At the Thompson Foundation, part of our mission is to promote autism awareness and inclusion. The Thompson Center recently hosted an event where Columbia’s leaders discussed the path to becoming an Autism Friendly City! Watch the coverage of this event from KOMU.

1 in 36 people may be diagnosed with autism. Autistic individuals and their families often report how difficult it can be to feel welcomed and accepted into the community. By making Columbia autism friendly, our city will:

• become a recognized leader in inclusion
• widen the customer base and increase revenue of local businesses
• foster a community where citizens have a personal stake in the success of Columbia.

We look forward to the progress that will come from this meeting!