Hench Autism Studies Program, Defiance College

The Hench Autism Studies Program at Defiance College serves as a focal point for teaching, scholarship and action to serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. The Hench Autism Studies Program believes that people with autism spectrum disorder are as unique, individual, and fully human as anyone else, and that living and working with people on the spectrum is about more th

an just learning a new vocabulary or having a diagnostic label to explain a person. Bringing together expertise and services in an innovative way, the Hench Autism Studies Program offers:

*An on-campus public school classroom for adolescents with ASD (a collaboration with Defiance City Schools)
*An undergraduate minor in autism studies
*Professional development opportunities for educators, social workers, law enforcement, medical personnel, and other interested parties
*A resource center in the Pilgrim Library for DC students, professionals, community members, and families

The Hench Autism Studies Program understands that for all the challenges autism spectrum disorder presents to individuals, families, educators, and communities, there are also joys and journeys that a textbook language cannot fully capture.