LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The headquarters building of Park Community Credit Union here will be bathed in blue lights this week as it seeks to help create awareness for autism.
April is Autism Awareness Month and the credit union will feature the blue lighting through the week ending April 6. The credit union said it is seeking to highlight its support for those on the Autistic Spectrum and – for FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of Louisville.
Park Community said it has achieved the Level 2 Autism Friendly certification with FEAT of Louisville, the only financial institution in the state to do so. All of the Park Community Credit Union locations have been equipped with a sensory box to be used when individuals with autism come to the branches, according to PCCU. The sensory box contains items to help calm individuals with autism when they are in public facilities and make them feel more comfortable.
In 2017, Park Community became the first financial institution to receive a Level 1 certification after all of its employees viewed an informational video and then answered a series of questions based on the video. “This ensured that the credit union employees were given the tools necessary to recognize the signs and actions of someone with autism and appropriate ways to respond,” the credit union said.
Park Community said it now plans to achieve the ‘Level 3’ designation before the end of the year. At that time Park Community will be in a position to hire individuals who are on the autism spectrum.