Vodianova visited the Autism Support Services: Education, Research and Training (ASSERT) classroom and learning from founder Tom Higbee, professor and department head of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, and his highly skilled early childhood educators. She hopes to bring awareness to autism and evidence-based programs like the ASSERT model.

Naked Heart Foundation is planning to expand its educational programs in Europe in the next two years, and Vodianova spent two weeks at the ASSERT program learning firsthand about the evidence-based techniques used to support children with autism and their families. This experience will better prepare her for the foundation’s future work.

Housed in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, the ASSERT program was founded in 2003 and is celebrating 21 years of supporting families with children on the autism spectrum. The primary goal of ASSERT is to improve the lives of children who are on the autism spectrum and their families through its three-fold mission of education, research and training.

Twelve years ago, Vodianova and Higbee met through health care professionals who were working with children with disabilities.