Research Participation Opportunities

Parental Accommodation in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Researchers

Molly Ludlow & Melanie Wadkins

Institution

Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology – Yeshiva University

Who can participate

Parents of children with Autism between the ages of 5 and 18

Location

Remotely 

Description

The Ferakuf Anxiety Lab is conducting research on parental accommodation in ASD. If you or someone you know has a child with ASD between the ages of 5 and 18, please consider participating in this study. A $2 donation to Autism Speaks will be made in honor of your participation and you will be providing the scientific community with valuable information about ASD. This research project was reviewed and received an exempt determination by WCG IRB. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration!

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact Molly Ludlow
at mludlow@mail.yu.edu.

Deadline

May 24, 2024

Stress and Mental Health in Parents of Autistic and Gender Diverse Adolescents

Researchers

Kris Nelson

Institution

California State University San Marcos

Who can participate

Parents/Caregivers of Adolescents (ages 11-18)

Location

Remotely 

Description

Recruiting parents of adolescents (ages 11-18) to participate in an online survey regarding stress and mental health! Adolescents may be autistic, gender diverse, both, or neither. Potential participants are invited to complete a 5-minute online survey to determine eligibility to participate in a 30–45-minute online survey about parent stress and mental health. Eligible participants who complete the survey will receive a $15 Amazon electronic gift card.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact sparcclab@csusm.edu.

Deadline

May 25, 2024

Identifying Clothing Requirements for Tactile Defensive Individuals

Researcher

Chukwuma Udezeh

Institution

University of Minnesota

Who can participate

Autistic adults, ages 18+, who experience tactile defensiveness with clothing.

Location

Remotely – Once participants self-identify, a survey link will be sent.

Description

Hello all,

My name is Chukwuma Udezeh and I am a neurodiverse Ph.D. student conducting a research study at the University of Minnesota, investigating how tactile defensive individuals describe their clothing requirements and their experienced clothing barriers. If you also identify as neurodiverse and have experienced hypersensitivity and/or hyposensitivity to clothing or touch, please contact me expressing your interest in potentially participating in this one-time survey. Survey participants will also receive a $10 Starbucks digital gift card.

Participation will also require that you live in the United States, are at least 18 years old, and are able to respond to survey questions in English.

Thank you for your time.

*Please note, your participation in this study is voluntary. Collected survey responses will be confidential and securely stored. If you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time by not completing the online survey.

Contact

Please do not hesitate to contact the team at:

Study Contact
Name: Chukwuma Udezeh
Email Address: udeze002@umn.edu
Please include “Identifying Clothing Requirements” in email subject line

Deadline

May 31, 2024

Validating a Biomarker Panel to Improve Autism Diagnostic Processes

Researcher

Merle May

Institution

Healios

Who can participate

UK and US parents and children aged 5 to 11; eligibility will be assessed via a short screening survey (see links below)

Location

Remotely. For the US, use this link to participate. For the UK, use this link to participate.

Description

Could you spare a few minutes to help us improve autism services for children across the globe?

Healios is a company with a mission to improve the accessibility of mental health and neurodevelopmental services for those who need them. We’re looking for parents and children aged 5 to 11 to take part in a simple online study that could pioneer improvements in the autism diagnostic process. The study is fully remote and only requires a smartphone and internet connection. By taking part, you’ll be helping to improve the lives of millions of children and young people worldwide. Over five million US citizens are autistic, and some wait up to four years to receive a diagnosis. This delay can have severe repercussions on their health and quality of life. Our research will help to improve the process.

How it works

Step one: Complete a short three-minute survey
Step two: Our team will be in touch if you can take part
Step three: If eligible, you will be invited to complete the research, which will involve the young person completing fun tasks on a mobile app and answering a few questions about your child
Step four: Once completed, you will be paid at a rate of $20 per hour for your time as a thank you

Contact

If you are interested in this, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be more than happy to provide further information and discuss this further. For more information about who we are, please contact us here.

