Autism center names directors

By Campbell Massie

Published Nov. 27, 2007

The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at MU announced a plan developed by Provost Brian Foster to enhance the organization of the center and add an interim co-director to help rebuild the structure of the center.

"The center is only a couple years old and they have had really good successes," Foster said. "There is potential for it to turn it into a really great institution."

He said the center has evolved beyond the current system, and the changes will be made within the center to revamp it into a world-class organization.

Kathy Thornburg was appointed as executive co-director along with Janet Farmer, who has directed the center since 2005, to look into how to reinvent the center's organization.

"We are taking the next several months to decide what will happen with the structure," Farmer said.

Thornburg has worked in child development for decades.

She has also been active in public policy and setting up organizations and systems, she said.

"I would like to help with some of the administrative changes that will be occurring," Thornburg said. "That is really the reason that I am there, to look at the administrative structure of the Thompson Center with Dr. Farmer."

Foster said autism is the focus of a lot of research because the cause of the disorder is unknown.

He said the center seeks to answer many questions about the causes, and if it is possible, they aim to discover a cure.

In the meantime, Foster said it is important to research how to work best with children and adults with autism, and how to train others to do so.

The center's staff works to train professionals to work with autistic children and their families.

The center will have the opportunity to work with other MU departments on brain-imaging research in science and educational learning techniques.

One of the center's goals is to increase its staff's ability to see and care for more patients.

The system will be adjusted to lend more support to people who seek care at the Thompson Center, Farmer said.

The Thompson Center will also be hiring a scientist who has specialized in neuroscience and brain functioning, Farmer said.