Our History

TouchPoint Autism Services is a pioneer in the field.  In 1970, when a federal grant expired, Washington University ended their  Social Exchange Laboratory - a program that worked primarily with children with autism spectrum disorders.  The families the program served raised about $10,000 and TouchPoint (formerly known as Judevine Center for Autism), opened its doors as a school for children with autism in 1971.

Through the years, TouchPoint has gained a well deserved reputation for providing excellent training for professionals and for parents and families with children on the autism spectrum.  As additional needs were identified for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, TouchPoint expanded services to include:  residential services, employment support services, family support, recreational programs and respite care.

Today, TouchPoint has more than 500 employees, a $15 million budget, 30 residential homes, and seven locations across the state of Missouri - annually serving more than 2,700 people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

 Our Mission

To make a real difference in the quality of life for children and adults with autism and their families wherever they may live.

Our Vision

To be the premier provider of comprehensive, evidence-based treatment, training and services for individuals across the entire autism spectrum throughout all stages of their lives.

Our Values

We put the people we serve first.

We tailor our approach to help each individual with autism live the fullest life possible.

We partner with families and provide them with education and options on how they can help their family member with autism live the fullest life possible.

We value our staff and provide them with a supportive, engaging and rewarding work experience where we all share a commitment to excellence and continuous learning.

We are good community neighbors and provide objective consultation in support of services, research, and government policies and we advocate on behalf of individuals with autism to ensure their needs are known.

We are good stewards of the financial and other support we receive and provide clear information about the results we produce for those we serve to all our funders and supporters.

 The TouchPoint Autism Services 2008-2009 Annual Report is available via download.

2008-2009 Annual Report (.pdf)