
