A $10 million founding gift from a private foundation will be used to open a center a few blocks from CHOC Children’s main hospital campus to serve youngsters with autism spectrum disorders and their families, it was announced Wednesday.
The Thompson Autism Center at CHOC Children’s, named in honor of the $10 million founding gift from the William and Nancy Thompson Family Foundation, is set to open in early 2019 at 170 S. Main St.
The center “will be devoted to evaluating children as early as possible to promote better outcomes; engaging children whose behaviors diminish quality of life for them and their families; and establishing a long-term support system for children with complex care needs,” according to a CHOC statement.
The Thompson Autism Center will also, through a partnership with Chapman University, assist families in navigating the education system, from preschool to college, and participate in national research networks.
“A national leader, the Thompson Family Foundation has earned a stellar reputation for expanding services, research, education and advocacy for children with ASD and their families. We are grateful for their generous support and their commitment to enrich so many lives here in Orange County,” said CHOC Children’s President and CEO Kimberly Chavalas Cripe.
The two-story, 20,000-square-foot facility will be designed by FKP/CannonDesign, an architectural firm with national experience in neuroscience, brain and autism projects at children’s hospitals, according to CHOC.
“We take pride in collaborating with institutions and health care professionals who share our vision to dramatically improve the lives of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders and their families,” said Bill Thompson, co-founder of the Thompson Foundation. “Our collaboration with CHOC Children’s will complement and expand on the work already being done in Orange County, making a lasting impact on the community and bringing hope to children and families affected by ASD.”
The center’s focus will be to assess, treat, develop care plans and provide follow-up services for undiagnosed children, ages 1 through 6. Early intervention has been shown to significantly improve the development of basic cognitive, relational and communications skills among children with ASD; however, most children are not diagnosed until their fourth birthdays, according to CHOC.