April 20, 2005
Written by Cory Chandler
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 19, 2005
Contact: Cory Chandler, cory.chandler@ttu.edu
“College is probably a safe realm for people with Asperger’s. It is for me,” Rachelle
Jones, graduate assistant in the College of Education.
LUBBOCK – Textbooks were easy. Other children were hard.
Growing up, Rachele Jones struggled to find the emotional tools many children instinctively
use to build social bridges. While she excelled academically, she found it difficult
to interact with classmates.
Jones, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, is now a Ph.D. student studying autism spectrum
disorders at Texas Tech University and has founded the Spectrum Coalition, a support
group for people with autism in Lubbock. However, these successes came after years
of struggle.
Asperger’s Syndrome falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorders – a group
of developmental disabilities that tend to hamper social and communication skills
and are sometimes marked by obsessive behavior.
While the medical industry focuses on diagnosing and treating autism disorders in
children, the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research in Texas Tech’s College
of Education will delve into easing the transition of young adults into the world
beyond high school.
For some people with autism disorders, this transition is fraught with panic attacks
and depression. One goal of the new center will be to assess their strengths and then
use those strengths to create a plan for locating educational and career opportunities.
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CONTACT: Robin Lock, co-director of The Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research,
College of Education, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-1837 or robin.lock@ttu.edu.
Rachel Jones, graduate assistant in the College of Education, Texas Tech University,
(806) 742-1997 or Rachele.j.jones@ttu.edu.
Other sources can be reached by calling Robin Lock.