8.0MB - College of Education - Auburn University

New building allows Autism Center to expand much-needed servicesThe AuburnUniversityAutismCenter, onceoperating outof two roomsin Auburn’sY a r b r o u g hElementar ySchool, isnow in thefirst of itst w o - p h a s erelocation to the Dawson Building onthe AU campus.The building, once home to AU ParkingServices and Campus Police, willeventually offer 5,000 square feet thatwill not only enhance current services,but allow the center to realize portionsof its vision and long-range plan thatonly additional space could provide.“We’re excited about the opportunitiesthe move afforded us,” said Dr. CarolineGomez, one of the center’s two codirectors.“It will allow us, over time, togreatly expand our services and will giveus a good, central location on campus.More importantly, it will allow us to doso much more for children and adolescentswith autism and their families.”This expansion comes on the heels ofrecent national studies estimating thatthis complex neurobiological disordernow affects one out of every 150 individualsin the U.S. While the disorder’scause is still under debate, its effects areapparent: affecting four times as manyboys as girls, and striking children as earlyas six months old and as old as threeyears of age.Three miles from campus at Yarbroughwhere it was established in 2003, the AutismCenter had one classroom and onesmall observation room, which also doubledas an office for co-directors Gomezand Dr. Robert Simpson. Once renovationsare completed later this spring, thecenter will include a diagnostic clinic,three classrooms, a conference room andoffice space for Gomez, Simpson, twooutreach consultants and up to five graduateteachingassistants.“We arevery pleasedthat we canfinally houseall our servicesand personnelunderone roof,”said Simpson,who, as a professorin theDepartmentof Rehabilitation and Special Education,also directs the Autism Teacher Traininggraduate program. “Until now, we havebeen located in three separate buildingsacross campus.”The diagnostic clinic will allow the AutismCenter to provide multidisciplinarydiagnostic evaluations—something parentsnow must wait six months to a yearto receive. A team including Gomez, aneducational specialist, a speech/languagepathologist and an occupational therapistwill conduct those evaluations.“We hope that, by providing these diagnosticservices, we can help reduce thewait time many parents have to endure,”Gomez said.Currently, two of the three plannedclassrooms have been open and servingchildren ages 3-5 since fall 2006. Eachclassroom will accommodate five childrenwith autism and five peer models—or children without the disorder.“Placing peer models in the classroomwith children who have autism is an approachthat is receiving a lot of attentionand positive response,” Gomez said.“Children with disabilities often learnfrom other children what they do notlearn from adults.”The third classroom, opening oncerenovations conclude, will serve as atransition classroom for adolescents andyoung adults between the ages of 17-21.This class will be designed to assist individualswith autism to make a successfultransition from school to work.“Our ultimate goal will be independentemployment for each individual weserve,” Simpson said. “Currently, theemployment rate for adults with autismis around 15 percent, primarily becausethe factors affecting employment are sovariable and unique to each person.”Originally identified in 1943, autismis one of five autism spectrum disordersthat persist typically throughout aperson’s lifetime. Its prevalence is morecommon than pediatric cancer, diabetesand AIDS combined, and it affects all racial,ethnic and social groups.Autism impairs a person’s ability tocommunicate and relate to others. It isalso associated with rigid routines andrepetitive behaviors, such as obsessivelyarranging objects or following very specificroutines. Symptoms can range frommild to severe.For more information, visiteducation.auburn.edu/autismcenter.education.auburn.edu Keystone • Volume IV, 2007 59