The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders received a major gift from University of Missouri alumni Bill and Nancy Thompson.
The $1 million donation will create the Ron Ashworth Endowed Professorship in Child Development.
Ron Ashworth is the board chair for the Thompson Foundation Board of Directors.
The endowed professorship will be headed by the Thompson center’s Director of Medical Services Ben Black. He said that this will help sustain the efforts already being made by the university.
“We believe strongly that an endowed chair or professorship is a powerful tool for the university to attract the very best people,” said Thompson.
MU Health Care CEO Jonathan Curtright said that this professorship will allow for increasing services that are already being provided.
“We are going to continue to have the resources necessary to fulfill our mission of saving and improving lives each and every day, said Curtright.
Ashworth said that while the Thompson Center is expanding services, demand is exceeding the supply: “We have a waitlist for diagnostic evaluations for about a year. We have a waitlist for therapeutic visits of over a year.”
Ashworth said that the funding will help find qualified people and give the space they need to work to help cut down on times that someone may need to wait in order to receive services.
April is “World Autism Month”, which aims to raise awareness and acceptance of autism.
Curtright said that the funding is a symbol of what the month is all about.
“This is simply an excellent example of when the University of Missouri puts its resources forward. It can create true excellence,” said Curtright.