Judevine History

1971 – Judevine Center for Autistic Children opens October 2 in University City, MO.

1972 – Judevine is dedicated. 27 children attend treatment program. Five “graduate” – four to public schools and one to a special education classroom.

1973 – Judevine shares its intensive training program with parents and other professionals.

1974 – South Carolina replicates Judevine’s Competency-Based Training Program statewide.

1975 – First Judevine Training Institute was conducted in St. Louis. Over 300 attended. A fire doesn’t slow down Judevine, as families pitch in to reopen the Center in just four days

1976 – First spin-off agency was established in Illinois.

1977 – Judevine receives a grant from the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped to establish a Personnel Training Consortium.

1978 – Judevine receives a grant from National Institute of Mental Health, Division of Manpower, Research and Demonstration to replicate training program in nine states.

1979 – Judevine has trained 129 professionals from 22 states and Canada, 19 master trainers from eight states, and 167 parents from 27 states.

1980 – To better meet its expanding mission, Judevine moves to its Sunset Hills facility in the former Rott Elementary School.

1981 – Judevine provides training and assistance to the Yach Dov School for Autistic Children in Tel Aviv.

1984 – Judevine Festival of Trees is founded. This volunteer-organized event has attracted more than 50,000 visitors from and has raised more than $800,000 for Judevine programs and services.

1986 – Residential Treatment Center opens as transitional care facility for children and adolescents.

1987 – Judevine launches program to serve adults with autism; co-sponsors with Special School District a workshop on autism

1988 – Supportive Respite Program launched with a grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; demonstration program opens at University City High School to include adolescents with autism in public high school.

1989 – Model group home opens; Community Services for Autistic adults & Children selects Judevine as training site for supported employment project.

1990 – Judevine launches Supported Living Arrangement Program.

1991 – EXCELL program is established. Supported Living Arrangements Program expands.

1992 – Judevine Supported Living opens 12 residential homes around the St. Louis area.

1993 – The Family Support Department opens and Parent Support Groups begin.

1995 – Judevine adds “Sib-Shops” and Music Therapy to its programs. Eight additional Supported Living Arrangements and one Host Family are opened.

1996 – The First Annual O’Leary’s Golf Tournament brings together more than 100 golfers in support of Judevine.

1997 – Judevine received 3-year accreditation with distinction from the Council of Quality & Leadership for Persons with Disabilities.

1998 – Judevine is invited to present at an international Asperger's Disorder conference in Ireland.

2000 – Judevine Parent Organization (JPO) is founded to helps guide parents who are new to the autism spectrum community.

2002 – Judevine staff presents at the World Autism Congress in Australia.

2003 – Lois J. Blackwell, Judevine President/Founder, retires

2004 – Rebecca Blackwell appointed as Executive Director.