SCTL Projects

Autistic Burnout Project

Development and psychometric examination of a novel measure of autistic burnout

Funder: Autism Speaks 

Autism-Adapted Criteria for Manic Episodes

Develop alternate mania criteria for autistic individuals with language impairment (profound autism). 

Funder: Eagles Autism Foundation 

Pilot Randomized Trial of the RUBI Program for Families of Autistic Adults

This study seeks to evaluate two interventions re-designed to be delivered to autistic adults (18 years+) and their caregivers to address key outcomes such as caregiver self-efficacy and improvements in the autistic adult’s externalizing behaviors and overall quality of life.

Funder: Eagles Autism Foundation

Social Groups for Young Adults

SDARI (SocioDramatic Affective Relational Intervention) is a drama-based social skills intervention that provides participants repeated opportunities to use social skills by using engaging, fun activities. SDARI has been successfully delivered to autistic youth and teens and has shown significant improvements in group member’s social skills and motivation. Because this intervention has not yet been systematically evaluated via a pilot randomized trial with young adults, little is known about the potential benefits of SDARI in this population. 

Establishing Fidelity of Neuroaffirming Interventions

Create a measure of what qualifies as a neuroaffirming intervention across disciplines and approaches.

Funder: National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) 

Building Capacity for Engaging Autistic Adults and Relevant Stakeholders in Mental Health Patient-Centered CER

Enhancing Mental Health Practice for Autistic Adults Collaborative Team (EMPAACT) is a PCORI-funded engagement project looking at creating a multistakeholder team and adapting tools for more meaningful and inclusive research for autistic adults.

Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

SDARI Bancroft

The SCTL research team is collaborating with Bancroft social workers and clinicians to re-imagine the current social skills programming delivered to their residents. Bancroft is a residential treatment program that supports children and adults with high support needs such as intellectual disabilities, severe challenging behaviors, and autism. Broadly, existing social programming is not typically designed to serve the needs of autistic people with higher support needs, such as those in residential programs like Bancroft. SDARI has previously been used in similar populations, and because of the nature of SDARI’s activities (improv-based activities, some of which do not require spoken language or are not heavily reliant on motor skills, and many of which can be adapted to deliver to different cognitive/skill levels/group sizes) and goals (i.e., modeling appropriate responses and reactions, eye contact, and turn taking), we are adapting this intervention to specifically meet the needs of Bancroft residents. 

Funders: Bancroft, Private Donor   

Adapting and Testing a Novel of Method of Engagement in Research: Prioritizing Autistic Perspective in Behavioral Intervention Discussions

The CAPBID Science of Engagement Award leverages a community-driven, participatory team science approach to examine different methods for centering autistic people in multistakeholder conversations on the use of behavioral interventions for autistic people. 

Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Initial Evaluation of Specialisterne’s USA Tech Academy Program 

SCTL is collaborating with Specialisterne in order to develop and refine a theory of change for Specialisterne and the US Academy, providing a framework for future program evaluation. A Specialisterne Stakeholder Advisory Board, including Specialisterne staff, SCTL researchers, and people with relevant lived experience, convenes throughout this project to share progress and provide feedback. We are utilizing Delphi methods and qualitative interviews with Academy graduates to identify key program activities and outcomes. The results on this initial evaluation will inform recommendations for designing a final impact evaluation.

​Funder: Specialisterne

Social Experiences and Loneliness of Autistic Young Adults (SELA) 

A participatory mixed method, longitudinal study focusing on assessing experiences of loneliness across life transitions among autistic young adults, with a focus on understanding predictors, trajectories, and outcomes of these experiences. 
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Funder: National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) 

For these and other ASD-relevant studies being conducted through the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, please click here.