Laura Reynolds of Bentonville has been hired to serve as the Arkansas Autism Resource & Outreach Center contact for Northwest Arkansas.

The autism center expanded its statewide coverage to address the needs of additional families of children with autism by opening satellite locations last fall in Northwest Arkansas and Eastern Arkansas. Reynolds serves as parent liaison for Project Connect, a grant-funded program in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. Peggy Shaefer-Whitby, an associate professor of special education, is the principal investigator on the project that funds Arkansas Autism Resource & Outreach Center through an agreement with Partners for Inclusive Communities in Little Rock.

Project Connect offers a resource guide free for download and provides resource and referral services for families of children with autism. Project Connect provides other services such as a summer day camp for children with autism.

Reynolds can be reached at projconn@uark.edu or by calling 479-575-3215.

The Arkansas Autism Resource & Outreach Center has headquarters in the Partners for Inclusive Communities offices in Little Rock and is directed by Dianna Varady. The center and Partners are both based in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Reynolds and her husband, Dan, have three children, including a son with autism. She knows firsthand the challenging complexities and arduous work involved in negotiating the autism service system, and she is dedicated to helping families obtain services they need.

Reynolds is a graduate of Missouri Baptist School of Nursing and worked in the health field as a registered nurse before moving to Arkansas in 2005.

The Arkansas Autism Resource & Outreach Center provides parental support, education and training and awareness and advocacy.