UCI autism experts to address Senate committee Wednesday morning; hearing to be streamed live

UC Irvine School of Medicine autism experts will address members of California’s Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the new location of the Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Santa Ana. They and other speakers will discuss the importance of supporting autism research and treatment, focusing on an entrepreneurial philanthropy model pioneered by the center. It’s a partnership among the UC Irvine School of Medicine, CHOC Children’s Hospital, Chapman University’s College of Educational Studies, the William & Nancy Thompson Family Foundation and the Children & Families Commission of Orange County. The informational hearing, which will be led by state Sen. Lou Correa, will provide an overview of the autism-related challenges and opportunities that currently exist in academia. Through a first-of-its-kind public/private partnership, the William & Nancy Thompson Family Foundation and the Children & Families Commission of Orange County provided $14.8 million to create the Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, which takes a multidisciplinary approach to clinical care, education, research and community support. The event will be streamed live on the committee’s website at http://autism.senate.ca.gov/.