Deadline

May 31, 2024

Autism-Specialized College Support Programs: A Grounded Theory Approach to College Transition Services and Potential Retention Impacts

Researcher

Gary Burdette

Institution

University of Saint Mary

Who can participate

Autism-specialized college support program (ASP) directors, participating college students identifying as autistic, parents/guardians of participating students

Location

Remotely

Description

Collaborators Needed for Spring 2024 Research Study

My name is Gary Burdette, and I’m a doctoral candidate in the Ed.D. in Leadership program, Curriculum and Instruction concentration, at the University of Saint Mary (Kansas). I’m contacting autism-specialized college support program (ASP) directors, students, and immediate families to collaborate on a research project regarding ASP transition services, supports, and potential connections to first to second-year retention. There are two primary response options: 1) a one-on-one Zoom interview (or a panel discussion if feasible) or 2) an online questionnaire based on the semi-structured questions designed for the interviews. If you choose to interview, you may turn the camera on or off and respond verbally or by typing in the chat box. For both the interview and questionnaire, you may wish to leave your contact information to receive and assist in validating the data near the study’s conclusion, but it isn’t required.

Contact

Please contact Gary Burdette gary.burdette@my.stmary.edu with any questions.

Deadline

June 1, 2024

Understanding Workplace Challenges for Autistic Adults

Researcher

Shevaun Lewis (PI), Yi Ting Huang, Quentin Leifer, Kathy Dow-Burger, Ira Kraemer, Aparajita Rao, Andrea Zukowski, and Quentin Leifer

Institution

University of Maryland / FIT (Fostering Inclusivity Through Technology) Project

Who can participate

All participants must live in the United States and be able to consent for themselves (cannot have a legal guardian or be under the age of 18). Participants can either be autistic, coworkers, support professionals or business leaders. Autistic adults must have at least one month work experience (paid or volunteer, at least 10 hours per week) and have used video calling at least 10 times in the past year (self-diagnosed individuals are welcome). Coworkers must be of autistic adults participating in the study and referred by an autistic participant. Support professionals are those who must support autistic adults who are working or seeking work (such as job coaches, social workers, or psychologists). Business leaders must be at companies with a focus on inclusion for autistic employees.

Location

Remotely

Description

Understanding workplace challenges for autistic adults

The purpose of this research project is to learn more about challenges with communication between autistic and non-autistic people in the workplace, and how they could potentially be prevented or mitigated through technology added to video calling platforms.

We are recruiting:

Autistic adults with some work experience (paid or volunteer, at least 10 hours per week) and familiarity with video calling (at least one month work experience and at least 10 times using a video calling platform in the past year)

Coworkers of autistic adults participating in the study (you must be referred by an autistic participant)

Professionals who support autistic adults who are working or seeking work (such as job coaches, social workers, or psychologists)

Leaders at companies with a focus on inclusion for autistic employees

The study involves surveys and participating in a focus group over Zoom, an interview through Zoom or synchronous chat, or through a survey with long-form text responses. The interview or focus group will be audio- and video-recorded if over Zoom. The total time to participate will be 1.5-3 hours, and you will be paid up to $85 via an online gift card (for a retailer of your choice) for your time.

Contact

If you’re interested, please fill out this screening questionnaire https://go.umd.edu/fit-screening-survey. If you have questions about the study, please email us at fit@umd.edu or leave us a message at 301-405-8561.

Researcher: Shevaun Lewis, shevaun@umd.edu, 301-314-2185

Deadline

June 28, 2024

Discrimination and Disability Acceptance as Predictors of Autistic Adults’ Job Satisfaction

Researcher

Barbara D’Entremont & Hala Alloubani

Institution

University of New Brunswick

Who can participate

Autistic adults, age 21 and up, who are employed or who have been employed in the past.

