SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Springfield’s Arc of the Ozarks is having its official grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center on Friday morning.
Executive Vice President of Arc of the Ozarks, Tim Dygon, said the Springfield community will benefit significantly from all the resources the new facility provides.
“We wanted to add the ability to have more assessments in this area. This center will provide about 500 multi-disciplinary autism assessments per year,” Dygon said.
We told you about the opening of this new center last week. Dygon said the funds for this new center came from a matching grant of $5 million from the Missouri General Assembly, but the total project cost is around $10 million.
Arc’s Director of Counseling Services and Diagnostics, Dr. Lindsey Reichert, said the center is a one-stop shop for patients.
“Everything is really individualized, especially when you get the autism diagnosis. What we’re trying to do here is combine a team with occupational therapists, speech therapists, ABA, psychologists, counselors, physical therapists, and also family advocates and a family resource for autism-specific patients to help guide these families throughout the community,” Dr. Reichert said.
The new center includes a gymnasium with equipment suitable for patients, multiple assessment and examination rooms, other rooms specifically designed for therapy, a kitchen where therapists can conduct food therapy, and so much more.
First Lady Teresa Parson will attend the ribbon cutting on Friday morning. The new clinic is located at 2864 South Nettleton in Springfield. It begins Friday at 10 a.m.
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Volunteer Ozarks: Arc of the Ozarks
For the video and full story: Springfield nonprofit makes resources for the autism community more accessible with new center