University Autism Center for Diagnosis and Treatment taking patients, set to open next month

While the tenants will not move into the Southeast Missouri State University Autism Center for Diagnosis and Treatment for about another month, the center is accepting patients.

The center, which is operating out of the university's Innovation Center, started booking appointments last week. It will start operating out of its new facility in January, director Connie Hebert said.

"We will be able to accommodate more people more efficiently once we move into that new center," she said.

The center is providing diagnostic and assessment services but not treatment at its temporary location, which includes one therapy room. Families must complete a phone interview and provide background information before an appointment can be scheduled, she said.

Once the center opens, it will offer behavior, speech and language therapy. TouchPoint Autism Services, formerly known as the Judevine Center for Autism-Southeast Project, and the Tailor Institute will also share the new space. The three organizations will collaborate for treatment and to provide practicum experience for university students, Hebert said.

Officials broke ground on the $2.6 million center on North Fountain Street on Jan. 23. Construction of the 11,582-square-foot facility was temporarily suspended five days later when Gov. Jay Nixon put 30 state construction projects on hold. After a review of projects funded by the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he released funding for 18 of the projects, including the autism center.

The center also received $494,000 in operating funds from the Department of Mental Health.

Hebert said the funds are renewable but not indefinitely. She said the center is pursuing avenues for grant funding and insurance reimbursement.

"I do hope that [the funding] never completely goes away because it certainly is a help to have it there," she said.

The center will include 14 therapy rooms, including a sensory room with recessed lighting and blue walls.

"It's designed for our kids to have a calming environment," she said.

There will also be an efficiency apartment to teach life skills such as cooking and cleaning, she said. The building's atmosphere was planned to accommodate the specific needs of its patients, Hebert said.

"We had to pay attention to looks and sounds and feels," she said.

Colors, furniture patterns, floor textures and lighting were all carefully chosen, she said. There is rubberized flooring and carpet. Contractors used light fixtures that cut back on ambient noise.

"We really had to be aware of what the autistic population needed," said Lisa Howe, Southeast's senior project manager.

She said construction should be complete by Dec. 14. Contractors are putting in the landscaping, carpeting and glass panes.

Elaine Beussink, director of the Tailor Institute, said moving into the new facility will help the organization increase visibility in the community and expand its services.

"It's exciting," she said of the move. "It's a little unnerving."

The institute focuses on young adults with high functioning forms of autism. She said she hopes to do more outreach to also start support and therapy groups by the spring.

"We will be able to work with individuals who are falling through the cracks," she said.

Diagnostic appointments can be made with the Autism Center by calling 573-986-4985.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

611 N. Fountain St. Cape Girardeau, MO