Location

Remotely

Description

Researchers at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada are interested in your job experiences and job satisfaction. We are interested in all types of jobs including sheltered workshops, supported employment, and competitive employment. To participate you must have autism (autism, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS), be working or have worked in the past (sheltered, supported, or competitive), and be at least 21 years of age. For more information go to https://unbfpsyc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cItXyN7ComZSmYm or contact the investigator at bdentrem@unb.ca. Visiting the website does not obligate you to participate. This study is being conducted by Dr. Barbara D’Entremont bdentrem@unb.ca. This project is on file with the Research Ethics Board, University of New Brunswick (REB # 2023-177).

Contact

Please contact Barbara D’Entremont at bdentrem@unb.ca with any questions.

Deadline

June 30, 2024

Autistic Adolescents’ Perspectives on Behavioral Interventions

Researcher

Kaitlynn Penner & Mian Wang

Institution

University of California Santa Barbara

Who can participate

English -speaking Autistic adolescents, ages 13-17

Location

Remotely and in-person

Description

Often, intervention and education for autistic children is designed and implemented without any input from autistic individuals themselves. This is why researchers in the Department of Education at UC Santa Barbara are recruiting autistic adolescents (ages 13-17) to participate in a study in which they will be asked to give feedback on different aspects of common intervention programs for autistic children. The study consists of an interview that will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. The interview includes questions about common behavioral intervention goals, practices, and strategies. Participants will be asked to provide their opinions about these topics. Participants can choose to stop participating at any point during the study.

Potential participants must be autistic (formal diagnosis or self-identification) and be between the ages of 13 and 17.

Contact

Please contact Kaitlynn Penner at kpenner@ucsb.edu with any questions.

Deadline

June 30, 2024

Aggression and Burnout Effects on Direct Care Professionals Providing Services for ASD and ID Populations

Researcher

Geoffrey Keller

Institution

Carlow University

Who can participate

Mental Health Professionals who work with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, or other developmental disabilities. This includes but is not limited to registered nurses, nurse pratitioners, behavior specialist, BCBA’s, behavioral health technicians/workers, milieu therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, home health aides, etc.

Location

Remotely

Description

Why is this research being done?
We are examining aggression as it relates to burnout in psychiatric hospital employees.   Burnout can be defined as “the end in coping with chronic stress” (Jennett, Harris Mesibov 2003) and is particularly relevant in high intensity high energy environments. Specifically, we are interested in collecting data from mental health professionals who work on specialized care units designed for individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We collect data through a brief survey that takes between 5 and 10 minutes to complete.

Who is being asked to take part in this research study?
All staff members who work directly with individuals with ASD or ID and engage in patient care, which includes but is not limited to Behavioral Support Staff, Psychiatric Assistants, Student Behavioral Assistants, Safety Specialists, Social Workers, Counselors and Psychologists, and Nurses.

What procedures will be performed for research purposes?
If you decide to take part in this research study, you will participate in a brief multiple choice survey that should take roughly 5-10 minutes to complete.

What are the possible risks, side effects, and discomforts of this research study?
This is a minimal risk study with several risks identified. Some survey questions ask about experiences with violence and aggression, which may cause participants to experience stress or negative emotions. Additionally, there is the possibility that participants may experience boredom as they may not find the survey content interesting.

What are possible benefits from taking part in this study?
You have the option of being entered into a raffle where every 10th participant (a 1 in 10 chance) will be emailed an online gift card to amazon worth $25.

You will likely receive no other direct benefits from participating in this study. The only potential benefit may be feelings of satisfaction for having helped and contributed to academic research.

Who will know about my participation in this research study?
Any information about you obtained from this research will be kept as confidential (private) as possible.  All records related to your involvement in this research study will be stored in a locked file cabinet.  You will not be identified by name in any publications.

Is my participation in this research study voluntary?
Your participation in this research study is completely voluntary.  Your decision to consent or not consent to participate in this research study will have no effect on your current or future relationship with Carlow University or this researcher.

Contact

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Geoffrey Keller via email.

