Grants to The Scott Center for Autism Treatment Support Families

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Three new grants to Florida Institute of Technology’s The Scott Center for Autism Treatment provide funding for assessment, parent-training, consultation and social skill building. Grants include $121,668 from the state of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities; a $20,000 grant from the Harper Family Foundation; and a $1,000 Share the Love grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Under the state grant, the center will provide clinic assessment services, supervised by Ivy Chong, licensed psychologist and director of autism services and training, and recommendations for 30 individuals, aged two to 18, diagnosed with autism. The center will offer a 10-week follow-up of web-based parent training and consultation to help the families implement the recommendations. The Harper Family Foundation grant supports on-site visits for state grant participants.

With the USTA grant, the center will be able to purchase tennis equipment for social skills building.

Grants were obtained by Chong, Dean of the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts and Professor Mary Beth Kenkel and Colleen Middlebrooks, director of community relations for The Scott Center for Autism Treatment.