Autism & Developmental Disabilities

We have a wide network of investigators with long-standing collaborative relationships across the University of Rochester and with other universities to study causes, characteristics, and care of children, youth, and adults with autism and other developmental disorders and their families.

Multiple multidisciplinary teams are studying the comparative efficacy of interventions for children with ASD for enhancing language development. Other projects have focused on increasing the capacity of educators to deliver services in public schools. We participate in national, multi-site research networks focused on implementation of evidence-based programs in community settings, such as programs focused on caregiver support and system navigation. We employ community-partnered practices to develop and disseminate interventions for children with autism and other specific healthcare needs, their families, and school teams through our research networks. A wide network of basic and translational investigators are also working to understand the neurobiology underlying autism, rare neurodevelopmental disorders, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Funding from NIH, HRSA, IES, state agencies, and private foundations has allowed for significant growth in these areas of research. Research and related training are supported additionally through three major center grants falling under the Association of University Centers on Disabilities: University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders Fellowship Program, and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center.

Investigators