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

  • Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Photo courtesy of Kraus-Anderson

    Minnesota District Completes $49.7M Addition, Renovation Project

    St. Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $49.7-million addition and remodeling project at two district schools, according to a news release.

  • Florida District Completes Construction on New Leadership Institute

    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.