Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Purdue Autism Network (PAN)
With the encouragement of CLA Dean John Contreni and in response to the needs of the community, SLHS is taking the lead in the Purdue Autism Network initiative. Twenty individuals with expertise and interest in the field of autism attended a retreat in May to solidify thoughts, goals, and future plans for the Network which includes expanded research, clinical programs and a speaker series. Along with key SLHS faculty, Pharmacy, Special Education and Greater Lafayette Area Special Services (GLASS) were represented. Our charge is to make PAN a center of clinical and research excellence in autism, collaborating with other autism programs in the state of Indiana and adjacent states for the elucidation of autism spectrum disorders through research and the enhancement and integration of services to persons with autism and their families. The goals for PAN in 2008-2009 include creation of a PAN website, creation of the PAN speaker series which will be open to the broader community, and creation of a laboratory component of an existing special education course to teach the basics of autistic symptom management to undergraduate students. Those students will then be matched with families desiring this support in the community. This type of service support from Purdue has been requested by families with autistic members and the lab will provide an immediate service-learning benefit to these families in our greater Lafayette communities.