Thompson Center uses three-part mission to make huge impact
by Sami Jo Freeman, posted May 12, 2009
The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders opened its doors in April 2005, following an $8.5 million donation from William and Nancy Thompson. The original goal was to create a state-of-the-art research and clinical facility for autistic patients, but soon included patients affected by various neurodevelopmental disorders. William and Nancy Thompson are both alumni of the University of Missouri.
Executive Director Jim Poehling believes that the Thompson Center has found success through careful planning and preparation.
“We have a three-part mission at the Thompson Center: clinical services, research and further training,” said Poehling. “We are associated with the University through the 31 departments and 108 faculty and staff that actively collaborate with the Thompson Center. Their support ranges from physical and occupational therapists to researchers and grant writers.”
Since the beginning, the Thompson Center has seen growth in not only support, but also the numbers of patients they are seeing. Third-quarter reports from the 2009 fiscal year show that the facility saw more than 1,200 first-time visitors and more than 6,000 service visits. There are also 30 research projects investigating the cause and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder and nine pending grants that have the potential to bring around $6.8 million back to the center, which will double the current funding.
The day-to-day work at the Thompson Center may vary, but the one thing that Poehling guaranteed was that the facility fully believes in a balance between research, clinical practices and their training programs. With a versatile staff, the Thompson Center offers 15 different services covering diagnosis, assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Some of these services include speech and language therapy, nutrition counseling, family support resources and integrated support services for young adults.
“One of the treatment programs to highlight is the EIBI [Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention], which is one of the most effective strategies for dealing with autistic patients,” Poehling said.
EIBI is for younger patients, ages 18 months to 8 years old, who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder or other neurodevelopmental disorders. It is the most effective because it takes a skills-based assessment and trains the individuals around the patients to help their development, along with an ongoing follow-up.
The Thompson Center puts autism in the spotlight year-round, and this year has been no exception to that rule. Leaders of the Thompson Center hosted speakers Tim Page and best-selling author John Elder Robinson on April 20 for National Autism Awareness Month. This is just an example of the many events that the Thompson Center hosts for autism awareness throughout the year.
“The schedule for the day included a full slate of events at various venues across campus for MU students, faculty and staff; persons with autism spectrum disorders and their families; public school teachers; and other community advocates,” said Janet Farmer, director of Academic Programs for the Thompson Center.“ Approximately 240 people participated. We received numerous positive responses to these events. For instance, one Missouri educator commented that these sessions greatly influenced her perspective on classroom teaching for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.”
The center also hosted an Annual Autism Conference, which was held March 25-29 in Columbia. A total of 378 parents, professionals and students participated in the conference this year. It consisted of workshops, meet-and-greets, vendor booths and conference sessions that were hosted by nationally recognized researchers and practitioners. The conference is aimed at educating and providing support for parents and professionals that deal with autistic patients on a daily basis. In addition, the Thompson Center also focuses on health profession seminars, and training workshops for teachers and parents.
"While Autism is becoming more and more common in the United States, my family was first experiencing it when it was still new,” said Jessica Denker, an MU student. “Facilities like the Thompson Center have helped my family cope with the changing information about autism, and helped us make the best choices for my brother. Living with a family member that has autism is difficult as well as rewarding, and these kinds of facilities have helped me to enjoy the rewarding moments, and deal with the difficult situations."
In the future, the Thompson Center will focus on increasing first-time visits and bringing back patients for returning visits, as well as recruiting two new doctors and considering the construction of a new facility.
“I think the biggest story surrounding the Thompson Center is the overwhelming support from our donors, as well as the dedication from our faculty and the university support,” Poehling said. “Our future is bright because of those things.”
For more information, visit the Thompson Center Web site.
