Public Relations

Title/Department:

Professor, Behavioral Research, Munroe-Meyer Institute
Director, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Munroe-Meyer Institute

Expertise:

Autism spectrum disorders

Research Interest:

My research focuses on developing more effective treatments for decreasing problem behavior and replacing it with appropriate social, language, self-help, and cognitive skills in children with autism and related disorders. Our work has shown that aberrant behavior (e.g., hitting oneself) may seem irrational at first glance, but often persists because it produces beneficial outcomes to the individual, such as access to preferred objects, adult attention, or termination of nonpreferred activities. Our research has also shown that providing choices to individuals with autism and giving them more control over their environment can reduce problem behaviors and promote developmental growth and independence.

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