Travis Thompson

I am a psychologist who works with children with autism and their families, and I write books about what I learn in the process. I try to see the world through the eyes of a child with autism, while making scientifically valid information acessable to parents, teachers and therapists.

I am also a faculty member in Special Education at the University of Minnesota where I teach courses in autism, and also am a Consulting Psychologist at the Minnesota Early Autism Project. That's a community-based early intervention program for children with autism spectrum disorders.

I have conducted research and worked clinically with children and families of youngsters with autism for nearly 40 years. I was previously Director of the John F. Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University as well as holding various positions at the University of Minnesota. I am currently collaborating on a multi-site project involving the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, the E. K. Shriver Center at U. Mass. Amherst and the University of Kansas dealing which chronic challenging behavior in developmental disabilities.

My invited addresses and workshops have been presented in 47 states and 13 countries outside the US. I have published 235 articles and chapters and 30 books. My most recent three books, "Making Sense of Autism" (2007); "Straight Talk on Autism" (2008); "Freedom from Meltdowns: Solutions for Children with Autism" (Nov. 2008)are all published by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company; "Individualized Intervention for Young Children with Autism: Blending Naturalistic and Discrete Trial Interventions (2011).

In my former life, I designed and fabricated stained glass windows, but my more recent forays into visual arts have involved water color painting. http://gallery.me.com/travisthompson2#100030

I'm married to Anneke Thompson, who is doting grandmother, a retired special education teacher, avid reader and quilter. We have four adult children, Rebecca, Jennifer, Andrea and Peter, and 7 grand children, who never cease to amaze us with their individuality and unique achievements. Our grandson Michael, age 14, lives in Eastern US and has an ASD diagnosis.