Being a teenager is not easy, but teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face particularly daunting challenges when it comes to social and communications skills. Elizabeth Laugeson, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior,…
In 2012, OAR awarded funding from the J. Ernest Brophy Memorial Fund for Autism at OAR to support a housing research study by John Maltby, M.S., at the Westchester Institute for Human Development Impact. The Institute addresses major social and health issues affecting people with disabilities and vulnerable children and develops and delivers medical, clinical,…
Understanding (and leveraging) the factors that impact work performance is crucial for any adult, but it can be especially important for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These individuals often have sensitivities to things that don’t bother other workers, such as fluorescent lighting or having to shake hands. At the same time, they tend…
OAR-funded researchers Joshua Plavnick, Ph.D., and Brooke Ingersoll, Ph.D., Michigan State University, conducted their study, Enhancing Traditional Group Social Skill Instruction using Video-based Group Instruction Tactics, in 2013. The purposes of the study were to: Compare the effects of video-based instructional tactics to traditional direct instruction with modeling on the social skill performance of children…
Are adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at greater risk for sexual violence than others because of social deficits? For example, do they miss information coming from sources like friends or family on what constitutes sexually appropriate behaviors? Researchers from York University in Toronto, Canada sought to answer these and related questions in a…
A classic hallmark of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is an impaired ability to appropriately interpret and respond to social cues like facial expressions. Due to this deficit, faux pas and misunderstandings can be a frequent occurrence; it’s as if many individuals with autism have a habit of deviating from the socially acceptable script. Recent efforts…
A wide range of educational placements are possible for students on the spectrum, because “Least Restrictive Environment” (the mandate set forth by special education law) is going to mean something different for each individual. But what are the other factors that influence where a student receives his or her instruction? Two researchers at the University…
A wide range of educational placements are possible for students on the spectrum, because “Least Restrictive Environment” (the mandate set forth by special education law) is going to mean something different for each individual. But what are the other factors that influence where a student receives his or her instruction? Two researchers at the University…
Social studies can be a challenging subject for students of all grade levels and abilities. This is especially true for students with autism, who often struggle to master skills, such as sequencing, that are required to successfully navigate academic material. In an effort to make social studies content more accessible, a group of researchers from…
That children with autism are bullied is not news to most parents of a child with autism. In fact, a number of research studies have already illuminated the strong correlation between autism and bullying, including a highly publicized report (Sterzing et al., 2012) that was supported in part by OAR funding. OAR offers a review…
