The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at the University of Missouri opened a new center Thursday to expand knowledge and services for people on the autism spectrum and their families.
The new facility has more space and more staff for treatment and other support services.
Even before the expansion, the center’s impact was great. Her Ana Compin-Romero, a parent of a young adult with autism, spoke at the grand opening of her experience at Thompson Her Center.
Compin-Romero received a job offer in Jefferson City a few months after her son was diagnosed with autism in Chicago. To support her son, she Googled “Autism in Missouri” and Her Thompson Center was her first result.
She said learning about the center helped ensure that moving to Missouri was the right choice.
“This was before the sponsored ads, so it was a sign from space that this was a good place,” says Compin-Romero. “We took the plunge and moved to Colombia.”
“That big leap of faith was the best decision for our family,” she said.
At the Thompson Center, her son learned techniques such as brushing his teeth and washing his bottom. Compin-Romero was also allowed to observe how a behavioral analyst helped her son and received tips on how to improve basic skills in her own home.
“We go on vacation together without worrying about what concessions Danny might have to make that may not always be acceptable to him,” said Compin-Romero. increase. “It doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? It’s a big deal for us.”
Now, the Thompson Center hopes to extend that impact even further by reaching out and supporting more people with autism and neurodiverseness. The Thompson Center’s Executive Director, Stephen Sheinkopf, said the expansion is aimed at providing services that the public wants.
In support of the expansion, Richard Barohn, MU’s executive vice president of health affairs, said a new developmental and behavioral pediatrics fellowship program will train graduate students at the MU School of Medicine to work with people with autism. announced that it will help
“From the 1940s to the 1970s, the National Psychiatric Center was big,” says Barohn. “I think the Thompson Center will achieve such national excellence in autism. It’s all happening here at the University of Missouri.”
The new facility at 200 N Keene St. has an expanded treatment space, classrooms for social skills learning for ages 4-12, and a severe behavioral clinic. The Severe Behavior Clinic serves patients who perform stimulation, which is a repetitive movement that can cause injury, such as kicking or hitting the head. To provide patient comfort, the room has padded walls and a television behind plexiglass.
Other classes and programs include potty training and life skills groups.
“We serve our families, but we also serve our communities,” Sheinkoff said.
