E43: Moving Forward with Autism Research

In this episode, we welcomed Gael Orsmond, a Sargent Professor and the Director of Families and Autism Research Lab at Sargent. Professor Orsmond shared two of her ongoing studies on understanding how the family and the school system could influence the well-being of young adults and adolescents on the autism spectrum. About Families and Autism Research Lab at Sargent: Research in the Families and Autism Research Lab (FAR) Lab focuses on contextual aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the life course, such as family relationships, friendships, and social and community participation, especially during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Currently, we are conducting two studies. The ROAD Ahead Study is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). This study focuses on the interventions and supports provided to diploma track high school students on the autism spectrum, and how they learn to manage the responsibilities of adulthood. For information about this study, please contact us at [email protected]. Siblings FORWARD is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). We are working with service providers, adult siblings, and adults with autism to develop a new program to help adult siblings become more involved with their families to plan for the future when they have a brother or sister on the autism spectrum. For more information about this study, please contact us at [email protected]. The moderator of the podcast is Dr. Karen Jacobs ([email protected]), who is the Associate Dean, Digital Learning and Innovation, a Clinical Professor and the Program Director for the on-line post-professional doctorate in the occupational therapy program at Sargent College. Marial Williams ([email protected]), a Boston University entry-level occupational therapy doctoral student, composed the music for the podcast.