News and Knowledge

OAR is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 Graduate Research Grants. The program awards up to $1,000 to master’s students and $2,000 to those in doctoral programs to conduct research related to autism. This year, OAR awarded 11 grants totaling $21,000, including four grants to student researchers in Canada, Israel, and South Africa. These new grants bring OAR’s total to more than $249,600 awarded to fund 138 graduate research studies since 2004.

“The quality and complexity of the proposals we receive increases each year,” notes Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., chairman of OAR’s Scientific Council. “The future of autism research is bright in the hands of these students.”

OAR received a record 42 study proposals this year. Members of the OAR Scientific Council, a group of 16 autism professionals from a variety of fields and backgrounds, reviewed and scored each proposal. Their evaluation was based on three key criteria:

• Alignment with OAR’s research priorities
• Methodological soundness
• Relevance of potential findings for those affected by autism 

In keeping with OAR’s dedication to high-quality research, only the best of the best were selected for funding.

Congratulations to the 2018 grant recipients:

• Jonet Artis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: A longitudinal study of the language profiles of infants at risk for ASD 
• Lauren Best, University of Georgia: Evaluating client preference for vocal stereotypy treatment
• Mattina Davenport, The University of Missouri: BE SAFE: an initial evaluation and pilot study 
• Leslie Dooley, Iowa State University: Integrated exploration of pediatrician and lactation consultant knowledge of atypical development 
• Yael Goldfarb, University of Haifa: Work motivation of adults with ASD
• Chantal Labonté, University of Alberta: Bilingualism in children with autism spectrum disorder: exploring the impact of dual languages 
• Emily Laubscher, Pennsylvania State University: Effects of video AAC technology on communication and play for children with autism
• Dianne Macdonald, McGill University: A reading comprehension program for preschoolers with hyperlexia
• Sandhya Rajagopal, Florida Institute of Technology: An evaluation of a procedure to teach children with autism to tact private events
• Sara C. Spong, Regent University: Stress and resiliency factors in caregivers of children of neurodevelopmental disorders
• Caroline Theron, University of Cape Town: The effects of home-based enhanced milieu teaching on the spoken-language outcomes of children with autism

For inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Grant Program or for more information on the 2018 funding cycle, please call OAR at 703-243-3466 or e-mail research@researchautism.org.