Autism Education investment, USM

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - There are more than 10,000 children in the state who are autistic.

Southern Miss recognized that and has invested in its Graduate Applied Behavior Analysis Autism Education program.

Director of public relations, Megan Burkes said, "Recently, the Secretary of State, Delbert Hosemann and his wife, Lynn made a $25,000 contribution that was matched by the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation in Jackson that will essentially provide an addition visiting faculty position over."

The Autism Education program will be able to enroll more into the program.

"They will be ready-trained professionals who can go out and seek license insurance to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts," said Burkes.

Investing in autism education is pivotal for not only Mississippians, but for families around the world.

"These are children with autism and other behavior disorders who might not even be able to sit in a classroom and listen to instructions. They can learn to listen and imitate. And with this methodology, sometimes really even converse and learn to read and really master some socially significant behaviors," said Burkes.

The program has already hired one additional faculty member who started this semester.