Deadline

July 5, 2024

Home-based Study of Sleep in ASD

Researcher

Dara Manoach, Ph.D. & Lindsey Woodham

Institution

Massachusetts General Hospital

Who can participate

Autistic children/teens, aged 12-18, without a diagnosed sleep disorder (except insomnia)

Location

Remotely

Description

We are seeking participants for a research project titled “Home-based study of sleep in ASD.” We want to measure differences in brain rhythms in children/teens with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder during overnight sleep at home using a wearable sleep headband device. Measuring sleep rhythms at home allows us to study more people over longer periods of time to learn more about sleep, which may help us develop treatments for sleep difficulties in the future.

Participants will receive up to $140 for completing all study activities.

Contact

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Lindsey Woodham via email.

Deadline

7/31/2024

Unlocking Potential: Neurodivergent Women in Cybersecurity

Researcher

Kamille Kemp

Institution

University of Colorado – Colorado Springs

Who can participate

Women working or previously working in the Cybersecurity Field, Ages 18+

Location

Remote

Description

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a survey that aims to delve deeper into the experiences, challenges, and contributions of neurodivergent women in the cybersecurity field. This survey seeks to illuminate the unique perspectives and needs of women, assessing their professional experiences in cybersecurity. By understanding these factors, the research aims to pinpoint key factors that promote or impede the inclusion and success of neurodivergent women in this sector.

Your participation in this survey is crucial in advancing our understanding of the experiences of neurodivergent women in cybersecurity. Your insights will help drive positive change and create more inclusive work environments for everyone.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences. Your participation will make a substantial impact on our understanding of this important topic.

Together, let’s create a world where neurodivergent women have equal opportunities to thrive in the cybersecurity field!
#NeurodivergentWomenInCybersecurity #DiversityAndInclusion #InclusionMatters

Contact

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to kkemp@uccs.edu.

Deadline

August 1, 2024

​​​Evaluating the effectiveness of a training for caregivers on using Read and remove, Ask, Answer, Prompt (R2AAP) strategy during shared adapted book reading with their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).​

Researcher

Nimisha Muttiah

Institution

SUNY Cortland

Who can participate

Children with autism, ages 2-5.5, who have complex communication needs, who do not consistently use AAC as a primary means of communication.

Location

Remotely

Description

My name is Morgan Proulx, and I am a first semester senior at the State University of New York at Cortland (SUNY Cortland). I am conducting a research study over the summer with my professor, Dr. Nimisha Muttiah. We will be training caregivers how to incorporate a communication strategy into adapted shared book reading with their child with autism.

Contact

If you have any questions or are interested in our study, please contact Nimisha Muttiah, nimisha.muttiah@cortland.edu.

Deadline

August 2, 2024

Understanding the Help-Seeking Experiences of Asian American Caregivers of Children with Autism: A Qualitative Study

Researcher

Amani Khalil, M.S. Ed.

Institution

Purdue University

Who can participate

Primary caregivers of a child ( age 3-17) with ASD. Caregivers must be over the age of 18 and 1) identify as Asian or Asian American, 2) speak fluent English, and 3) reside in the United States

Location

Remotely – bit.ly/3quutu3

Description

We are seeking interview participants for the research titled “Understanding the Help-Seeking Experiences of Asian American Caregivers of Children with Autism: A Qualitative Study”

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the healthcare barriers Asian and Asian American caregivers/ parents experience in accessing an autism diagnosis and autism treatment services specially within the U.S. healthcare system. Our results will aim to address how we can create culturally competent autism services and ultimately how we can close the delayed autism diagnosis and intervention services that Asian American children with autism often experience.

If you are a primary Asian American caregiver caring for a child diagnosed with Autism age (3-17) please consider participating in an online interview on your experiences navigating Autism treatment and supports for your child. If selected for an interview you will be compensated with a $25 Amazon gift card upon completion of an online interview.

To qualify for the study, you must:

• Be a primary caregiver of a child diagnosed with Autism ages (3-17)
• Identify as an Asian American
• Be 18 years or older
• Speak fluent English
• Currently reside in the U.S.

