From the Orange County Register BY BROOKE E. SEIPEL / Staff Writer October 6, 2015
ORANGE – Chapman University on Monday announced plans for a new institute focused on the research of autism and disabilities with a $3 million donation from the William S. and Nancy E. Thompson Foundation.
The university and the foundation are working to fill a need many in the autism and disability community agree is missing: extensive, unbiased research to inform policy makers.
“In the same way an economics report would influence government spending, research from the institute would inform policy,” said Don Thompson, William’s brother and the foundation’s executive director.
Chapman University’s new Thompson Policy Institute will collect, conduct and distribute research on autism and disabilities – with the end goal of giving policymakers understandable, impartial reports for legislative decisions.
The institute is on the third floor of Reeds Hall and will be directed by Amy-Jane Griffiths, a doctor in psychology. Don Cardinal, former dean of the College of Educational Studies at Chapman, will be the principal investigator. Both have been working on selecting topics to research.
Cardinal said areas of research the institute will look at over the next six months include whether vaccinations affect autism, and how those with autism and disabilities can transition out of school and into adult life.
“I think this program is valuable, because we will need support from the government to improve issues relating to autism,” said Julie Diep, the director of OC Autism. “Having the unbiased information through research and evidence will help policy makers get a perspective on the impact of these issues.”
Summer Dabbs, the director of Fullerton Cares Autism Coalition, agreed, adding that she believes the institute will help parents of children as well.
“It’s hard for the general public and policy makers to look at all the information,” Dabbs said. “Now they can take a comprehensive look and understand.”
After learning about the institute, Dabbs said, “Its about time.”
The institute will host a presentation of its initial findings on May 3 at the first annual Thompson Policy Institute DisAbility Summit at the yet-opened Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts on campus.