Kinney's New Executive Director

In 2011, Theresa McFalls, EdD ’25, LSW, joined the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support to assist with the planning and implementation of the Center's new ASPIRE college support program for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fast forward more than a decade later as the Center prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary, McFalls was named executive director of the Kinney Center. SJU News sat down with McFalls to learn more about her goals for the next 15 years of Kinney and her favorite moments along the way.

What has been your favorite Kinney moment so far?

I especially love the unique and safe opportunities clients enjoy, such as trick or treating through the center and getting pictures with Santa. These are the types of events that families with neurodiverse children sometimes avoid due to challenges their child might face such as noise, wait times and social interactions. To be able to offer families a space to be themselves and enjoy these experiences is so meaningful.

What are the top three goals you want to accomplish in your first year at the helm?

1. Launching e-learning through grants from the Eagles Autism Foundation, the Berger Foundation and Mitsubishi. Our e-learning programs will train other colleges in autism support and companies interested in starting neurodiversity employment initiatives. We are seeing a community need for ASD training at libraries, museums, etc. With the launch of e-learning, the sky's the limit.
2. Bolstering our employment partners, both for those in our college program and our vocational program. We have established campus and community employment partners, and the goal is to continue to increase these partnerships and match student interests and majors to supportive employment placements.
3. Engaging faculty at SJU who are interested in autism research. With three University locations and many new majors that align with the work of Kinney, we are now able to see new ASD research from varied disciplines.

How will a standalone facility bolster Kinney’s services?

It will substantially increase the number of clients and families we are able to serve. There are many unique aspects in the design plans that will offer meaningful social, transitional and employment training opportunities. Dedicated spaces for transitional and vocational training are key to combating the unemployment rates individuals with autism face. A standalone facility also opens the door for enhanced community and school districts partnerships.

Where do you imagine Kinney will be 15 years from now?

Wow, that's hard to say! As a field, we are constantly learning more and more about autism, and so much of that education is from neurodiverse individuals themselves; I am confident that Kinney will continue to listen to the community, to grow with the needs of families and to implement programming accordingly.