Greenwood Center Accepting New Clients

 
This time last year, the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center began accepting new client inquiries from individuals, family members and guardians of those who could benefit from the center’s services. Greenwood started seeing clients in February 2024 for assessments and began therapy sessions in April. As the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center serves clients, staff members have already seen the impact the facility can make in a client’s life.
 
“We have seen children who are non-verbal find ways to communicate with their families or gain independence by being able to master tasks that seemed unattainable to them not that long ago,” said Dr. Maryellen Koch Jensen, Greenwood director. “That type of progress can make a real difference in the quality of life for our clients and families.”
 
Today, the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center is fully staffed and employs three Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and 12 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) and is looking to hire additional professionals. Depending on the needs of each client, services may address social, communication, restrictive and/or repetitive behaviors, as well as customized support plans.
 
“When addressing spectrum disorders, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach that we can just plug in and expect results,” Jensen said. “We have been very purposeful in determining what services are needed and how we can best meet the needs of those individuals.”
 
In order to meet a wide range of client needs, the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center is equipped with therapy rooms, sensory rooms, an art room and a social skills area, along with functional therapy rooms and a large recreation room.
 
Recently, the center added an outdoor playground facility. Due to the nature of the work conducted at Greenwood, the playground is reserved for clients receiving treatment from the center.
 
Greenwood continues to accept clients with an autism diagnosis and is working toward providing autism diagnosis services. Currently, clients range in age from children as young as three to college-age young adults.
 
“Spectrum disorders can present in a variety of ways,” Jensen said. “Anyone who suspects they or their loved one might be neurodivergent should consider filling out our intake form to see if services we provide might be right for them.”
 
New patient inquires can be submitted to GreenwoodIntake@truman.edu or by calling 660.785.7551. Additional information is also available at greenwood.truman.edu.