Appalachian Valley Autism Center Has Earned the Certified Autism Center Designation

Appalachian Valley Autism Center (The AVA Center) has been designated a Certified Autism Center (CAC). The CAC designation is granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and is awarded to organizations at which staff have completed professional autism-specific training and certification to improve staff understanding of how to best work with these patients.

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, as well as strategies to improve outcomes and the patient experience.

“The AVA Center was developed to bridge the gap in health care for autistic children of the region. It is the perfect companion for the new PMC Children’s Hospital that is now in the construction phase. Our clinicians utilize a variety of evidence-based therapies customized for each child based on age, specific behaviors and skill level.  The AVA Center provides multiple therapies including: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), parent child interaction (PCIT), speech, occupational and physical,” said Pikeville Medical Center Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors Vice President, Donovan Blackburn.

The AVA Center offers clinical assessment, treatment, and early intervention services and ABA therapy in order to develop language, social, academic, and daily living skills in children ages 0–18 with autism and related conditions.

Blackburn went on to share, “Eastern Kentucky families who have experienced the challenges related to finding therapy for their loved ones with autism have a true understanding of what the AVA Center will bring to our region. Too many families have had to travel hours and spend hard earned money to find services. Now they can stay close to home and receive the world-class quality care they desire and need to assist our children to live their best life. My family and I know, first-hand, the feeling of powerlessness surrounding the struggle to simply get a child evaluated for autism. I want families making this same journey to know they are not alone. PMC is here to help children and their families by providing specialized therapies that were not previously available in the region.”

“The continued growth of our partnerships with autism centers like Appalachian Valley Autism Center is a positive sign for the communities served by this program,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman. “We are excited the AVA Center has taken the steps to achieve the CAC designation and are proud of the work that they do.”

IBCCES also created CertifiedAutismCenter.com as a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met Certified Autism Center (CAC) requirements.

About IBCCES

Delivering The Global Standard For Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders.