Marshall Magazine Autumn 2022

currently employs 44 staff members and has offices not only onMarshall’s Huntington campus, but also in Fairmont and Parkersburg. In addition, autism specialists are stationed in regions across the state and work from their homes. “How we understand au tism is constantly evolving,” Ellison noted. “For example, new research shows that many females exhibit autism traits dif ferently than men. Not being aware of this fact clearly led to the misdiagnoses of thousands of women over the decades.” A five-year plan calls for the number of students served by the college program to dou ble. A major part of this plan will involve moving from the

current location in Old Main to a building on Sixth Avenue that formerly housed Tri State MRI. Ellison said the program will need to raise $5 million to renovate the building. “We believe that doubling the size of the program and moving into a new location will enable us to develop a center of excellence for the employment of people with autism,” Ellison said. “This is meaningful work that benefits not only those with ASD, but their families, friends and the community as well.”

The West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall was born from the passion and dedication of autism pioneer Dr. Ruth Sullivan, having been established by the West Virginia Legislature in 1984.

Amy Deal is a freelance writer living in Barboursville, West Virginia.

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