Meet Our Clinical Site Partners

A map of the United States showing the location of SPARK's clinical sites

Meet Our Clinical Site Partners

Date Revised: March 8, 2024

More than 30 of the nation’s leading medical schools and autism research centers have joined SPARK to help recruit individuals and families affected by autism. These institutions, listed below, are in all regions of the United States and are leaders in advancing the science of autism.


Baylor College of Medicine

The Autism Center at Texas Children’s Hospital is an affiliate of the Baylor College of Medicine. The center integrates the talents of a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to providing individualized and evidence-based subspecialty-level care to children suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder and their families. Its core team of professionals has expertise in child psychology, child psychiatry, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, medical social services and pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities. Located within the Texas Medical Center, the largest incorporated medical center in the world, the Autism Center sees approximately 1,000 new children each year. Faculty pursue a wide range of clinical and translational studies focused on autism, with frequent collaborations both within the Texas Medical Center and with other renowned centers across the country.

You can contact the SPARK team at Texas Children’s Hospital via email at ASDresearch@bcm.edu or phone at 832-824-3394.

Boston Children’s HospitalLogo of Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Children’s Hospital is the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and is home to the world’s largest and most active research enterprise at a pediatric center. Boston Children’s is at the forefront of pediatric clinical care in translating new research discoveries into clinical practice. The hospital’s interdisciplinary Translational Neuroscience Center operates with a mission to improve the lives of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders through innovative clinical programs, outstanding basic science research and efficient translation of novel ideas into practical tools for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases. The Translational Neuroscience Center works closely with the Autism Spectrum Center at Boston Children’s, a multidepartmental, clinically focused program that provides comprehensive family-centered diagnostic and care services, in order to provide access to clinical care and research opportunities for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

You can contact the SPARK team at Boston Children’s Hospital via email at SPARK@childrens.harvard.edu or phone at 617-355-8300.

Center for Autism and the Developing Brain

The Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB) is a collaborative program between New York Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in partnership with New York Collaborates for Autism. CADB provides comprehensive state-of-the-art integrated clinical care in a patient- and family-centered environment. It serves patients of all ages with autism spectrum disorder, offering a full array of evaluative diagnostic and multidisciplinary therapeutic services, as well as “gap” services to aid families while planning for future treatment and community-based services. CADB’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder through innovative clinical service for children, adults, their families and the community; to educate current and future leaders and to conduct research that enhances the understanding of causation, effective interventions and individual differences in strengths, difficulties and course.

You can contact the SPARK team at CADB via email at SPARK@med.cornell.edu or phone at 917-997-5259.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

The Center for Autism Research (CAR) is a collaboration between the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. CAR’s multidisciplinary research team is working every day to uncover the underlying causes of autism spectrum disorder in order to develop precision treatments that can dramatically improve the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Its multidisciplinary research center is composed of 20 principal investigators in the fields of genetics, psychology, psychiatry, pediatrics, epidemiology, nursing, social work and radiology. Federal- and state-funded autism projects led by CAR investigators have included epidemiological studies, studies of behavioral and brain development, training grants and intervention studies. In addition to research, CAR’s mission is to support families and train professionals through community outreach and evidence-based education and training in the latest developments in autism screening, diagnosis and treatment, and to provide training for the next generation of master clinicians and researchers in the field.

You can contact the SPARK team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia via email at SPARK@email.chop.edu or phone at 267-426-4971.

Children’s Specialized Hospital

Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH) is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care to children and teens from birth-21 with special health needs. CSH is an affiliate of RWJBarnabas Health. With locations throughout New Jersey, CSH provides comprehensive, family-centered care to over 9,000 children and teens with ASD annually. Services include multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation, primary and specialty medical care, community-based developmental screening, social skills, early intervention, mental health, therapies (speech/language, occupational, and physical therapy), audiology and augmentative communication, rehab tech, recreation, and a wide range of outreach and training. Autism-related research projects include reducing healthcare disparities by improving early access to care for underserved communities, the transition to adulthood, clinical trials, alternative models of developmental and ASD screening, and training for service providers. CSH is a partner with Rutgers University on the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence grant and is an experiential learning site for the NJ Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NJ LEND). CSH is also dedicated to the education of community primary care providers in the care of children with developmental and behavioral disabilities through participation in Project ECHO. CSH also supports clinical education for future developmental pediatricians through the RWJ-Rutgers Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics fellowship.

