The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is now a Certified Autism Center!
Great Lakes Children’s Museum Becomes Autism Certified, Joins City-Wide Initiative to Enhance Inclusivity
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) awards the Great Lakes Children’s Museum (GLCM) with the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation. This credential recognizes an organization’s dedication to fostering an environment where all guests feel welcome, including autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals and their families. Great Lakes Children’s Museum’s certification plays a part in a larger initiative to help Traverse City become a Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD), which is awarded to cities that offer a variety of trained and certified recreation, entertainment and lodging options.
“The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is proud to announce our certification through IBCCES as a Certified Autism Center™. We worked with the City of Traverse City to secure a scholarship for the GLCM staff to attend online classes through IBCCES. The Great Lakes Children’s Museum strives to create an environment where all visitors can be successful,” said Tom Maynard, GLCM impact manager. “Although the museum has always been welcoming to different learning styles, this training and certification allows us to offer more support and services than ever before. We are excited to expand our offerings to be even more inclusive of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and diverse learning abilities. We are proud to contribute to Traverse City’s overall certification goal to become a Certified Autism Destination.”
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum offers numerous resources for families to utilize during their visit. Wheelchairs, earmuffs and weighted vests are available for guests to check out upon arrival. Neurodiversity resource packs can be obtained at the front desk for guests to use during their time at the museum. Great Lakes Children’s Museum also offers special assistance during programs for guests who may have additional needs.
“We welcome the Great Lakes Children’s Museum to the growing list of CACs, and we’re excited to partner with them in this endeavor,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman. “This certification is a step closer to helping Traverse City become a Certified Autism Destination™, increasing accessibility and inclusion for all visitors.”
For more than 20 years, IBCCES has been a leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for healthcare, education, and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES programs include evidence-based content as well as the perspectives of autistic individuals, alongside other resources, ongoing support, and renewal requirements to ensure there is continued learning and a lasting impact.
IBCCES also manages AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for families that lists certified destinations and resources to plan their leisure experiences. Each destination listed on the site has met the 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.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
IBCCES
Meredith Tekin, President
Phone: 904.508.0135 // 904.434.1534
Email: meredith@ibcces.org
Great Lakes Children’s Museum
Tom Maynard, Impact Manager
Phone: 231.932.4526 // 231.674.5352
Email: impact@glcm.org
GLCM is starting a new Gallery Schedule!
Kids of all ages will get the chance to play all day once again!
(Also See: New Reservation + Birthday Booking + Sales Software at GLCM!)
Why is there so little availability for tickets? Why can’t I buy a ticket for this weekend? Why can’t I book a birthday party for next month?
If you’ve been at the Children’s Museum in the last 3 years and had to stop playing because your session ended – we have good news! We are getting rid of museum sessions and going back to daily admissions! That means that when you purchase a ticket to play in the Museum Galleries, you can stay and play until we close at the end of the day. You’ll be able to make a reservation WEEKS in advance and arrive late without worrying about play time.
BUT there’s a trade off; without sessions to close off, guests will have to share the galleries with Field Trips and Birthday Parties. Whereas any group could reserve the Museum for Exclusive Use and have the place to themselves, now groups who book a field trip or birthday party will get the Great Lakes Room all to themselves – but will share the galleries with the general public.
If you wanted a birthday party with the whole Museum to yourself that’s still an option – but you have to book it for an evening when the Galleries are closed to the public.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION
| Sessions + Exclusive Use | Timed Ticketing + Bookings | |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission (Individual tickets to play in the Galleries) | Tickets are purchased for one 2-hour block, guests must arrive and depart within the 2-hour window Guests may arrive any time within the 2-hour window, but cannot stay late if they arrive late | Tickets are purchased for an arrival time, guests must arrive at their ticket time and may stay until the Museum closes at the end of the day. Guests may not arrive before their ticket time (due to gallery capacity) but are welcome to arrive late and stay late. |
| Group Reservations (Birthday Parties, Field Trips, and other Reservations) | Field Trips and Birthday Parties were under Exclusive Use, meaning that any booking had the Museum completely to themselves. This was true whether it was a Morning, Noon, Afternoon, or Evening reservation. | Field Trips and Birthday Parties scheduled during open hours will now have just the Great Lakes Room to themselves, and will have to share gallery space with the general public. You can still book a birthday party where you have the whole Museum to yourself if you choose the after-hours option. |
Bubble Paint an Ornament with Leelanau Pottery Company
Hunting for a personalized gift for your little one to give to a parent, grandparent or loved one? Or just looking for a relaxing way to spend the afternoon with your family? We’ve got you covered with a holiday program that does both!
On Wednesday, December 13 from 12pm-2pm, Stephanie Starner, owner of Leelanau Pottery Company, is teaching a pottery class at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. An accomplished local artist and mother of two, Stephanie has a knack for introducing the medium of pottery to artists of all ages.
This month’s class centers around two things that children love: the holidays and bubbles! In this activity, children will begin by choosing a pre-fired ornament shape and a paint color before blowing bubbles in the paint to create a unique pattern. The result is a delightful keepsake, perfect for gifting to friends and loved ones. As a bonus, participants will be able to play in the Museum while their creation dries; each ticket for the class comes with free admission to the Children’s Museum!
Although we love to have guests “pop in” to play at the Museum, advanced registration for this specific event is required. Tickets can be purchased here through Leelanau Pottery Company. Registration to play in the Museum Galleries from 12-2pm is included with your ticket from Leelanau Pottery.
Register today so that you can join us Wednesday, December 13 from 12pm-2pm for a festive afternoon of pottery and play time!
