Language Learning Lab

Center Affiliates: Alyson Abel

The Language Learning Lab (LLL) studies the process of learning a new word in school-aged children with typically developing language and children with language impairment. We use behavioral word learning tasks in conjunction with brain measures (EEG) to examine changes in processing as a new word goes form unknown to known. Using these methods, we aim to uncover what influences the word learning difficulties in children with language learning difficulties and, eventually, how we can manipulate the learning context to maximize their learning potential.

Projects

Word Learning in Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Neural Correlates of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Socioeconomic Effects on Word Learning

Child Language Development, Disorders, and Disparities

Center Affiliates: Sonja Pruit Lord

Dr. Pruitt’s research program examines child language development and disorders within the context of cultural and linguistic diversity. Our lab’s efforts are rooted in community-based research with the goal of improving assessment and developing targeted interventions for children with language weaknesses. Through our translational research, we aim to help families, educators, agencies, and policy makers recognize the importance of their role in facilitating children’s language and cognitive development.

Projects

Typical and Atypical Language Development in Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds, Community-based Preschool Project, Morphology-Phonology Interface

The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CSESA)

Center Affiliates: Bonnie Kraemer & Laura Hall

CSESA is a research and development project funded by the U.S. Department of Education that focuses on developing, adapting, and studying a comprehensive school-based and community-based education program for high school students on the autism spectrum.

EFFECT Lab

Center Affiliates: Kelsey Dickson

The EFFECT Lab focuses on bridging the gap bridging the gap between research on high quality interventions for children and the implementation of those interventions in community settings such as mental health services. This lab is dedicated to community-partnered implementation research aiming to develop and test effective services for youth as well as effective professional development for treatment providers. Current projects include a National Institute of Mental Health Career Development Award (NIMH K23MH115100) awarded to Dr. Dickson to adapt and test an executive functioning intervention for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for implementation in children’s mental health services.

Projects:

EFFECT (Executive Functioning for Enhancing Community-based Treatment)

PACS Lab

Center Affiliates: Rachel Haine-Schlagel

The mission of the PACS (Parents And Caregivers in Services) Lab is to improve services for diverse children, adolescents, and families served in community settings. Our lab focuses on promoting family participation and collaboration with child service providers and organizations.

Projects:

Center for Child and Youth Psychiatry (CCYP), Setting Families Up for Success: A Pilot Study to Enhance the Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Evaluation Process (SDRC SPIRIT), Improving and Sustaining Implementation of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT-Sustainment)

Center Affiliate: Paul Luelmo

Dr. Luelmo’s research projects include a parent-to-parent advocacy intervention employing community-partnered participatory research to address autism service disparities in the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Additionally, he is working on improving special education paraprofessional training and he is currently employing improvement science methods to develop and refine a culturally responsive teacher candidate observation and feedback protocol.

IEP Advocacy Mentorship for Low-Resourced Spanish-Speaking Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)