You can contact the SPARK team at Children’s Specialized Hospital via email at SPARKcsh@childrens-specialized.org or phone at 908-301-5958.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

The Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (TKOC) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is a multidisciplinary diagnostic, treatment and research program serving the needs of children and young adults with ASD. TKOC comprises developmental pediatricians, child psychiatrists, child neurologists, pediatric nurse practitioners, speech language pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, registered nurses and support staff. TKOC, along with the hospital’s Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, receives over 400 new referrals monthly and completes over 20,000 clinic visits annually. Over 400 children are diagnosed with ASD annually through TKOC, and approximately 2,000 children are followed annually for ongoing care and treatment. TKOC has been a member of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network since 2008 and is the highest recruiting site in the network. The Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and TKOC have strong community connections with such organizations as the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Public Schools, Hamilton County Developmental Disability Services and the Southwest Ohio Regional Autism Advisory Council.

You can contact the SPARK team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center via email at autism@cchmc.org or phone at 513-803-2860.

Emory University and Marcus Autism CenterChildren's, Marcus, Emory logo

Two centers have come together to create the Atlanta clinical site: Marcus Autism Center and the Emory Autism Center. Marcus Autism Center is a not-for-profit organization and subsidiary of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and includes faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. The center sees over 5,000 children and families each year with autism and related disorders. As one of the largest autism centers in the U.S. and one of only five National Institutes of Health (NIH) Autism Centers of Excellence, Marcus Autism Center offers families with access to the latest research, comprehensive evaluations, and intensive behavior treatments. With the help of research grants, community support, and government funding, Marcus Autism Center aims to maximize the potential of children with autism today and transform the nature of autism for future generations.

The Emory Autism Center (EAC) is part of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine. The EAC vision is to support transformative improvements in the quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorder by focusing on individualized interventions that promote optimal communication, social, and behavioral development from the earliest signs of ASD throughout the life span. EAC programs focus on inclusion and meaningful results for individuals with ASD and their families through treatment demonstration programs at every age (that is, Walden Early Childhood Center, Monarch School-Age Program, myLIFE adult program), and also through cross-cutting diagnostic, behavioral support, medical and training services, and clinical research. The EAC mission is to provide a valued resource for people with ASD and their families and to increase the capacity of support within local communities across Georgia by providing autism-specific training for professionals and community providers. The EAC is committed to providing affordable, accessible, evidence-based effective services and information to each person served.

You can contact the SPARK team at Emory University via email at SPARK.eac@emory.edu or phone at 404-727-8350.

logo for Geisinger and Emerge clinical siteGeisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute
The Emerge Center

Two organizations, Geisinger in Pennsylvania and Emerge in Louisiana, are collaborating to recruit individuals with autism and their families from their local communities.

Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute (ADMI) is a nonprofit, clinical and research institution operating within the Geisinger Health System. ADMI provides integrated clinical services, research, education, and family support through a multidisciplinary team that includes specialists in neurodevelopmental pediatrics, genomic medicine, psychology, speech-language pathology, radiology, behavior services, and education.

You can contact the SPARK team at Geisinger via email at SPARK_ADMI@geisinger.edu or phone at 570-522-9402.

Emerge is a non-profit provider of early intervention therapy and education for children with autism. Emerge’s mission is to empower children with autism to achieve independence through an interdisciplinary therapy program within an innovative educational model. The Emerge Center’s comprehensive services include Applied Behavior Analysis, Audiology, Behavior Health, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy.

You can contact the SPARK team at Emerge via email at SPARK@emergela.org or phone at 225-663-6936.

Kennedy Krieger Institute

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute is a multifaceted interdisciplinary program serving children, families and professionals in the autism spectrum disorder community. With a staff of over 120 professionals, CARD combines research, outpatient clinical service, a therapeutic day program and caregiver training programs to unlock the potential of children with ASD, enrich their life experiences, empower patients and family members and promote the well being of families through evidence-based practices. In addition, CARD has a large outreach and training division that provides technical assistance to the Maryland State Department of Education, an annual conference and international professional development programs. CARD research takes place in areas such as genetics, neuroimaging, early detection, cognition, intervention and public health to advance the care of individuals with ASD or at risk for ASD. CARD is an integral collaborator in Kennedy Krieger’s federally funded University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center programs. Some of its major endeavors involve developing effective new models of care for families and providers, whether locally, nationally or internationally, and translating research findings for scalable implementation in community settings.

