Highlighting its commitment to inclusive, high-quality care, Lee Health’s first off-site clinic has earned the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
The certification reflects specialized staff training in best practices for supporting autistic and sensory-sensitive children and adolescents, creating a welcoming environment where families can access trusted pediatric neurology, behavioral health and developmental services close to home.
Golisano Pediatric Neurology, Developmental and Behavioral Services at Lee Health provides expert, compassionate care for children and adolescents ages five through 21 with neurological, developmental, emotional and behavioral needs. The multidisciplinary team supports conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum concerns, epilepsy, movement disorders, developmental delays and learning challenges, offering early diagnosis, advanced treatments and family-centered care tailored to each child. The autism certified clinic is located at 15901 Bass Rd., Suite 108, Fort Myers.
“Approximately one in 32 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, based on estimates from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC’s) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network,” said Lee Health’s Chief Administrative Officer of LPG and Ambulatory Care Services, Kris Fay. “By providing ongoing, supportive care in a space tailored to children’s unique needs, we can ensure greater access to care for the Southwest Florida community. Creating a safe and nurturing environment for autistic children who need individualized medical attention and care is essential.”
Lee Health continues to be a local leader in helping children and families thrive by providing care, guidance and support every step of the way.
This recent certification follows Lee Health’s Golisano Children’s Hospital’s first-of-its-kind program, launched in 2024, to support patient care for pediatric patients with ASD.
The SEA STAR Program, which stands for Safety Education Awareness, Sensory Training – Autism Readiness, features Florida’s first Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) hospital, policy reviews to support sensory-friendly services, and efforts to identify the optimal sites within facilities to assist individuals with autism. It also includes the first sensory-friendly ambulance designed to improve comfort, lower stress, and provide safe, supportive hospital transportation.
To earn the CAC designation, more than 80% of physicians, nurses and patient-facing staff completed training and certification to enhance their knowledge of autism, communication strategies and patient safety. Moreover, IBCCES conducted an on-site assessment to provide additional support, recommendations and tools to enhance care and accessibility for autistic patients and their families.
For more than 20 years, IBCCES has led in training and certification focused on autism and neurodiversity for professionals in education, healthcare and corporate settings. These programs are recognized worldwide by more than 100 countries as the leading benchmark for training and certification in autism and other cognitive disorders.
To learn more about Lee Health’s pediatric services at this location, click the links below: Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Developmental, Pediatric Behavioral Health.
About Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida
Golisano Children’s Hospital, a nationally recognized facility for safety and quality care, is one of five acute care hospitals within Lee Health. Established in 1994, Golisano is the only designated children’s hospital in Southwest Florida, with over 500,000 visits a year, serving patients from six surrounding counties. Ranked as a Top Children’s Hospital by Leapfrog, a Solution for Patient Safety network hospital, an Asthma Friendly Hospital and a certified center for children with Autism, Golisano offers over thirty specialty pediatric services in various locations across SWFL. Lee Health opened the current hospital building in May 2017 which includes 135-beds and comprehensive neonatal and pediatric services. For more information, visit GolisanoChildrensSWFL.org.
