The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Celebrates Its Grand Opening on Saturday, May 10, 2014 in Santa Ana

A first-of-its-kind public/private partnership between Chapman University’s College of Educational Studies, UC Irvine’s School of Medicine, CHOC, the Thompson Family Foundation, and Children and Families Commission of OC, the center will focus on active support for children and families affected by autism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mary Platt
Director of Communications and Media Relations
Chapman University
platt@chapman.edu

ORANGE, Calif. – The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders will celebrate its Grand Opening on Saturday, May 10, 2014, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its headquarters at 2500 Red Hill Avenue, Suite 100, in Tustin.  The open-house festivities, which are free and open to the public, will include tours of the new space, information for families and meet-the-providers opportunities, as well as games, activities and food.  The center’s founding members are Chapman University’s College of Educational Studies, UC Irvine’s School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, The William and Nancy Thompson Family Foundation and the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.

“As the rates of children with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders increase, so does the need for a comprehensive approach to intervention,” said Don Cardinal, Ph.D., dean of Chapman’s College of Educational Studiesand incoming chairman of the Center for Autism.  “Because children spend so much of their time in school settings, it is important that professionals in all disciplines work collaboratively to provide these youth and their families with much needed intervention and support.  In response to this growing need, Chapman University’s College of Educational Studies and the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders have come together with partners, medical researchers, parents, educators, and schools to actively address this issue as a community.”

Chapman’s College of Educational Studies has developed a two-pronged approach in supporting the center, providing family-collaborative and educational opportunities specifically designed to meet the needs of individual students, families and schools.  To this end, the college has launched two cutting-edge programs: Families and Schools Together (F.A.S.T), and the Chapman Ability Project (C.A.P).

• Families and Schools Together (F.A.S.T.) — The Families and Schools Together (F.A.S.T) program offers support to families and schools by using a cohesive multi-disciplinary approach to intervention. All professional team members work together to increase communication, develop strong collaborative relationships, and share resources and expertise. This approach allows the team to enhance services in all settings, and ultimately improves outcomes for the youth who are served.

• The Chapman Ability Project (C.A.P.) — The Chapman Ability Project (C.A.P.) will focus on high-level education workshops, lectures and certificate programs designed to increase the knowledge and practice of those serving our youth in the schools and in clinical settings. This program will provide advanced in-service training for school teachers, administrators and workers, allying with schools and families in creating Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for students with autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.

“We are incredibly excited to help negotiate this uncertain terrain, to see all viewpoints, promote flexibility, and advocate for the best interests of the child,” said Dr. Cardinal.  “Our goal is to work together with all team members to create quality outcomes for youth with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities throughout Southern California.”

About the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Originally founded in 2001 (as For OC Kids), the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders is home to a team of experts in the field of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. In late 2012, in a first-of-its-kind public/private partnership, the William and Nancy Thompson Family Foundation and the Children and Families Commission of Orange County provided $14.8 million to create a new vision.  The aim is to create the nation’s premier center for evaluation, treatment, education and research for the wide range of autism spectrum disorders, providing help and hope to children and families affected by autism. When fully staffed, the center will offer a complete range of diagnostic and treatment services to children, adolescents and young adults from birth to age 22. This ambition and determination is reflected in the center’s alignment of major partners in autism for this venture, including UC Irvine, Chapman University’s College of Educational Studies, and Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

About Chapman University
Consistently ranked among the top universities in the West, Chapman University provides a uniquely personalized and interdisciplinary educational experience to highly qualified students. Our programs encourage innovation, creativity and collaboration, and focus on developing global citizen-leaders who are distinctively prepared to improve their community and their world. Visit us at www.chapman.edu.

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