Making a difference in the lives of people at the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment at the University of Missouri

Clinical services

All about ABA therapy

All about ABA therapy

The autism field uses a lot of acronyms, and…

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How is autism diagnosed?

How is autism diagnosed?

Autism is a spectrum with a wide range of…

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May is Better Hearing & Speech Month

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month

Early signs of language disorders and early signs of…

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Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day
A light gray background shows a stick figure in the lower left corner. He is smiling and has his arms raised. A text bubble appears above him and says "Happy World Down Syndrome Day!" A blue and yellow ribbon and a yellow heart appear next to the text bubble. The Thompson Foundation's arc logo is in the lower right corner.

Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day! Did you…

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March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
A light green background features a darker green ribbon. A dark green circle is show, with green text that reads "#GoGreen4CP" and "National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month" "March 2023". The Thompson Foundation logo is in the lower left corner.

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

The Cerebral Palsy Clinic at the Thompson Center for…

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Recognizing Rare Disease Day

Recognizing Rare Disease Day

February 28 is Rare Disease Day! In addition to…

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Myles Hinkel

Executive Director

Myles Hinkel began as Executive Director in June 2020. Myles leads the foundation’s three-pillar mission; fundraising, awareness, and advancing public policy. Prior to this, Myles was Director of Advancement for Gift Planning & Regional covering the West Coast for The University of Missouri. This was Myles’ second time with MU Advancement. He previously worked in the College of Arts & Science before taking advancement positions at Columbia College and the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. Myles, his wife Lora, and their two boys have been involved in the Thompson Center and the Thompson Foundation since their inceptions.

Katie Lynn

Director of Donor Relations

Katie Lynn oversees donor stewardship and marketing for the Thompson Foundation for Autism & Neurodevelopment. Prior to joining the Thompson Foundation in 2020, she worked for Major League Baseball’s nonprofit, the Baseball Assistance Team. Originally from Quincy, Illinois, Katie is a graduate of Tulane University and has lived in Louisiana, Florida, New York, and now Missouri. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, singing, and playing violin.

Melissa Eston

Office Manager

Melissa Eston began her role as Office Manager in August of 2022. In her role, Melissa receives and processes donations, assists in event planning, and manages accounts receivable and payable. Melissa most recently worked in Healthcare Advancement at the University of Missouri. Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Strategic Communications associate in University Relations at the University of Missouri System. Her first experience working with non-profits was at Columbia College, where she served as a Coordinator for the Advancement division. Melissa is a Columbia College graduate with a BA in History. She lives with her husband, Chris, in Columbia. Melissa’s favorite part of working at the Thompson Foundation is seeing the tangible, positive impact its advocacy work has on the Thompson Center and the families it serves.

GET THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE THOMPSON FOUNDATION