S3E4 - How Shared Expertise Improves Autism Research with Mandy Rispoli

Episode Notes What does it take to conduct autism research that reflects the needs and expertise of the individuals, families and educators it is designed to serve? For autism researcher Mandy Rispoli, it starts with who contributes to the research and how her research can be applied in the homes and classrooms of children with autism. The Quantitative Foundation Bicentennial Professor at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, Rispoli’s research recognizes and invites the family members, educators and community members that surround individuals with autism to share their immense wisdom and experiences, integrating those insights into her work. Keeping those families, classrooms and communities at the top of her mind is one way she and her team work to ensure the practices they ask caregivers and educators to adopt make a meaningful difference. In this episode of EdLab, Rispoli shares more about her work, including valuable lessons she has learned from her partners and how they have shaped her research. Resources Supporting Transformative Autism Research (STAR) Autism Drive website Caregivers for Autism Support and Training Program