Over the past 38 years, Marshall has become a national leader in the field of autism.
People in the Huntington region might be surprised to learn that Marshall University is the home of a national leader in the field of autism. Born from the passion and dedication of autism pioneer Dr. Ruth Sullivan, the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall has been serving the needs of individuals with autism since being established by the West Virginia Legislature in 1984. Their mission: “To support individuals diagnosed with autism as they pursue a life of quality.”
The oldest program at the center, now called Direct Services, has provided free multitiered support to both families and educators statewide. The services are designed to meet the needs of all West Virginians with autism and the people who support them. A community-based program, its services include behavior and needs assessments as well as training parents and caregivers in positive behavior support techniques. School-based paraprofessionals who receive training become credentialed as “autism mentors.”
In 2002 the College Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder was created, becoming the first of its kind in the nation. The only program offered that isn’t free, the fee-based initiative serves 60-70 students each year. Around 60% of those students are from out of state, which brings revenue to the university for housing, meal plans and other services. In addition, it also teaches students how to transition into employment after college. Examples include summer workshop programs with local businesses and hosting a panel of business leaders who help soon-to-be graduates understand what managers expect from employees.
According to Dr. Marc Ellison, executive director of the center, the businesses involved also learn about the benefits of hiring people with autism.
“A lot of companies are looking for the skills that people with autism have; they just don’t know it,” Ellison said. “As employees they are extremely reliable, having stellar attendance rates. What’s more, many are hyperfocused about their work.”
Matt Kaiser is a 2015 graduate of Marshall and one of the students who benefited from the program. He said that the mentors were a huge part of his success, working with him to plan his schedule and assisting him with any projects he might have had difficulty navigating.
In August the center announced a partnership with CAI Neurodiverse Solutions to work with its end-to-end employment program. The program provides work experience and employment opportunities in the technology field to Marshall graduates. While not all graduates have an interest in the tech field, Ellison said he believes it’s important to give those who do a chance to succeed.
The Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center supports educators by teaching positive behavior support and interventions. It also oversees a statewide Mental Health First Aid initiative. The center was established as a response to a request for support from teachers with issues related to student behavior and mental health needs. The services supported by the center are based upon national models and research related to multitiered systems of support (MTSS) and interconnected systems framework (ISF).
Ellison has followed in Sullivan’s footsteps by working to get legislation passed that further benefits West Virginia citizens who have autism. In 2021 Gov. Jim Justice signed into law Senate Bill 634, which requires law enforcement and correctional officers to be trained on the best ways to interact with individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The training focuses on providing officers with a base knowledge of how autism spectrum disorder affects a person and why they may not act or react the same way as a neurotypical person. West Virginia is now one of only a handful of states that require this training.
Ellison worked with Lt. K.G. Murray, deputy director of training at the West Virginia State Police Academy, to get the bill passed. Murray has two sons with autism.
“The bottom line is this training is vital to ensure those people with ASD will be safer when they may have an encounter with the police,” Murray said. “What’s more, police officers will be safer when they encounter a person with ASD.”
The Autism Training Center currently employs 44 staff members and has offices not only on Marshall’s Huntington campus, but also in Fairmont and Parkersburg. In addition, autism specialists are stationed in regions across the state and work from their homes.
“How we understand autism is constantly evolving,” Ellison noted. “For example, new research shows that many females exhibit autism traits differently than men. Not being aware of this fact clearly led to the misdiagnoses of thousands of women over the decades.”
A five-year plan calls for the number of students served by the college program to double. A major part of this plan will involve moving from the current location in Old Main to a building on Sixth Avenue that formerly housed Tri State MRI. Ellison said the program will need to raise $5 million to renovate the building.
“We believe that doubling the size of the program and moving into a new location will enable us to develop a center of excellence for the employment of people with autism,” Ellison said. “This is meaningful work that benefits not only those with ASD, but their families, friends and the community as well.”
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About the Author: Amy Deal is a freelance writer living in Barboursville, West Virginia.
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Staff of the West Virginia Autism Training Center provide support to individuals with autism spectrum disorder as they pursue a life of quality.
The West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall offers a variety of services including behavior and needs assessments as well as training parents and caregivers in positive behavior support techniques. It also teaches students how to transition into employment after college.
The West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall was born from the passion and dedication of autism pioneer Dr. Ruth Sullivan, having been established by the West Virginia Legislature in 1984.