Hench Autism Studies Program at
Defiance College to Host Open House

The Hench Autism Studies Program at Defiance College will hold an open house event on Thursday, December 4, from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Serrick Campus Center.

The open house will feature information about the resource and referral center for families of children and adults with autism; tours of the on-campus public school classroom for adolescents with autism; and the new licensure within the Master of Arts in Education Program for Intervention Specialist, Mild and Moderate with an emphasis in Autism. There will also be opportunities to speak with DC professors, teachers in the new licensure Master’s program, and current DC students participating in initiatives of the Hench Autism Studies Program.

Persons who attend will also have an opportunity to give input about a proposed summer program for adolescents with autism to be held on the Defiance College campus. The Hench Autism Studies Program was created to serve individuals and families facing challenges associated with autism.  The program has a dual benefit; first is to improve the quality of life for the individuals and families served by the program.  The second benefit is to enhance the educational experience of Defiance College students through their interactions with students in the program.

The open house is an opportunity to learn more about this one-of-a-kind program that addresses the multi-faceted needs of a growing population of individuals with autism.

Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

November 18, 2008