Autism

One of the least understood of all developmental disabilities is autism. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life, resulting from a neurological disorder that affects brain functioning which interferes with communication, learning, behavior and social development.The Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities established Missouri’s Autism Program in 1991. The program provides support services to families and persons with autism residing in their own homes.

New developments in research and therapy have unlocked some of autism's mysteries, and with them, some of the lives affected by autism. The prevalence of autism and autism spectrum disorders is estimated to occur in as many as one in every 250 individuals or more. This equates to well over 22,000 persons in Missouri.

For additional facts about autism and to learn more about Missouri's Autism Projects, please click here.

The Missouri Department of Mental Health is working in collaboration with the Departments of Health Psychology, Child Health, and Health Management and Informatics at the University of Missouri-Columbia to develop a Missouri Autism Project Registry. The goal of the project is to develop public policy that would enhance the system of care for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. The Network of Care will serve as a portal for this project. To learn more, please click here.

Missouri Autism Research and Response Agenda (MARRA)

The Missouri Autism Research and Response Agenda (MARRA) is an exciting collaborative effort to develop public policy that addresses the needs of children with autism, their families, and the agencies that provide services. To learn more about MARRA, please click on the links below:

• MARRA History
• MARRA White Paper
• MARRA Meeting Minutes

INTERACTIVE AUTISM NETWORK (IAN) and Missouri Build Partnership

The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) is an online national autism registry designed by Kennedy Krieger Institute with funding fromAutism Speaks.  IAN was launched nationally on April 2, 2007.  In an exciting new development, Missouri has been selected to create a national model of how states can use the IAN registry to improve services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The result will be a state autism registry that can inform policy makers about the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Missouri and services and supports available.  This state registry is being developed by the Missouri Department of Mental Health MRDD Division and the University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

IAN consists of two parts, IAN Research and the IAN Community.

The IAN Research section of the website is the nation's largest online autism research effort.  This section of the registry gives parents the opportunity to provide information about their experience living with a child affected by an autism spectrum disorder.  It is designed to help researchers make new discoveries about the causes of and treatments for autism spectrum disorders.

The IAN Community section of the website is a comprehensive online library and meeting place focused on autism research.  It is open to families, researchers, and anyone impacted by an ASD.

We need as many Missouri families as possible to enroll in IAN so everyone’s voice can be heard. For more information or for parents/legal guardians of children under the age of 18 to register, go to: http://www.ianproject.org/

The Thompson Center

The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri-Columbia was established on June 1, 2005 through the philanthropy of William and Nancy Thompson to promote research, teaching and service innovations designed to improve the lives of children with autism spectrum disorders and other neurological conditions. The Thompson Center aims to be a resource for families and professionals who are caring for individuals who have or are at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. To accomplish this goal, we offer a range of health, education and behavioral services in one location, including:

• Diagnostic evaluations
• Health-related services
• Early intervention services
• Behavioral services, including social competence interventions
• Child and family counseling
• Speech/language and occupational therapies
• Educational consultation
• Integrated supports services for young adults
• Resource identification and care coordination

For more information about the Thompson Center, go to: http://thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/