integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (iCASD)
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450
Phone: 402-559-0049
Email
Professional Summary
Dr. Patricia K. Zemantic is an Assistant Professor in the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (iCASD). She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a specialization mental health from Southern Connecticut State University in 2008. From 2009 to 2012, she worked as a behavior therapist in Connecticut Public Schools through the Institute of Professional Practice. There she provided behavioral services to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She completed an APPIC approved pre-doctoral internship and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, during which time she worked in the Early Intervention Program and the Autism Diagnostic Clinic. She completed her graduate training at the University of Oregon, where she earned a master’s degree in special education and a doctorate in school psychology.
Dr. Zemantic currently works across several programs within the iCASD – including the Early Intervention Program, Autism Diagnostic Clinic, Behavior and Learning Interventions for Neurodiverse Kids (BLINK) Program, and the Community Autism Resource Education (CARE) Program. Her clinical work includes the assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, early intensive behavioral interventions, and caregiver training.
Her newest projects include BLINK and an online adaptation of the CARE program in Spanish and English. Dr. Zemantic partnered with Dr. Whitney Strong-Bak, along with several faculty members in the Psychology Program, to design and implement the BLINK program, which is a brief caregiver training program delivered via telehealth to help caregivers learn strategies to address problem behavior at home and promote a variety of skills. CARE is an interdisciplinary psychoeducation program for caregivers of children with ASD that describes ASD and relevant interventions. CARE is now available online in Spanish and English.
Specialty Certifications
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Education
- PhD, University of Oregon – Eugene, OR, 2019
- MS, University of Oregon – Eugene, OR, 2016
- B.A., Southern Connecticut State University – New Haven, CT, 2008
Courses Taught
- Educational Assessment*
- Intellectual Assessment*
- Foundations of Clinical Supervision*
- Practicum Field Experience*
- Early Literacy for Diverse Learners*
- Intermediate Literacy for Diverse Learners*
*Graduate Teaching Assistant
Research Interests and Projects
- Verbal behavior
- Assessment of autism spectrum disorder
- Interventions to promote caregiver well-being and family empowerment
- Caregiver-implemented interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities
Selected Publications (within the last 5 years)
- Kodak, T., Campbell, V., Moberg, S., LeBlanc, B., Kurtz-Nelson, E., Cariveau, T., Haq S., Zemantic, P., & Mahon, J. (2016). Examination of efficacious, efficient, and socially valid error-correction procedures for children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49(3), 532-547. doi: 1002/jaba.310
- Haq, S., Zemantic, P., Kodak, T., LeBlanc, B., & Ruppert, T. (2017). Examination of variables that affect the efficacy of instructive feedback. Behavioral Interventions, 1-1. doi: 10.1002/bin.1470
- McIntyre, L. L., & Zemantic, P. K. (2017). Predictors of early childhood special education services for children with autism spectrum disorder. Early Childhood Education Journal, 45(6), 727-734. doi: 1007/s10643-016-0821-y
- Raulston, T., Zemantic, P., Machalicek, W., Hieneman, M., Kurtz-Nelson, E., & Barton, H., Hansen, S. & Frantz, R. (2019). Effects of a brief mindfulness-infused behavioral parent training program for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 13, 42 – 51.
Professional Affiliations
- Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International
Awards
- University of Oregon, School Psychology, Outstanding Student Award (2018)
- University of Oregon, College of Education Doctoral Research Award (2018)
- Trainers of School Psychologists Along with Pearson Clinical (2018)
- University of Oregon, College of Education, Florence Wolfard Fund Award (2015)
- University of Oregon School Psychology Travel Grant (2013-2018)