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University Autism Center Expands, Serves Kids On The Spectrum In Rural Southern MO

Lindsey Grojean/KRCU

After taking root in Sikeston, Southeast Missouri State University has come closer to serving children with autism in the southernmost part of the region.

Although still operating out of their main office in Cape Girardeau, the University Autism Center satellite location will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of autism in children from 2-5 years old.

According to behavior analyst Allison Bruner, they utilize what’s called Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention -- also known as EIBI -- to prepare their clients for kindergarten. This can be used to solve challenging behaviors like kicking, hitting, or biting.

They also work on the kids’ pre-academic skills.

“We focus on social deficits, communication deficits,” says Bruner. “And when we do our assessments, we try to see where the baseline is. We work on those skills they can use whenever they get in the classroom.”

Credit Lindsey Grojean/KRCU

Lacey Cook, also a behavior analyst at the autism center, says their activities differ based on their clients’ needs and skill levels. These can include working on play skills, and even labeling common objects.

Although their main objective is to serve the community, the center also involves Southeast students to implement programs with the individuals they serve. In fact, both Bruner and Cook were hired on after completing their practicum work as students at the main center in Cape Girardeau.

“[Southeast] offered me that clinical experience,” says Bruner. “But we always say that to be a good clinician, you have to be a good implementer first. We hit that really hard in grad school and then backed away into a more supervisory role, which is where we are now.”

Dr. Renee Patrick is the director at the University Autism Center in Sikeston. She says there’s a ‘huge’ need for autism services in southeast Missouri. A recent report from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network estimates that 1 in 59 children in the U.S. ‘has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).’

Credit Lindsey Grojean/KRCU

This scarcity in services is causing the autism center’s waitlist to be increasingly long, and not just near Cape Girardeau; up to 70% of that waitlist lives in Sikeston or further south from the main campus center.

“Not only is it costly, but it’s also a long time in the car for children who are exhibiting symptoms of autism,” says Patrick. “So this gives them a little break driving-wise and time-wise.”

During a ribbon-cutting earlier this month, Southeast Pres. Dr. Carlos Vargas said autism is something that we need to be ‘paying special attention to.’

“Children have to be diagnosed as early as possible,” said Vargas. “We’re hoping that being here is going to allow some of the families that live further south to be able to reach the center.”

The University Autism Center had its official opening Jan. 21, and offer services in the morning, three days a week -- a frequency they hope to increase in the future.