You can contact the SPARK team at Kennedy Krieger via email at SPARKstudy@kennedykrieger.org or phone at 443-923-7598.

Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina SPARK (SC SPARK) is a collaboration between the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). MUSC is an academic medical center located in Charleston, South Carolina with a focus on research and clinical care for individuals with ASD and their families across the state of South Carolina. MUSC’s interdisciplinary teams include psychologists, developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychiatrists, social workers, and family navigators. Autism research at MUSC includes research on the prevalence, assessment, and diagnosis of ASD, outcomes for transition-aged youth with ASD, social skills and wellness training, parent coaching, and brain imaging and stimulation research. In addition to research and clinical care, SC SPARK faculty at MUSC also work in partnership with other hospitals, agencies and autism groups across the state of South Carolina, including Prisma Health Developmental Evaluation Centers in Greenville, SC and Columbia, SC.

You can contact the SPARK team at MUSC via email at SPARKautism@musc.edu or phone at 843-714-1352.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Nationwide Children’s Child Development Center provides comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary care to children with autism and their families in a family-centered care approach. It provides state-of-the-art interdisciplinary diagnostic assessment services with a commitment to easy access to care, limiting long wait times often associated with these services elsewhere. Treatment services are offered across a continuum of care for children, adolescents and young adults. Clinicians provide support and leadership across a number of related interdisciplinary programs and coordinated subspecialty care in areas such as psychiatry, neurology, sleep medicine, genetics and gastroenterology. The dedicated care coordination team supports families in assessing recommendations and designing next steps for children and adolescents diagnosed with autism.

The center extends diagnostic and treatment services to rural outreach clinics across the state of Ohio and to diverse immigrant communities near Columbus. With community partners including the Nisonger Center of the Ohio State University (OSU), the OSU Center for Autism Services and Transition, and the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, Nationwide Children’s is committed to expanded recreational and inclusive community engagement for children with autism and their families. Clinical research is also a critical component of its mission with a goal of learning from every patient to promote best outcomes.

You can contact the SPARK team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital via email at Sarah.winters@nationwidechildrens.org or phone at 614-355-7575.

Oregon Health & Science University

The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Autism Clinical Program is housed in the Institute on Development and Disability, with clinical services at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. It is the only interdisciplinary university-based program for autism spectrum disorder in Oregon, and also serves families across the Northwest as a designated Center of Excellence for the state of Washington. Toddlers through adults who are referred for a possible diagnosis of ASD are seen by dedicated psychologists, developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, social workers and family navigators.

The Institute on Development and Disability serves as an exemplary local, state and national resource for interdisciplinary clinical practice, research, education, policy development and community service for people with disabilities and chronic health needs. It brings together key federally funded programs, including the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Oregon Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Oregon Title V Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs. The Autism Clinical Program actively collaborates in autism research endeavors at OHSU, including projects around neuroimaging, language processing, animal models of behavior, genetics, epidemiology and health-services research.

You can contact the SPARK team at OHSU via email at SPARK@ohsu.edu or phone at 503-494-2442.

The Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center at Montefiore

The Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center (RFK-CERC), is a premier interdisciplinary service program providing diagnostic and therapeutic services across the lifespan for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder. Situated in the Bronx, New York for over 60 years, the program is affiliated with Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. RFK CERC provides approximately 40,000 diagnostic and therapeutic visits annually to 9,000 children each year, approximately 1,600 with autism. The majority of the children and families served are from the local, diverse, traditionally underserved community. RFK CERC is staffed by highly trained and culturally competent specialists who coordinate comprehensive care through both interdisciplinary and specialized programs. Across the spectrum of clinical services we offer, we take a trauma-informed approach to integrated care, including developmental, behavioral, mental, and dental health. It is also part of our mission at RFK CERC to build the capacity of people with developmental disabilities to live full lives and affect systems change. We improve health not only through holistic care but also by addressing social determinants of health via community outreach and advocacy. In addition to RFK CERC, the Rose F. Kennedy Center houses the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (RFK UCEDD), the Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (RFK LEND) training program, and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (RFK-IDDRC). These four discrete units carry out the Rose F. Kennedy Center mission of service, training, research, and advocacy/capacity building.

You can contact the SPARK team at RFK CERC via email, at SPARK@einstein.yu.edu.

