Travis Thompson, PhD
About the Author
Travis Thompson, PhD
Professionally, I’m a psychologist and professor appointed in the Dept of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, where I’m affiliated with the Autism Program. My expertise is in early intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorders and functional assessment of behavior challenges of children and adults with autism, genetics and psychopharmacology. I’ve 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 and the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Institute of Child Development, a clinical research center that serves children with autism. I’ve served on NIH grant review committees for many years, including chairing the Autism Centers of Excellence grant review committee. I’ve presented invited addresses and workshops in 41 states and 13 countries outside the US and published 230 articles and chapters and 30 books, the last three of which deal with autism spectrum disorders (“Making Sense of Autism” (2007); “Straight Talk on Autism” (2008); “Freedom from Meltdowns: Solutions for Children with Autism” (2009); all published by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company). I also supervise early intervention services as a psychologist with the Minnesota Early Autism Project in Maple Grove, MN, a provider of autism early intervention services. Personally, I’m married to Anneke Thompson, who is a doting grandmother, 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 me with their individuality and unique achievements. Our grandson Michael, age 10, has an ASD diagnosis.
