About
The Virginia Tech Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research (VTAC/CAR) overview
Our region of Southwest Virginia rates lower than the national average when considering the number of specialty care providers. The VT Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research, in collaboration with the VT Psychological Services Center and the VT Child Study Center, aims to merge science with service while helping to fill that gap. The Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim, That I May Serve, is at the core of what we do through specialty autism services provided at our Blacksburg clinics, via telehealth and around southwest Virginia. Our center promotes multi-disciplinary research focused on understanding the needs of people with autism and ways to improve access to evidence-based services for underserved populations. Together, both work to fulfill the mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families through intervention, education, and research directed towards effective services.
The VT Autism Clinic (VTAC) offers a variety of services to children and adults with or suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Established in 2005, VTAC works under the Psychological Services Center and with the Child Study Center to offer a variety of specialty services. Highly trained doctoral level graduate student clinicians provide autism specific diagnostic assessments for infants/toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults who are suspected to have Autism Spectrum Disorder. These same clinicians also provide a variety of interventions rooted in empirically supported treatment techniques. Individualized approaches are developed for each client/family based on evidence-based behavioral strategies. The student clinicians also offer consultations to schools, medical practices, and community agencies involved in providing services for individuals with ASD.
The Center for Autism Research (CAR), in the College of Science, promotes collaborative research on autism and related conditions from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
The CAR, established in 2012, builds upon basic research and clinical resources already available at Virginia Tech and works closely with other researchers and service providers to conduct research and disseminate findings. The CAR gives individuals, parents/caregivers, and service providers the opportunity to participate in the development of effective evidence-based services by enrolling in studies designed to better understand Autism Spectrum Disorders.
VTAC & CAR host a biennial autism research conference every other spring to share research and findings with the larger community.