Governor plans to increase autism services
Published Jan. 25, 2008
As part of his plan to increase autism services throughout Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt proposed that MU's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders receive $5 million toward a larger building.
"I have worked to ensure that Missouri families struggling with autism have the resources they need for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to help ensure a higher quality of life and enhanced opportunities for their children," Blunt said in a news release. "This is a significant funding increase for autism diagnosis and treatment for Missouri children and families who are struggling with autism."
This is a step in the right direction, said Janet Farmer, the executive co-director of the Thompson Center.
"We are very pleased that the governor recognizes the need for autism services in Missouri," Farmer said in a news release. "A new Thompson Center facility at MU is essential for continued development of our state-of-the-art clinical programs, training opportunities for students and community professionals, and cutting edge research."
Over the past two years, the center's business has tripled the number of child visits from 2,000 to 6,000.
"During that period, Thompson Center professionals moved from their separate departments into the leased building," Farmer said in an e-mail. "This gave us the opportunity to create new services for children with developmental concerns, especially in the area of intervention."
Donors as well as state and research grants contributed money for the new services, she said.
Because of this growth, there is a need for capital improvements and a new building, said Kathy Thornburg, co-director of the center.
A larger building will also help the center collaborate with other state and national institutions, Farmer said.
"A larger facility allows the Thompson Center to expand our interdisciplinary collaborations and our local, state and national partnerships," Farmer said. "This will promote a continuum of care that starts with early detection of developmental challenges and leads to effective intervention over time."
While the center would receive $5 million from Blunt, the Thompson foundation is continuing to raise money privately. They hope to raise an additional $15 to $20 million.
"The building plans are completely dependent on state and private funding," Farmer said in an e-mail.
Blunt's proposal is part of a plan to increase autism funding for the state by $12.4 million.
The proposal still needs to go through legislation, Farmer said. She said the Center's administrators would find out in May if budget were passed.