Beyond Words Bookshop Earns Certified Autism Center™ Designation, Creating a More Welcoming Space for Every Reader

Beyond Words Bookshop’s certification contributes to the City of Mesa’s designation as an Autism Certified City™ (ACC).

MESA, AZ, UNITED STATES, October 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) announces the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation for Beyond Words Bookshop, a community-focused bookstore committed to creating a welcoming space where everyone can discover and enjoy books. As part of the certification process, at least 80% of guest-facing staff completed autism and sensory training, equipping the team with tools and strategies to better understand and support autistic and sensory-sensitive customers and their families.

“We want Beyond Words to be a place where anyone with a disability feels at home,” says Kelly Boggs, Beyond Words Bookshop owner. “Books are for everyone and Beyond Words always aims to be a peaceful place where people can relax and enjoy being surrounded by great stories. The IBCCES training is helpful to prepare all staff to be compassionate and accommodating.”

Autism and sensory training helps staff create a more welcoming and comfortable environment by building their understanding of individual needs and providing practical strategies for responding to different situations. For community spaces such as bookstores, this training can help staff feel more confident and prepared to provide a positive experience for autistic individuals and families.

Beyond Words offers weekly storytime sessions in a small, intimate setting for preschoolers and their siblings. Excluding author visits, foot traffic usually trickles in, making this a great activity for autistic and sensory-sensitive children and their families.

“Beyond Words Bookshop demonstrates how inclusive practices can make a meaningful difference in everyday community spaces,” says Myron Pincomb, CEO and Board Chairman of IBCCES. “By preparing its staff with the knowledge and tools to create a more inclusive environment, Beyond Words is helping ensure that more people can feel comfortable connecting with books, stories, and their community.”

Beyond Words Bookshop’s certification contributes to the City of Mesa’s designation as an Autism Certified City™ (ACC). This designation, championed by Visit Mesa, ensures that both visitors and residents have access to a wide range of organizations that are trained and certified to better welcome and assist autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals across the healthcare, public safety, education, hospitality, entertainment, and recreation industries.

For 25 years, IBCCES has been a leader in providing autism, sensory, and neurodiversity training and certification for professionals worldwide, including those in healthcare, education, public safety, travel, and corporate sectors. As the only credentialing board offering these programs, IBCCES provides training from subject matter experts and autistic self-advocates, along with long-term support, continuous learning, onsite reviews, and renewal requirements to ensure continued growth and lasting impact.

To further support inclusivity efforts, Beyond Words Bookshop is featured on the IBCCES Accessibility App, which is free to download. This app provides individuals with a variety of disabilities real-time guidance on certified destinations, sensory-friendly spaces, and tailored recommendations. By connecting users to accessible locations worldwide, the app helps ensure seamless, enjoyable experiences for everyone.

IBCCES also provides access to resources such as AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com, which are free online tools for families that list certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the sites has met IBCCES certification requirements.

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About Beyond Words Bookshop
At Beyond Words Bookshop, we hold the belief that books possess the incredible ability to shape hearts and minds. With a commitment to positive values, we build a collection that weaves the fabric of strong character and celebrates the beauty of literature that uplifts and resonates with the human heart. We strive to be a trusted source for members of the community.

About IBCCES
Delivering the global standard for training and certification in the fields of autism, neurodiversity, and accessibility – IBCCES provides a series of certification programs that empower professionals to be industry leaders and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. For 25 years, IBCCES has been a global leader, setting the industry standard in autism and cognitive differences training. IBCCES works in over 125 countries and provides training in 8 languages, and its programs have been recognized around the world as the leading benchmark in training and certification.

In addition to individual certification programs, IBCCES partners with cities, destinations, and organizations on initiatives like the Certified Autism Destination™ (CAD) and Autism Certified City™ (ACC), ensuring autistic and sensory-sensitive residents and visitors feel welcomed and safe. Destinations that achieve the CAD designation have completed a specialized program that ensures a multitude of recreation, hospitality, and entertainment organizations have completed an autism and sensory-sensitivity training, certification, and IBCCES facilities review process. The ACC designation expands on that program and includes IBCCES training and certification for the public safety, education, healthcare, and workplace sectors.

IBCCES also created the Accessibility App, AutismTravel.com, and AccessibilityCertified.com – free resources for individuals with a variety of neurodiversities and disabilities, listing certified locations and connecting individuals to other resources and each other.

Media Contacts

Kelly Boggs, Owner
Beyond Words Bookshop
Phone: 614.893.2770
Email: beyondwordsbookshop@gmail.com

Meredith Tekin
IBCCES
+1 904-508-0135
marketing@ibcces.org
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