Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who serves as chair of the NY State Assembly’s sub-Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders, announced his appointment to the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Santabarbara will serve with national leaders and experts to set a global standard for training and certification in the fields of cognitive disorders in the areas of healthcare, education, and corporate environments. As the impact of cognitive disorders now reaches 1 in 4 people, IBCCES serves a mission to set the industry standards and create a worldwide community of trained and knowledgeable professionals in key industries that are aware of the latest research and applications.

EDUCATION

1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism and 1 in 11 are diagnosed with ADHD. This rapidly growing population dramatically increases the challenges for educators around the globe. IBCCES training and certification programs ensure teachers are armed with the knowledge, applications, and best practices they need to improve student-learning outcomes. Use of technology and user-friendly formats will make it possible to provide this training across the globe.

HEALTHCARE

Specialized training and certifications will build upon providers’ current education to make significant gains toward improved communication and outcomes in clients with cognitive disorders. As a result, healthcare professionals will be able to increase the quality of care, reduce the cost of delivering services, and ultimately serve more patients with special needs.

CORPORATE

Corporate partner programs will educate staff to ensure appropriate accommodations and next-level services are provided to special needs clients with cognitive disorders. Meeting the needs of individuals with cognitive disorders, such as autism, Alzheimer’s and dementia, is not just part of corporate responsibility – it is also one of the fastest growing markets in most industries.

“It’s a distinct privilege for me to serve on this board and have this opportunity to contribute to their mission,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “People with disabilities and special needs should have every opportunity to pursue the life they want to live. Kids like my son Michael may the face unique challenges of autism; however, that shouldn’t prevent them from realizing the American Dream,” said Santabarbara. “As a state, we must do more to ensure these individuals are treated with respect and equality, and are given every opportunity to live healthy, independent lives and work towards their goals,” Santabarbara added. “This incredible opportunity to work with people from across the country on this important issue will strengthen our state on this important issue and gives all New Yorker’s with disabilities a stronger voice.”

Santabarbara has long been an advocate for disability rights and has championed legislation to protect and empower individuals with autism. He introduced Autism Action NY in 2016 with a mission to better help individuals with autism by increasing job opportunities, providing independent housing options, improving access to information, assisting in communication and creating a centralized location for services in New York State.[1] Santabarbara has already made great strides in achieving these goals. Earlier this year, he sponsored legislation to help law enforcement find people who have a tendency to wander, including people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer’s and other related conditions (A.1648). Last year, he authored and passed a law making a New York State Autism/Disability ID card available to families and individuals to use as a communication tool for emergency situations and interactions with law enforcement or first responders (Ch. 209 of 2018).

"We're very excited to welcome Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara to the IBCCES Board of Advisors. The IBCCES board plays a key role in developing our award winning training and certification programs. As a result, we work hard to ensure we have the highest quality leaders in a variety of specialties and backgrounds present on our board. Assemblyman Santabarbara's impressive legislative experience combined with his passion for helping those with autism will bring a wealth of knowledge to our programs so we can continue to impact the lives of those with cognitive disorders," said Myron Pincomb, Board Chairman IBCCES.