Editor's note: An early version of this story incorrectly stated that the First Lady of the United States would be attending the event Feb. 9. The error was was corrected immediately. The Daily Citizen regrets the error.
The Arc of the Ozarks is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, the first of its kind in the Springfield metro area, on Feb. 9.
The center, which opened its doors to patients on Jan. 2, provides diagnostic evaluations, behavioral analysis, psychological/psychiatric services, and speech, occupational, physical and specialty therapy services.
“This is a celebration for our community,” Dr. Kyle John, the center's medical director, said in a press release. “To have a clinic of this caliber, with the variety of services available under one roof, will change the landscape of care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southwest Missouri.”
Clinic results from seven-year partnership
The clinic is a collaboration between the Arc of the Ozarks, Mercy and Missouri State University. The partnership began about seven years ago, when the three organizations determined that southwest Missouri was lacking in autism services, according to previous reporting.
The partners established a temporary clinic at Mercy before relocating to Branson — an unfunded exploration of the growing need for autism services in southwest Missouri. The Arc of the Ozarks estimates more than 40,000 children in Missouri will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the next decade.
The new center will serve as a diagnostic hub, with treatment options available at clinics in Joplin and Branson once a diagnosis is made. The project was partly funded by a $5 million matching grant awarded by the Missouri General Assembly.
“For too many years, children and families from our region have been forced to travel to Kansas City, Columbia or St. Louis for both diagnosis and treatment of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders,” The Arc of the Ozarks CEO Mike Powers said in a press release. “This new center will bring all those resources to southwest Missouri.”
Missouri's first lady will be there
The Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center is located at 2864 S. Nettleton Ave., and is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday. More information on the clinic can be found on its website.
Friday’s ribbon ceremony cutting will take place at 10 a.m., followed by tours of the facility. On Facebook, more than 500 people have expressed interest in attending the event, which is expected to draw a crowd of local leaders, legislators, partner agencies and other community members. Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson will also be in attendance.