If you are interested in the study, please fill out a brief interest and demographic survey below.

https://bit.ly/3quutu3

Contact

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to PRFLab@Purdue.edu,

Amani Khalil, M.S. Ed., KhalilA@Purdue.edu, or

Xiang Zhou, xiangzhou@purdue.edu

Deadline

August 11, 2024

Developing a Tool to Monitor and Track Adverse Events in Psychosocial Autism Interventions

Researcher

Manisha Khatiwada

Institution

The Ohio State University

Who can participate

Participants may be autistic adults, parents/caregivers of young autistic children (under 7 years), and/or service/therapy providers for young autistic children (under 7 years) who are:

• at least 18 years old
• have access to a computer, laptop, or other electronic device with Zoom capabilities
• live in the United States

Location

Remotely via Zoom

Description

Are you an autistic person, parent of a young autistic child, or service provider for autistic children? If so, you may be eligible to participate in an online Focus Group Research Study!

The Ohio State University is conducting a study to learn more about the experiences of autistic children and their families participating in early intervention and other psychosocial therapy services.

Contact

Manisha Khatiwada – khat21@osumc.edu

Deadline

August 30, 2024

Flexible Thinking Study

Researcher

Dr. Erin Kang

Institution

Montclair State University

Who can participate

typically-developing children or children diagnosed or with suspected autism, aged 6-17 years old

Location

Montclair, New Jersey, USA

Description

Researchers at Montclair State University are looking for families with children and adolescents 6-17 years old that are typically developing or have/are suspected to have autism spectrum disorder to participate in an in-person study on how children switch their thinking and attention between tasks. We hope to better understand flexible thinking patterns and how they relate to social and emotional development. Participating families will receive a $50.00 gift card for completing this study.

Contact

Montclair State University Autism and Neurodevelopment Lab at 973-655-3615 or email at erinkanglab@montclair.edu.

Deadline

August 31, 2024

Nutrition-related information seeking among parents of autistic children

Researcher

Jennifer Jones, PhD; Allison Hepworth, PhD, and Haley Hal

Institution

Oklahoma State University

Who can participate

Parents and caregivers of autistic children (0-18 years) who live in the United States

Location

Remote

Description

Parents and caregivers of autistic children, we need your input! We are trying to learn how you look for information about nutrition and would love to hear about your experiences. To participate, you will complete a 30-minute survey, and, in exchange for your time, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of twenty $50 Amazon gift cards.

Contact

If you have any questions, please reach out to the project supervisor via email at haley.billings@okstate.edu.

Deadline

August 31, 2024

Learning Experiences with K–12 Mathematics Education: Perspectives of Autistic Young Adults

Researcher

Gulnoza Yakubova

Institution

University of Maryland, College Park

Who can participate

Autistic young adults, age 16 and higher, who are in high school grades

Location

Remotely

Description

About the Study: This research study is conducted by Dr. Gulnoza Yakubova and her research team at
the University of Maryland, College Park. We are specifically interested to hear about
your experiences with mathematics education when you were in k–12 school. Autistic
young adults who are at least 16 years old and either still in high school or finished high
school in the US are eligible.

Who Can Participate? Autistic young adults who:
– Are at least 16 years old and currently in high school in the US OR Finished high school in the US within the last 10 years.
– Live in the U.S.
– Are able to communicate in English.

What Will You Do?
– Answer a brief demographic survey (5–10 minutes)
– Participate in an online semi-structured interview (approximately 50–60 minutes) where you’ll share your experiences, insights, and perceptions on the mathematics education you received when you were in k-12 school. Audio
recording of the interview is required in this project.
– Upon successful completion of the online interview, you will receive a $15 electronic gift card.

How Will This Help?
– Your participation will help us improve experiences of autistic children in mathematics education.

