Location: Questionnaire via Mail

The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship among life satisfaction, age at which the child with ASD first received related services (prior to or after age 5), family cohesion style, conflict resolution skills, marital satisfaction, effective communication and parenting stress in couples who have a child with ASD. Due to the prevalence of ASD, it is important for research to investigate what accounts for the variability that exists among families who have children with ASD.

Location: Cincinnati, OH

The purpose of this study is to examine the language and early literacy behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during shared storybook reading. The researchers’ interest is to see what naturally takes place when parents and children with ASD read books together.

Location: Online Study

The goals of this study are to learn more about how individuals on the Autism Spectrum or who have Asperger’s Syndrome manage writing tasks. The research may help in the development of teaching/tutoring techniques for helping others with ASD/AS manage writing tasks.

Location: Chicagoland Area

The purpose of this study is to To investigate the efficacy of a coach- and computer-assisted training program designed to improve children’s ability to read nonverbal cues from faces and to use their own faces to show emotion.

Location: Online Survey

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of an activity on various psychological constructs. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders are invited to visit the study’s website to respond to various questions assessing psychological constructs. Then, parents will be asked to complete a short activity each night for seven days before returning to the study’s website to respond to some more questions.

Location: Fort Worth, TX and surrounding metroplex

The purpose of this research study is to examine the emotion and self-regulation skills of preschool children with ASD. In addition, we are also examining the well-being of parents raising a child with ASD. As part of the study you would complete a series of questionnaires about you and your child and come and visit our lab here at TCU. The visits involve you and your child playing with toys and puzzles and we also perform a developmental assessment at the first visit.

Location: Bloomington, Indiana and any area within 1 hour drive

The study uses a parent-mediated music therapy approach to support the emrging joint engagement abilities of young children with ASD, through actions of Focus on Faces, Response to Joint Attention, and Initiation of Joint Attention.

Location: University of Massachusetts, Boston and University of California, Riverside

Brief Summary of Study’s Purpose: The Smooth Sailing Study is aimed at understanding the transition to school for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The transition to formal schooling is a crucial milestone for all children. Through this study, we ask the question: What factors help children with ASD succeed during this challenging transition period? Ultimately, this study will lead to the development of an intervention program to help children have positive social and academic experiences during the transition to school.

Location: Online Survey

Due to the significant challenges that autism presents, new treatments need to be researched to determine if the treatments are effective. Much of the peer-reviewed literature regarding neurofeedback has suggested that it is effective in treating symptoms of autism, yet the utilization of neurofeedback for autism is relatively low. Given the limitations of the research literature, the current study will explore whether parents of autistic children are aware of neurofeedback as a viable and effective treatment option for autism and what factors influence parents’ decision to use or not use neurofeedback as a treatment for their children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Location: Online Survey

In order to better understand how sensory processing differs between clinical conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, and how it relates to various aspects of personality and behavior, we are conducting an online research study. We are looking for parents of children 7-17 years old as well as adults 18+ years with autism spectrum conditions.

Location: Email Questionnaire

The purpose of this research study is to identify the attitudes of parents of preschool children with ASD towards the TEACCH conceptual model, known as The Culture of Autism. Participants will complete a short email questionnaire. The identification of those attitudes will aid interventionists and other professionals in working more effectively with families of children with ASD.

Location: Online Survey

Brief Summary of Study’s Purpose: To develop a survey, aligned with the DSM-5 proposed criteria for ASD, to be used as a diagnostic tool to identify severity of autism in children.

Location: Northern California

The study’s primary purpose is to explore the lives of women who are the biological mother to two or more children with an ASD. Information obtained will be shared with other professionals (in aggregate form) to inform them of the unique needs of this group of women. Additionally, this study is intended to address the gap in literature regarding this population of women and to make known to the larger community how these women cope and how they can be supported.

Location: Through UMass Boston, but researcher willing travel to homes or location most convenient to parents.

We are studying how children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders perceive social emotions in others. We are specifically interested in knowing how this ability might be different in children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders as compared to typical children. Social emotion is a socially constructed term that hinges on the ability of an individual to interpret social interactions through the perspective of others. These emotions include empathy, pride, embarrassment and guilt.

Location: Children's Hospital of Boston, MA

We are currently conducting a study in children and adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders or Asperger’s syndrome to examine the ability to process emotions in faces and to identify eye movements and brain activity associated with this ability.

Location: Online Survey

Menstruation (period) is one of the puberty symptoms for every female regardless of whether or not a disability is present. However, there is little information or guidance for the parent or caretaker regarding the preparation of the young female with a developmental disability for menstruation (periods) or about how to help her care for herself to whatever degree the young woman can. Thus, your help and participation are needed in this survey in order to provide valuable information and support for families of females with developmental disabilities about menstruation (periods).

Location: Online Survey

The purpose of this study is to learn more about families affected by an autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we are interested in the diagnostic experience, access and utilization of different services, and your perceptions about the adequacy of these resources. We are hoping to gather this information from a household member who actively participates in and is familiar with the care planning of a child with an autism spectrum disorder.

Location: In participants’ homes

The purpose of this study is to examine how playing Wii affects the stereotypic behaviors of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Location: University of Connecticut

Our research studies will follow the development of infant siblings of children with autism over the first two years of life.

Location: New Jersey

The purpose of our study is to understand how people with Autism perceive movement in social and non-social stimuli. Subjects will be compensated for time and their travel expenses.