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

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • California High School Opens New Classroom Building for 7th-, 8th-Graders

    Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., recently announced the completion of a new classroom building for Piner High School. As the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School, the facility will play home to the school’s new population of seventh- and eighth-grade students.

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.