Interested?
– Fill out the brief eligibility screening questionnaire (approximately 3–5 minutes): Click the here

Contact

Dr. Gulnoza Yakubova at gulnoza@umd.edu

Deadline

August 31, 2024

Cultural Aspects of Sexuality and Relationship Education Measure Development

Researcher

Xihan Yang

Institution

Tufts University

Who can participate

Autistic adults, ages 18-35

Location

Online or In Person

Description

Researchers at Tufts University are recruiting autistic adults to develop a measure to understand the cultural aspects of sexuality and relationship education (SRE) received by autistic population in the U.S. Participants will be invited to fill out an online survey, then take part in a Zoom interview lasting about 45-60 minutes. Participants will be compensated with $25 e-gift card.

You will be eligible to participate in this study if you:
– age 18 or older
– are autistic
– can communicate and read in English
– able to make consent for studies individually (no legal representatives)
– willing to share your previous experiences in sexuality and relationship education

If you are interested in participating, please fill out this preliminary questionnaire:
https://tufts.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2oyeHwHtHWylZEG.

If you’re eligible, we’ll reach out within a week with an invitation to be interviewed.

Contact

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions: crehanlab@tufts.edu.

Deadline

August 31, 2024

Assessing Functional Language Development via Telehealth

Researcher

Lee Mason and Alexis Bolds

Institution

Cook Children’s Health Care System

Who can participate

Children with and without an ASD diagnosis through seven years of age.

Location

Remotely

Description

Participants needed for telehealth language research! Our telehealth-based language assessment is designed to assess four functions of CLEaR speech (https://www.checkupnewsroom.com/helping-children-with-autism-communicate-with-clear-speech/). This longitudinal research is designed to track your child’s language development over the course of 12 months. Participants will receive a detailed report of their child’s present level of functional language. Both children with autism and neurotypical peers are encouraged to participate!

Contact

If you have questions or would like to participate, contact Lee Mason at lee.mason@cookchildrens.org.

Deadline

November 14, 2024

Assessment of Parenting Styles and Preferences

Researcher

Jessica Granieri, Jennifer Gillis Mattson, PhD & Raymond Romanczyk, PhD

Institution

Binghamton University

Who can participate

Parents of autistic children, ages 3-7

Location

Remotely

Description

The Advancing Autism Research through Collaboration Education and Support (AACES) Lab at Binghamton University is currently enrolling parents of autistic children (i.e., suspected or confirmed diagnosis), ages 3-7 years old, for a fully online research study. We are looking to better understand parents’ assessment and preference for different parenting styles to better inform future interventions.

Now enrolling: Parents of autistic children (3-7 years old) in the U.S for an online study exploring parents’ assessment and preference for different parenting styles.

Who: Parents of autistic children, 3-7 years old, with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of autism. Parents must be over the age of 18 years old, read/speak English, be at least a 2nd generation American citizen, have lived in the U.S. the majority (>50%) of their life, and have access to the internet.

Why: To better inform culturally appropriate interventions, our study aims to better understand parents’ assessment and preference for different parenting styles.

What: Participants will watch videos of parent-child interactions and complete questionnaires.

Expected Duration: ~1 hour

Compensation: Chance to win 1 of 20 $50 prepaid Amazon gift cards!

Contact

If you are interested in participating, please click here to complete the eligibility screener and provide consent, or email us back at autism@binghamton.edu with any questions.

Deadline

November 15, 2024

Autism and Leadership

Researcher

Tanya Alaaldin, Caleb Phillips, & Ellie Stillwell

Institution

London School of Economics

Who can participate

Autistic employees and leaders of autistic employees

Location

Remotely

Description

Do you identify as an autistic employee or a manager of an autistic employee? Are you open to sharing your experience?
Researchers at the London School of Economics are conducting a study to explore the experiences of autistic employees and managers of autistic employees. We aim to gain insights into positive leadership from both perspectives, fostering a better understanding of creating inclusive workplaces.
To participate, you must:
• Identify as an autistic employee or manager of an autistic employee
• Have conversational English proficiency
• Have a direct supervisor
• Be willing to discuss your experiences in a 45-60 min interview (online)
Visit https://se.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2b3nqBGJACu3xs to fill out a brief survey to indicate your interest in participating.

