MSU Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic opens virtually for the fall 2020 semester

STARKVILLE, Miss – Mississippi State's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic opens its virtual doors to the community.

Director Daniel Gadke said that the outreach unit's variety of services will continue, but all will be handled a little differently this semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gadke continued to say that the transition online was an easy one since the center's facilities weren't set up to maintain the ideal social distance. The only other option was to reduce the number of clients the center served, which Gadke explained wasn't ideal.

"We couldn't, in good conscience, cut the number of people we served, so the only other option was to continue online," said Gadke. "We just thought the best way to be inclusive and keep the clients and students safe was just to commit to online and put all of our efforts behind that for the fall."

Gadke said the center works with up to 100 clients each semester. While also supporting the campus Autism Liaison program.

Run by school psychology faculty through the College of Education's Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Foundations, the ADDC outreach unit addresses behavioral concerns and academic skills. It also offers vocational skills training, social skills groups and assessment services.

All ADDC services are provided on a sliding scale based on family income. The clinic receives support through private donations.

A true hub of cross-campus collaboration, the ADDC utilizes graduate students working under a faculty member's direct supervision and earning their education specialist or doctoral degrees in MSU's school psychology program. Professors involved with the clinic also give professional and community trainings throughout the state on autism, behavior, academics and disabilities. Usually, MSU undergraduates from any major also can volunteer at the clinic; however, since moving online for the semester, the center is not taking any volunteers until the spring semester.

Typically, the ADDC provides four types of services, including:

—Individual Services, typically weekly appointments when clients meet one-on-one with graduate students. Each session is targeted toward behavioral, social or academic concerns and include parent/caregiver training. Behavior concerns may include non-compliance, mild aggression or tantrums. Social concerns may include limited social engagement, functional life skills and daily living activities. Academic skills targeted may include addressing difficulty with reading or mathematics. The clinic also works with emerging adults to provide vocational skills training.

—Social Skills Groups, beginning with preschool-age children and offered through high school. Groups vary in size, depending on need. Examples of social skills group interventions include working on appropriate greetings, back-and-forth conversation dynamics, appropriate play skills, emotion identification and teamwork, among others. Social Skills Groups have been paused for the fall 2020 semester.

—Assessment Services, including comprehensive psychological and psycho-educational assessment services. These may include assessments for autism, special education services, independent evaluations, and others.

—Autism Liaison Services, in partnership with MSU Disability Support Services and tailored toward degree-seeking students who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. A select group of graduate students known as MSU Autism Liaisons is dedicated to serving other students on campus who have autism. These students lend assistance and support with navigating college. This semester the Autism Liaison Services are meeting virtually.

Gadke said the ADDC mission is to provide high quality services to the community, train future professionals and engage in research to enhance the field. To learn more, visit www.addc.msstate.edu.

For more information on donating to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic contact Trish Cunetto, the College of Education’s director of development at tcunetto@colled.msstate.edu. To donate to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic visit https://bit.ly/2Fa9kA4.

Established in 1903, MSU's College of Education is now home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit //www.educ.msstate.edu/.

MSU is Mississippi's leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

MSU PHOTO ID: (Photo by)