The Autism Center for Excellence

The Mailman Segal Institute’s commitment to individuals with autism and their families began in 1984 with the Fort Lauderdale Oral School’s move to Nova Southeastern University’s main campus. Two children with autism were included in the educational program, which expanded to serve children with a variety of communication disorders. The now-named Baudhuin Preschool serves 150 preschool students with autism through a contract with the School Board of Broward County, Florida. The Autism Consortium, providing outreach program consultation and professional development activities to school districts across the country, followed in 1995. The two latest programs, University Academic Specializations and Clinical Services began in 2003.

These programs share the common mission of improving the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families through direct service, professional development, community education, and parent training and support. Expertise is integrated across programs to provide state-of-the-art service to individual children, families, classrooms, school districts, and community agencies. Center staff work collaboratively to develop innovative service models that respond to evolving research in the area of best practice for assessment and intervention in autism.