Thompson Center celebrates 10 years in autism with eyes on the future
By Marta Witko and Adrienne Cornwall
COLUMBIA, Mo. (October 8, 2015) – Kicking off the evening with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, Thompson Center founders Bill and Nancy Thompson joined the center’s providers, staff and special guests at The Roof at The Broadway hotel in downtown Columbia to celebrate 10 years of helping Missouri children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Since its opening in 2005, the Thompson Center has expanded its clinical, research and training capacity. From 550 visits in its first year to more than 9,000 in 2015, the center serves patients throughout the U.S. while also training health providers, teachers and even businesses in best practices for supporting individuals with autism and conducting world-class research.
“We’ve come so far in 10 years,” said Thompson Center Executive Director Dr. Stephen Kanne. “We’re excited to see what the next 10 years will bring for the Thompson Center and for families affected by autism.”
The near future for the Thompson Center includes a new national genetics research project that will launch later this year and a partnership with Mizzou Athletics to bring autism friendly business practices to Mizzou Arena for the upcoming basketball season.
The research project, funded by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, selected the Thompson Center as one of three pilot sites across the country to participate in a national genetic autism project that aims to recruit 50,000 individuals with autism and their families for a long-term research cohort.
On hand to celebrate these and many other accomplishments were a number of supporters: Thompson Foundation for Autism board members Lora Hinkel, Jack Reis and Al Eberhard, who will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in November; MU Children’s Hospital Medical Director Dr. Timothy Fete; and School of Health Professions Dean Dr. Kristofer Hagglund.
Members of the MU chapter of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, who in April fulfilled a pledge to endow a $25,000 patient scholarship fund at the Thompson Center, also turned out to support the center as well as thank Nancy and Bill, an alumnus of the chapter, for their leadership.
The Thompsons also heard from several families in attendance whose children are treated at the center and came out to celebrate the center’s 10th year.
“We just love hearing from families who have been touched by the Thompson Center,” Thompson said. “It really illustrates how our gift 10 years ago is actually an investment that is paying off for families.”