Take a look back at some of the biggest accomplishments at the Thompson Center in 2023. After an amazing year, we’re looking forward to continued growth and improvement in 2024!
2023 At A Glance
January
- We hosted the grand opening of our therapy clinic and began seeing patients in the new space.
- Along with the Thompson Foundation, we had our first autism night with Mizzou Basketball.
February
- The University of Missouri System Board of Curators approved the initiative to build a new facility for the Thompson Center.
- We hosted a Triple P: Positive Parenting Program training and advanced ADOS training.
March
- The first Thompson Center Spring Research Symposium was held at the NextGen Precision Health Building.
- We held our first cohort of SibWorks, a group for child/teen siblings of people with autism.
- Ronald McDonald House’s “Lunch On The House” program expanded to deliver 17 lunches each week to children in ABA therapy programs at the Thompson Center.
- Our research team launched the biomarker study.
- The Training Core hosted its annual STRIVE open house and self-advocate webinar series.
- Members of our training team presented at the Council for Exceptional Children Conference in Louisville, KY.
April
- We celebrated World Autism Month along with the Thompson Foundation at a carnival hosted by Mizzou Greek Week and with a Mizzou Baseball game.
- We held our first Facing Your Fears group intervention for anxiety.
- The Training Core welcomed self-advocates Haley Moss and Daniel Durany who shared their experiences through webinars.
- TIPS for Kids held its annual poster session.
May
- Several Thompson Center researchers traveled to and presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
- The Thompson Foundation was the nonprofit beneficiary of a World Cubing Association event held in Columbia.
- The Thompson Center and Mason Eye Clinic partnered to provide free vision screenings to children with autism, thanks to the support of the Healthy Vision Association.
- The Thompson Center hosted Brunch & Belonging to bring together Columbia community leaders to discuss becoming an Autism Friendly City.
June
- Dozens of speech-language pathologists came to the Thompson Center for SLP Autism Immersion Day.
- Our Foster Care Clinic doubled its capacity.
July
- The Thompson Center hosted Early Childhood Autism Professional Development Day.
August
- The Thompson Foundation purchased three speech generating devices, enabling us to launch our TALK program.
- TIPS for Kids hosted a carnival for trainees to meet their family shadowing partners.
- AutismEYES research study met its 100 participant recruitment goal.
September
- The Thompson Center hosted its 18th annual autism conference, a sold-out parent day, record-breaking poster session, and ADOS statewide calibration at the St. Charles Convention Center.
- We kicked off our second neurodiversity webinar series.
- We started our first ACE cohort.
October
- The new thompsoncenter.missouri.edu went live.
- Dozens of families trick or treated at the Thompson Center.
- The EarliTec research study had its first participant.
November
- Introductory, toddler, and advanced ADOS trainings were hosted at the Thompson Center.
- Thompson Center researchers began a cry perception study.
December
- Santa made his annual visit to the Thompson Center and saw nearly 30 families.
- The Thompson Center and Mason Eye Clinic partnered to provide free vision screenings to children with autism, thanks to the support of the Healthy Vision Association.
- The Thompson Foundation held an open house with Love Coffee.