KALAMAZOO, MI Lt. Gov. Brian Calley set a goal for Southwest Michigan at the grand opening of the Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research on Monday morning.
He'd like to see Southwest Michigan become the best place to serve and treat individuals who have autism.
We have the opportunity to be the best and the opportunity to be the center of research that drives toward a cure and produces effective treatments, said Calley, who has a daughter with autism and was applauded at the event for becoming the face of Michigan families who care for a loved one with autism.
More than 100 people joined Calley, Residential Opportunities, Inc. chief executive Scott Schrum, Director Lloyd Peterson, Wayne Fuqua, a professor and chairman of Western Michigan University's Department of Psychology and Colleen Allen, the president of the Autism Alliance of Michigan as they cut a red ribbon in front of the doors of the new center.
State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, State Rep. Sean McCann, State Rep. Margaret O'Brien and Portage Mayor Pete Strazdas also attended the event.
The center hopes to serve around 150 children and adolescents a year. Fuqua said the center plans to move in its first residents in increments of four to make sure the program, which is the first of its kind in Michigan, launches smoothly.
There is no wonder pill that will miraculously cure or prevent the symptoms of autism and other developmental disabilities, said Peterson. What there is, is knowledge of treatments that help to alleviate undesirable behaviors. People ask me, What will you do here? I answer, 'What we do here is build behaviors.'
The center also aims to research the causes and treatments to better prevent or cure autism.
Schrum gave examples of patients who are being referred to the program. He described a 10-year-old boy with autism who is 140 pounds, often damages property and is known to hit, pinch and bite. He described a child who has been hospitalized three times, has injured other children and adults and has been kept from his home.
Schrum said many of the residential patients are self-injurious and have multiple diagnoses.
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Great Lakes Center for Autism opens in Kalamazoo; Calley says Southwest Michigan can take lead in treatment