Rush University

The Rush University Medical Center SPARK initiative is a clinical research collaboration between the departments of psychiatry, pediatrics and behavioral sciences. Rush is an academic medical center in Chicago serving the city, suburbs and surrounding region and is recognized for providing highly specialized care. Rush provides care for individuals with autism and related neurodevelopmental disabilities in specialty clinics across the medical center. The Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment and Services (AARTS) Center is a multidisciplinary autism program housed within the Department of Psychiatry which provides expert evaluation and treatment programs for individuals with ASD. Through clinical, outreach and research programs, the AARTS Center aims to address the unmet needs of individuals with ASD and their caregivers across the life span. The Department of Pediatrics provides interdisciplinary evaluations, medical and genetic testing, and therapeutic and educational recommendations for individuals with a range of neurodevelopmental conditions including ASD. Together, the exceptional multidisciplinary programs at Rush seek to build capacity to support individuals with ASD, their families and the professionals supporting them.

You can contact the SPARK team at Rush University via email at SPARK@rush.edu or phone at 312-563-2765.

Logo for Seattle Children's HospitalSeattle Children’s Hospital

The pilot site at Seattle Children’s Hospital is an established clinical research setting that focuses on the causes, neuroscience, diagnosis and treatment of autism. The Seattle Children’s Autism Center (SCAC) is an outpatient clinic that offers specialized treatment services and multidisciplinary diagnosis and evaluation. Its team of 70 professionals and faculty includes operations staff and providers from the disciplines of developmental pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, neurology, nursing, speech and social work. SCAC serves over 4,000 individuals each year through over 19,000 clinic visits.

You can contact the SPARK team at SCAC via email at SCACstudies@seattlechildrens.org or phone at 206-987-7917.

Stanford University

The Autism and Developmental Disorders Research Program (ADDRP) at Stanford University focuses on improving the quality of life of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disabilities. Through research methods that range from clinical trials, neuroimaging investigations, behavioral analysis to basic science methods, the researchers at ADDRP are committed to developing effective treatment strategies and identifying the causes of these conditions. Our main research aim is to better understand the basic neurobiology of autism and other developmental disorders while furthering our understanding of how genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the onset and progression of these disorders. With this aim in mind, we conduct a variety of research studies and clinical trials of novel behavioral and biological therapies in hopes of developing effective interventions for the treatment of core features of these disorders.

You can contact the SPARK team at Stanford University via email at SPARKstudy@stanford.edu or phone at 650-736-1235.

Stony Brook University logo

Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook Autism Initiative is the home of the Stony Brook SPARK team, a collaboration between Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, and the wider Long Island autism community. The Autism Initiative unites self-advocates, clinicians, researchers, and students, to promote excellence in research, teaching, training, and clinical work through cutting-edge, integrative projects and services. Through several entities, including the multidisciplinary Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Autism Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook provides assessment and intervention services for autistic individuals and their families. The Initiative engages in autism-related efforts across the campus and the Long Island region to foster community, inclusion, and acceptance for individuals with ASD and their families.

You can contact our SPARK team at SPARK@stonybrook.edu or call 631-632-7857.

University of California, Davis

Founded by families of children with autism, the UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute is a collaborative international research center, committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, treatment and cure of neurodevelopmental disorders. The MIND Institute brings together families, educators, physicians, psychologists and scientists to work collaboratively to decrease disability for those affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. MIND scientists conduct groundbreaking research in the fields of neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, immunology, epidemiology and behavioral science. The institute also provides community services, such as comprehensive evidence-based assessments, as well as behavioral and pharmacological treatments through the Massie Family Clinic; it serves as a resource in education and advocacy through the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The MIND Institute is also home to the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, which aims to support interdisciplinary translational research on neurodevelopmental disorders, and the Center for Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention, which aims to identify and understand the environmental, immunologic and genetic risk contributions of autism.

You can contact the SPARK team at UC Davis via email at bhilscher@ucdavis.edu or phone at 916-703-0299.

University of California, Los Angeles

The Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) at the University of California, Los Angeles, plays a local and national role in developing an improved understanding of the biological and psychosocial basis of autism. CART is funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducts leading research along with providing clinical and treatment services for individuals and families. The center, proud of its outreach to families and community practitioners, continues to develop and disseminate new and more effective treatments for autism and autism spectrum disorder.