Contact

For inquiries, please email the team at t.alaaldin@lse.ac.uk with any questions.

Deadline

December 31, 2024

Uncovering Communication Potential in Minimally Verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder

Researcher

Christopher McDougle, Maria Mody, & Lisa Nowinski

Institution

MGH Lurie Center for Autism

Who can participate

Autistic adults, ages 18-40, minimally verbal

Location

Remotely and In Person (Lexington, Massachsettts)

Description

The Lurie Center for Autism is looking for adult volunteers (18-40 years old) to take part in a research study to learn more about communication in which they can earn up to $150. This study will explore alternative ways to measure language, social, fine motor and cognitive skills in individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder who are minimally verbal (mv-ASD).

Contact

For more information, please contact the Lurie Center research staff at:
781-860-1711 or LurieCenterResearch@mgb.org.

Deadline

March 7, 2025

Meanings of Autism & Work

Researcher

Jun Hwan Kim, Brandon Snel, Aashima Sarin (medical students); Jacob Krehbiel (autistic community research assistant)

Institution

Michigan State University

Who can participate

Autistic people in mid-Michigan, Kent, and Ottawa counties ages 14+; professionals and advocates in mid-Michigan, Kent, and Ottawa counties

Location

Remotely and In Person

Description

We are looking for participants to take part in a study about autism and employment. We are recruiting autistic people (with or without a diagnosis) ages 14 and older, as well as professionals and advocates who work in the area of autism and employment. All participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interview. Autistic people will also have the opportunity to take photos of work and invite a researcher to “shadow” them at their job. The lead researcher is Ariel Cascio, Ph.D., Center for Bioethics & Social Justice. To take part or ask questions, contact (616) 287-0336 or casciome@msu.edu.

Contact

If you have questions or would like to participate, contact (616) 287-0336 or casciome@msu.edu.

Deadline

March 31, 2025

Measuring Interaction and Communication in Autism

Researcher

Olivia Boorom

Institution

University of Kansas

Who can participate

Autistic children ages 4-6 who use minimal spoken language

Location

Remote

Description

This study is hoping to learn more about how autistic children who use minimal speech (i.e., mouth words) communicate during natural interactions at home with their caregivers. Specifically, we want to learn about moments where caregivers and their children are “in sync”, or are communicating back and forth, and the factors that are likely to promote being “in sync”. We believe that this work will help us better understand how social interaction can be shaped during everyday activities, play, or in therapy. Results from this project have implications for understanding development of social interaction skills in autism and for intervention strategies that utilize synchrony as an active ingredient.

The Communication Success Lab at University of Kansas is recruiting autistic children ages 4 – 6 years who use minimal spoken language. This study involves assessments of social communication, language comprehension, autism traits, and play behaviors from caregivers and their children via telehealth in the home, and takes approximately 1.5-2 hours total. Caregivers will receive $25 for their participation.

Contact

If you are interested in learning more or if you would like to join the study, please email olivia.boorom@ku.edu.

Deadline

April 1, 2025

Exploring the Relationship Between Sleep Hygiene and Sleep Among Typically-Developing Adolescents with and without a Sibling with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Researcher

Janice Phung and Jacob Maga

Institution

California State University San Marcos – Autism, Family, and Community Lab

Who can participate

We will recruit parent-adolescent pairs who have a child/sibling with Autism. To be eligible for the study, adolescent participants must meet the following criteria: 1) Be between 10 to 19 years old 2) Live with a sibling with an ASD diagnosis 3) Not have an ASD diagnosis 4) Be able to read and respond to questionnaire items (~5th grade reading level) To be eligible for the study, parent participants must meet the following criteria: 1) Live with a child of theirs between 10 and 19 years old without an ASD diagnosis 2) Live with a sibling of their child who has an ASD diagnosis 3) Live in the United States

Location

Remotely – Link provided after consent and assent forms have been signed

Description

The Autism, Family, and Community lab at CSU San Marcos is currently recruiting parent-adolescent pairs who have a child/sibling with Autism for a sleep study!

