Media Contact
George Yatchisin, george@education.ucsb.edu

Broad Foundation makes gift to Koegel Autism Center at UC Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., May 25, 2010—The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has made a $250,000 grant to the Koegel Autism Center in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara to support the cutting-edge research and programs of the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Center for Asperger Research, which was established in 2007 with an initial $930,000 award from The Broad Foundation. Led by international autism authorities Drs. Robert and Lynn Koegel, the Broad Center develops and refines the Koegels’ research-based model for intervention and support for children and adults with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Nearly one in 400 children and adults suffers from a form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome that makes it difficult for them to relate socially to others. If untreated, individuals who are otherwise cognitively very capable are often unable to attend college, pursue a career, or have successful long-term relationships. In its first three years the Broad Center’s researchers and clinicians have demonstrated a high degree of success in remediating Asperger’s Syndrome at different developmental levels from infancy to adulthood. This new funding from the Broad Foundation will enable the Broad Center to administer intervention programs for infants and toddlers who show symptoms of Asperger’s as well as its treatment protocols for helping college students and older adults make major improvement in their academic and social development.

Upon receiving this most recent gift for the Broad Center UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang said, “We are deeply appreciative of Eli and Edythe Broad’s continuing support of this important area of research within our Koegel Autism Center at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. Their generosity will have a direct impact on the quality of life for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, as we work together to advance the frontiers of knowledge in this area and develop new and effective methods for teaching, intervention, and support.”

Robert and Lynn Koegel are available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin.

About the Koegel Autism Center
The Koegel Autism Research and Training Center, overseen by Drs. Robert and Lynn Koegel, is dedicated to improving the lives and prognoses of children with autism, as well as the lives of their families. It has been recognized by the National Academy of Sciences – and ranked among the country’s top 12 such facilities – for its innovative research and teaching methods in a variety of areas, including parent education, language development, and teacher education. It offers a state-of-the-art behavioral approach to autistic children. The Koegel Autism Center is part of The Gevirtz School at UC Santa Barbara.

About The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation is a national venture philanthropy established by businessman and philanthropist Eli Broad to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education, scientific and medical research, and the arts. Broad founded two Fortune 500 companies, KB Home and SunAmerica Inc. The Broad Foundation’s Internet address is www.broadfoundation.org.

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