Classroom Seating Pod Named as Certified Autism Resource

The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) recently granted accreditation to the Kolo Pod, a product from commercial furnishings manufacturer Kimball International, as a Certified Autism Resource (CAR), according to a news release. IBCCES’s evaluation determined that the pods can help improve communication and positive outcomes for students with autism or other sensory sensitivities.

“Knowing that our Kolo Pods are CAR certified is gratifying,” said Angie Schuch, Vice President of Product Marketing at Kimball International. “We believe it’s vital to introduce solutions that can truly make a difference and support individuals in the places they work, learn, and heal. This distinction solidifies that our product portfolio includes solutions that empower individuals and support users in ways that go beyond floorplan layouts and configurations.”

The Kolo Pod was designed for learning, working, and healing spaces, according to the news release. The Anti-Eavesdrop design reduces sound and speech intelligibility from the outside to provide quiet in overstimulating environments. The soundproofing also allows the student inside to express anger or frustration with reduced disturbance to other students.

IBCCES is a global leader in professional autism and neurodiversity certification and training. It promotes products that meet its accreditation standards to a large network of educators, therapists, and parents, the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.