You can contact the SPARK team at UCLA via email at raquelamador@mednet.ucla.edu or phone at 310-206-7478.

University of California, San Diego

The mission of the UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence is to discover early behavioral and biological signatures of infants who are at risk for autism and who are as young as 12 months. To achieve this, it employs state-of-the-art methodology including functional and structural brain imaging, eye-gaze tracking and detailed genetic tests that map early development in a wide range of babies including those at risk for autism as well as those who are developing normally. The ultimate goal of its program is to help families by establishing reliable biomedical indicators that will translate into rapid identification of and early treatment for all children in need.

You can contact the SPARK team at UCSD via email at sparkforautism@health.ucsd.edu or phone at 858-534-6906.

Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center

The Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center is a private nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. The center’s mission is to advance research and provide a lifetime of support to individuals with ASD and their families. Beyond clinical programs across the life span, it has an active research portfolio investigating methods to improve screening, diagnosis and treatment.

You can contact the SPARK team at SARRC via email at amason@autismcenter.org or phone at 602-340-8717.

University of Colorado

JFK Partners has been designated as the University of Colorado’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program, and it has collaborative relationships with numerous organizations that are a part of Colorado’s developmental-disability and special-health-care-needs communities. The mission of JFK Partners is to promote the independence, inclusion, contribution, health and well being of people with developmental disabilities and special health care needs and their families through consumer, community and university partnerships. At the core of this mission is a commitment to family- and person-centered, community-based, culturally competent programs and services. This mission is accomplished through the pursuit of excellence in education and training, consultation, technical assistance, direct service, research, program development, policy analysis and advocacy.

You can contact the SPARK team at JFK Partners via email at SPARK@ucdenver.edu or phone at 303-724-0473.

Logo for the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa

The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital Autism Center provides family-centered, state of the art clinical care while pursuing critical missions in research, education and training and health policy. Assessment at the Autism Center is provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and results in a personalized treatment plan. Along with conducting diagnostic evaluations, the Autism Center also provides a range of other clinical services including behavioral evaluations, medical consultation, assessment of transition needs, and cognitive and neuropsychological assessments. Together with its parent clinics in the Department of Psychiatry, the Center for Disabilities and Development, and the Department of Pediatrics, the Autism Center serves over 2,000 individuals with autism annually. The Autism Center serves urban, suburban and rural populations throughout the state of Iowa, and has been a pioneer in the research and application of telehealth methods in the treatment of autism. Genomics is also a key research strength at the Autism Center, with SPARK site PI Dr. Jake Michaelson carrying out research in neurodevelopmental conditions in two federally funded projects. Faculty from the Autism Center collaborate with other centers and programs at the University of Iowa, such as the Belin-Blank Center (“twice exceptional” individuals) and the UI REACH program (Big Ten campus experience for young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions), to enable research into autism and its course across the life span and at different ability levels.

You can contact the SPARK team at the University of Iowa via email at SPARK-study@uiowa.edu or phone at 319-335-8882.

University of MiamiLogo for University of Miami Center for Autism & Related Disabilities

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of Miami is one of seven state-funded university-based outreach and support centers in Florida dedicated to optimizing the potential of people with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities. CARD builds the capacity of state and local resources by providing individual client and family support, family and professional training, public education and community outreach, programmatic consultation and technical assistance. CARD serves over 9,000 registered constituents across three counties. Its affiliated faculty members maintain active involvement in research and student training.

You can contact the SPARK team at CARD via email at SPARK@miami.edu or phone at 305-284-3690.

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota Autism Initiative (UMAI) was created by researchers and clinicians dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families. UMAI partners with the Autism Spectrum and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic offering best-practice evaluations and services. Its researchers study ASD from molecules to macrosystems through myriad design strategies and research methodologies including genetics, systems biology/neuroscience, in vivo brain imaging (such as MRI and EEG), eye-tracking and additional emerging technologies, new screening/diagnostic tools, longitudinal assessment of development, treatment trials and epidemiological work examining prevalence and health disparities. UMAI brings together researchers funded by national networks including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, the Autism Center of Excellence Network Infant Brain Imaging Study and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program. UMAI also supports the Focus In NeuroDevelopment Network that connects individuals and their family members to research, resources and events related to neurodevelopmental disorders throughout the Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. UMAI is committed to building community partnerships with organizations such as Fraser and Children’s hospitals to reach more families throughout Minnesota.