The goal of this study is to determine if adolescents who have a sibling with Autism are more susceptible to sleep issues and if poor sleep hygiene contributes to these difficulties. Identifying sleep issues in adolescents who have a sibling with Autism enables us to educate families on the critical importance of sleep and offer guidance on improving sleep hygiene.

Brief Study Details:
We are seeking insight from parent-adolescent pairs who live with their sibling with Autism and each other.
Parent and adolescent participants will be asked to complete a brief online questionnaire focusing on the adolescent participants’ sleep and sleep hygiene.
Each participant who completes their questionnaire will be entered to win 1 of 5 $100 Amazon e-gift cards.

Contact

If you are interested in learning more or if you would like to join the study, please email maga002@csusm.edu.

Deadline

May 31, 2025

Work Chat: An Interactive Virtual Workday

Researcher

Matthew Smith, Connie Sung, and Shaun Eack

Institution

University of Michigan

Who can participate

Autistic Adults ages 18 and older with at least a 4th grade reading level

Location

Remotely

Description

The University of Michigan Level Up: Employment Skills Simulation Lab has partnered with the autism community since 2019 to develop a gameified computer program called Work Chat: A Virtual Workday and we are looking for help from autistic adults to help us evaluate WorkChat. Work Chat is designed to be a typical work day experience in a virtual gaming world to practice with conversations with virtual customers, coworkers, and supervisors. If you join the study, you will complete some surveys and assessments, and then you will be randomly selected to use the Work Chat program now or you will be selected to use Work Chat later.
If you are eligible, both groups can earn up to $215 for participating. Participation is completely voluntary. We have a consent form that will provide more details if you are interested.

Contact

If you you have questions or would like to participate, please the link in this ad or email our research team at: work-chat@umich.edu.

Deadline

August 29, 2025

Receptive Language in Minimally Speaking Children and Adolescents

Researcher

Lindsay Butler

Institution

University of Connecticut

Who can participate

Autistic children and adolescents, ages 7-17 who use minimal spoken language

Location

Remotely

Description

One in four autistic individuals has minimal spoken language. Despite having minimal spoken language, research suggests that at least 25% have high language comprehension. Researchers and clinicians, however, do not have a way to directly evaluate language comprehension. In this study, we developed a remote, touchscreen response language comprehension task for individuals with minimal spoken language. This research can help clinicians and educators evaluate language comprehension to improve communication supports.

The Brain & Language on the Autism Spectrum Team at UConn is currently recruiting 7-17 year old children and adolescents who use minimal spoken language. Research includes 60-110 minutes of online parent questionnaires and 40-80 minutes of remote parent-child language tasks. Compensation is up to $75. We will tailor the language tasks to your child’s special interests.

Contact

For questions, please contact blast-off@uconn.edu.

Deadline

August 30, 2025

A Study Comparing Two Mental Health Therapies Among Autistic Adults

Researcher

Micah Mazurek, Laura Klinger, and Emily Fuhrmann

Institution

University of Virginia

Who can participate

Autistic adults (18+) who live in Virginia and are dealing with symptoms or depression or anxiety

Location

Remotely

Description

?Seeking Autistic Adults for No-Cost Therapy Program! ?

Are you:

Autistic and experiencing depression and/or anxiety?

At least 18 years of age?

Currently living in Virginia?

If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study that compares two telehealth therapy programs. If eligible, you will receive virtual therapy provided by a Virginia-based therapist.

Contact

If you are interested, please email aaset-mhtp@med.unc.edu. You may also call us by phone at (919) 843-7850. A study member will be available on Mondays from 12-1 PM ET and Tuesdays from 4-6 PM ET. If a study member is not available at the time of your call, you may leave a voicemail and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Deadline

June 01, 2026