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Center for Autism, Applied Developmental Core

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The CSUF Center for Autism is dedicated to research, education, and service in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The mission of the Applied Developmental Core is to advance understanding of developmental processes across the lifespan in autistic children, adolescents, and adults while conducting research that promotes wellbeing, self-determination, inclusion, and the strengths of autistic individuals and their families. Major emphases of both our Core and the larger Center include research, empirically-based practice, and the application of research findings to assessment, advocacy, intervention, and professional training.

The Applied Developmental Core is one of two Cores that together make up the CSUF Center for Autism.”

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About the Core

The Applied Developmental Core is one of the two Cores that constitute the CSUF Center for Autism . Our Core is housed in the College of Health & Human Development, and is focused on developmental and clinical issues in autism.

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Core Leader

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Jason

Sasha M. Zeedyk, PhD
Co-Director, Center for Autism
[email protected]

Dr. Zeedyk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Studies in the College of Health and Human Development. She received her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of California, Riverside and completed her postdoctoral training at the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center in the UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry. She has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities and the Executive Committee for Division 33 (ASD/IDD) of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Her research focuses on supporting neurodivergent youth, adults, and their families across the lifespan. She aims to integrate neurodivergent perspectives throughout the research process. Committed to supporting neurodivergent college students and the faculty who teach and work with them, Sasha co-designed NeuroPREP with her colleague Yasamin Bolourian, Ph.D. (UCLA). She continues to design and facilitate courses to help create more inclusive spaces for neurodivergent students on campus as the Faculty Fellow for Neurodiversity at CSUF’s Faculty Development Center.

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Associated Faculty

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Ioakim

Ioakim Boutakidis, Ph.D.
Sociocultural Consultant
Associate Professor of Child & Adolescent Studies

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Erica

Erica Howell, Ph.D.
Co-Director and Leader of the Education Core, Center for Autism
Associate Professor of Special Education

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Advisory Board

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Bianca & Joey Ancona
Parent Advocates, Community Liaisons
Orange County, CA

Joseph H. Donnelly, M.D.
Director, For OC Kids, Orange County, CA
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UCI Department of Pediatrics

Stephen A. Erath, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies, Auburn University

Rachel Fenning, Ph.D.
Director, Claremont Autism Center
Associate Professor of Psychological Science, Claremont McKenna College

Tracy Guiou, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Executive Director, Behavioral Education for Children with Autism, Torrance, CA
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Ohio State University

Daniel S. Messinger, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics
University of Miami

Cameron Neece, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Loma Linda University

Timothy Prior, M.S., LMFT., BCBA
Founder & Executive Director, Autism Spectrum Interventions (ASI), Fullerton, CA

Myka Thompson
Parent Advocate
Orange County, CA

Jill Waterman, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Adjunct Professor, UCLA

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