Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment

04/25/2026

In this special episode of Supporting the Spectrum, we’re joined by Hope McPheeters, founder of Ella’s Hope for Autism. After her daughter Ella was diagnosed with autism at age two, Hope turned her family’s journey into a mission to support others. She shares her first experience with the Thompson Center, how it has impacted her family and community, and the inspiration behind Ella’s Hope. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts! Or, get more details at https://thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/sts/

04/24/2026

Can you believe it? We're 15 days away from our Grand Opening Celebration! All are invited for interactive activities and opportunities to explore our new home — let us know that you’re coming at https://thompsonfoundation.org/grandopening/

04/24/2026

“Take me out to the ball game” 🎶 Join us on May 9 for Autism Acceptance Day with Mizzou Baseball!

Save the Date! Friends of the Thompson Center - this year's Autism Acceptance Day at Taylor Stadium is Saturday, May 9. The first pitch is at 4:00 pm. More details coming soon!

04/23/2026

Welcome to the "cave," home of our remarkable research team! Our Research Core makes breakthrough research possible right here at the Thompson Center by maximizing recruitment and support for studies, organizing critical data and materials, and facilitating research that has positive implications for the families in our clinics.

Our new building features state-of-the-art facilities to accelerate research in-house, including a laboratory, multi-use testing & research rooms, and a comfortable lobby for participating families. Learn more about our Research Core during our Grand Opening Celebration and open house on May 8! Save the date and let us know that you’re coming at https://thompsonfoundation.org/grandopening/

04/23/2026

Caregivers, we've got a meeting this Monday! Join us for Caregiver Connections, a supportive space for caregivers of neurodivergent individuals to connect and share resources. We'd love to have you this Monday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Thompson Center (701 Veterans United Dr)! Advance registration is not required, but greatly appreciated at https://brnw.ch/21x1SeR

04/22/2026

Join us this Friday for an opportunity to receive FREE APA continuing education credits! Dr. Jennifer Sykes will be sharing valuable insights on Promoting Neurodiversity Acceptance in Clinical Practice. This webinar will be held this Friday, April 24 at 12 p.m. CT on Zoom. Register now to receive the webinar link: https://brnw.ch/21x1QiY

04/22/2026

Columbia will be proclaimed an Autism Friendly City on May 7, and we can't wait to celebrate with you! 🎉 So, what is the Autism Friendly City Proclamation? What does this mean for our city?

It's more than a title — this historic occasion recognizes the commitment of numerous Columbia organizations across industries to support neurodiverse customers and employees, from hospitality to medical care to entertainment. These organizations establish their commitment by completing ongoing Autism Friendly Business training through the Thompson Center. This free training empowers organizations with personalized tools, employee training, practical strategies, and tailored, ongoing support from the Thompson Center's Training Core team. Join us for the Autism Friendly City Proclamation on May 7 at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall (701 E Broadway St)! Let us know that you're coming at thompsonfoundation.org/grandopening.

Find local AFBs and learn more about the Thompson Center's AFB program at thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/afb.

04/21/2026

Have you met our training team? The Thompson Center Training Core team is dedicated to uplifting the voices of autistic individuals, educating the next generation of neurodevelopmental care providers, and building a community that celebrates neurodiversity. This small but mighty team facilitates a variety of programs, including our Autism Friendly Business program, the annual Thompson Center Autism Conference, our STRIVE post-secondary education program, our free TEAM webinars, the TIPS for Kids training program, and more.

Our new building houses a large training and conference room with a state-of-the-art AV system to provide a fitting home for future community outreach activities, parent trainings, professional seminars, and more. Meet our Training Core and check out this new space for yourself during our Grand Opening on May 8! Save the date and let us know that you’re coming at https://thompsonfoundation.org/grandopening/

Not pictured here (but just as amazing): Traci Holgrem, SEC

04/20/2026

Last week, our leadership team met with fellow leaders from the Missouri Autism Center Consortium, a collaboration between seven autism centers across Missouri that provide best-practice diagnostic evaluations and community training. This partnership emphasizes a strong, shared mission of building a supportive community for neurodiverse families through resource sharing and project partnerships. We are incredibly grateful to be a part of this team!

04/19/2026

Congratulations to The District (downtown Columbia) on completing Autism Friendly Business training!🎉 We are especially excited to share that AFB training is already underway among businesses in The District, and we will be celebrating the upcoming Autism Friendly City Proclamation at City Hall downtown!

The District in downtown Columbia is a live/work/play neighborhood that sparks the creative, eclectic, and local. The District is a constantly adapting community of people, blending tradition harmoniously with high tech and the latest trends in fashion, food and the arts. The area is bound by three colleges and encompasses 50 square blocks, more than 300 individual properties, over 5,000 residences, and over 600 businesses, non-profits and government entities. The Downtown Community Improvement District (CID) is an independent organization dedicated to keeping Columbia’s downtown clean, safe, beautiful, and top of mind.

Autism Friendly Business training equips The District to support neurodiverse visitors through practical strategies, personalized tools, and on-going support. Together, we're building a community that celebrates individuals of all abilities.

Interested in the Thompson Center's Autism Friendly Business training? Learn more at thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/afb

04/18/2026

Families and students of all ages who are impacted by a disability are invited to this free transition resource event at Hickman High School in Columbia! Participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts and learn about the various agencies that provide support during the transition process for current students and young adults. Agencies include, but are not limited to:

Avant Supported Living
Boone County Family Resources
Columbia Public Schools
Impact Support Services
Job Point
MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries
MIPSA - Midwest Inclusive Post Secondary Alliance
Missouri Job Center - Columbia
Mizzou Disability Center (Mizzou Life)
Mizzou PAWS (Preparing Adults for Work and Society) Mizzou: College of Education & Human DevelopmentCollege of Education and Human Development)
University of Missouri Pre-Employment Transition Services
Woodhaven WeBUILT - Fulton, MO
..and more! Join us on April 30 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. — this is a come and go event, so stay for as long or as little as you'd like. Please let us know that you're coming at https://brnw.ch/21x1InC

04/17/2026

Thanks to the generous support of our community, we are grateful to share the new home for a program designed to address a widespread, critical need in severe behavior care — the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The first of its kind in Missouri, the IOP provides compassionate, multidisciplinary care for patients struggling with severe behaviors that prevent them from fully accessing their communities.

Building on the success of the Thompson Center’s existing severe behavior clinic, the IOP will consists of daily intensive therapy sessions where patients may receive care from behavior specialists, physicians, speech-language pathologists, psychotherapists and other specialists to provide a one-stop shop for comprehensive care. Through ongoing collaboration and caregiver training, our behavior analyst team works with families to implement tailored, evidence-based strategies that meet their goals.