You can contact the SPARK team at the University of Minnesota via email at SPARK-MN@umn.edu or phone at 612-624-0116.

University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Pediatrics and Center for the Advancement of Youth has provided statewide diagnostic and intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder. Our medical home includes a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, developmental/behavioral pediatricians, applied behavior analysis certified interventionists and other heath care specialists. The multidisciplinary team provides intervention services and links with other Mississippi specialists in treatment and family support for individuals with ASD.

You can contact the SPARK team at the University of Mississippi via email at SPARK@umc.edu or phone at 601-815-4517.

University of MissouriThompson-Center-logo

The Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment at the University of Missouri is a national leader in confronting the challenges of autism and other developmental conditions through its collaborative research, training and service programs. The center’s approach is based on the medical home model, and its diagnostic, assessment and treatment services emphasize family-centered care that is comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, culturally sensitive and accessible for all. The center’s aim is to support families from the point of initial contact through access to needed services in the community, with routine follow-up care over time to ensure the best possible outcome for each child and family.

You can contact the SPARK team at the Thompson Center via email at tcresearch@missouri.edu or phone at 573-303-8405.

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD) in the University of North Carolina School of Medicine conducts research and training and provides clinical services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The institute brings together three federally funded programs of national significance: the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), North Carolina Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND) and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) programs. The CIDD also maintains strong research and clinical ties with the UNC Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-Handicapped Children (TEACCH) Autism Program. Multidisciplinary research teams at CIDD collaborate in their focus on a range of neurodevelopmental disorders and their underlying mechanisms. The institute’s overarching aim is to translate basic science and clinical research findings into real-world interventions in the community and the clinic.

You can contact the SPARK team at UNC via email at SPARKforAutism@unc.edu or phone at 919-966-6795.

University of Utah

The University of Utah Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest pediatric departments in the country. Within the department, the Developmental Assessment Clinics (UDAC) is a center for excellence for the evaluation of children with developmental delays and the long-term management of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our multidisciplinary approach is unique to this type of service in the Intermountain West area and includes the state of Utah and portions of Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada. We provide evidence-based clinical assessments, long term management of co-occurring conditions in children with developmental disabilities, and case management to over 1,000 infants, children, or adolescents yearly. Our team consists of experts in developmental pediatrics (MDs and nurse practitioners), child psychology, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, registered nurses, and other support staff.

The faculty from the Department of Pediatrics conducts research within the Developmental Assessment Clinics. Some of the focus of this research is on the development of care process models that increase timely access to families of children with developmental concerns. Through this project, UDAC researchers have developed care process models to increase timely access to multidisciplinary autism evaluations and have increased access to families living in rural and frontier communities through a telehealth program.

You can contact the SPARK team at the University of Utah via email at SPARKforAutism@hsc.utah.edu.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) is dedicated to improving services for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families while advancing knowledge and training. TRIAD programs address community needs for cutting-edge information, high-quality support and innovative interventions for children with ASD. TRIAD’s specialized outreach team provides training and direct consultation in state-of-the-art behavioral and educational assessment and intervention strategies in schools throughout the region as well as with community organizations dedicated to improving access for individuals with ASD. TRIAD-directed research programs and affiliated partnerships examine the causes and treatment of ASD. Currently, these directed research and partner programs include projects related to early diagnosis and tele-health, the development of siblings of children with ASD, identification of the genetic underpinnings of the disorder, understanding the health and well being of parents and the development of innovative technologies for diagnosis and treatment. Research conducted through TRIAD not only serves the scientific community at large in its quest to identify the development and causes of ASD but also is used to guide best practices for families and professionals working with children with ASD.

You can contact the SPARK team at Vanderbilt University via email at SPARK@vanderbilt.edu or phone at 615-875-9970.

Yale University

Yale University serves children, adolescents, and adults on the autism spectrum. The site’s emphasis on autism across the lifespan is a multidisciplinary collaboration between child psychiatry and developmental-behavioral pediatrics at the Yale Child Study Center. The Center is dedicated to promoting healthy development and psychological well-being for children, adolescents, and young adults as well as their and families. As a leading institution of autism clinical care and research, clinicians and researchers collaborate to improve the understanding of the biological and psychosocial bases of autism, as well as identify and develop safe and effective interventions.

You can contact the SPARK team at Yale University via email at SPARKforAutism@yale.edu or phone at 203-785-7539.