City of Deer Park Parks & Recreation Department Earns Certified Autism Center™ Designation

Large group of people in matching shirts posing outside a building; diverse family with children at an outdoor event on a sidewalk.

A diverse group of people seated outdoors at a community event with tents and string lights in the background.

Three-panel image: a child dancing with a tall LED-lit performer, a laughing girl at a water table, and an empty colorful playground on a sunny day.

Left: Woman teaches child to swim in a pool using a float. Right: Outdoor swimming pool with people swimming and relaxing under a sunny sky.

Park walkway with curved metal arches, trees, rocks, and a plaque on the right side under a clear sky.

Obtaining a Certified Autism Center™ certification is an essential step in ensuring our adaptive programs are inclusive, supportive, and designed with intention.”

— Kenny Walsh, parks and recreation director

DEER PARK, TX, UNITED STATES, August 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) proudly presents the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) credential to the City of Deer Park Parks & Recreation Department. This certification is awarded to organizations whose staff complete an autism-specific training process, equipping them with skills and knowledge of how to best welcome, communicate with, and assist autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families. As part of the certification process, IBCCES conducted an onsite review to provide the department with valuable insights on further enhancing programs and creating detailed sensory guides for recreation areas.

"As the Deer Park community continues to grow and evolve, so do the needs of the families we serve," says Kenny Walsh, parks and recreation director. "Obtaining a Certified Autism Center™ certification is an essential step in ensuring our adaptive programs are inclusive, supportive, and designed with intention. This certification reflects our commitment to providing meaningful, accessible recreation opportunities for individuals of all abilities and to meeting the growing demand for specialized, high-quality programming in our community. We’re excited to begin this partnership with IBCCES."

Autism and sensory training not only equips staff with the knowledge to best support visitors, but also helps parks improve overall operational efficiency by streamlining operations and reducing friction points, such as standardizing processes and reducing crisis situations.

“We are proud to recognize the City of Deer Park Parks & Recreation Department as a Certified Autism Center™,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES CEO and board chairman. “Parks and recreation departments play an important role in fostering inclusive communities, and this designation reflects the department's commitment to ensuring autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families feel welcomed and supported.”

Accessibility is a core value of the City of Deer Park Parks & Recreation Department. Through its Rec for ALL initiative, the department offers adaptive programs designed for individuals of all abilities, including sensory-inclusive events, adaptive activities, modified fitness and dance classes, and welcoming social gatherings at the Maxwell Center. The new Dow Active Complex further expands accessibility with a therapy and recreation pool, an indoor walking track, and flexible spaces intentionally designed to support a wide range of needs.

For 25 years, 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 City of Deer Park Parks & Recreation Department 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 AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com, which are free online tools for families that list certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the sites has met IBCCES certification requirements.

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About City of Deer Park Parks & Recreation Department
Deer Park Parks and Recreation is committed to enhancing the quality of life for ALL residents by offering exceptional parks, programs, facilities, and experiences that celebrate the city’s history, culture, and unique character. Our department serves the community through a diverse network of green spaces, recreation facilities, athletic complexes, trails, and cultural venues that support year-round opportunities for wellness, creativity, and connection. We provide a wide range of programs for all ages—including fitness and aquatics, youth and adult athletics, performing and visual arts, senior services, outdoor education, and community events that bring Deer Park together. Whether residents are exploring the Deer Park Nature Preserve, enjoying activities at Dow Park, participating in theatre productions with the Art Park Players, or discovering new hobbies through seasonal programs, there is always something to experience.

Deer Park Parks and Recreation strives to ensure that every person—regardless of age, ability, or background—has a place to move, play, learn, and belong. Our mission is to continue growing, innovating, and inspiring, creating meaningful experiences that strengthen 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 industry leaders and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. For 25 years, IBCCES has been a global leader, setting the industry standard in autism and cognitive differences training. IBCCES works in over 125 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.

Meredith Tekin
IBCCES
+1 904-508-0135
marketing@ibcces.org
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