Supporting Transformative Autism Research at UVA

Check out this recent article by Dr. Rose Nevill, Director of the UVA Star Autism Research Core, where she shares 5 Strategies for Creating a More Neuro-Inclusive Workplace.

https://uvafeap.substack.com/p/thriving-together-through-neurodiversity

Dr. Megan Puglia's work was highlighted in UVA Today.

"Focus on showing up, not on getting it “right.” Your baby doesn’t need a perfectly scheduled, perfectly stimulated life – they need you. Pay attention to their cues, respond with presence and allow yourself to make mistakes. Small, everyday interactions – a touch, a shared laugh, eye contact – shape the brain more than anything else. Love, intention and repair matter far more than perfection."
https://news.virginia.edu/content/qa-why-are-childs-first-1000-days-so-critical-brain-building?utm_source=DailyReport&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

Our collaborating partners at the University of Washington are offering a FREE virtual parenting series!

•Support for challenging behaviors • Expert-led • English & Spanish

Starts Feb 26 — scan to register!

Parents of young children with autism — we’re recruiting!

Have a child recently diagnosed with autism, ages 12–48 months?
You may be eligible for a new University of Virginia telehealth study supporting caregivers.

11-week online program
✔ Improve communication
✔ Strengthen caregiver-child interaction
✔ Reduce challenging behaviors
✔ Weekly videos + 1-hour Zoom group

Email to learn more: [email protected]

Or scan the QR code on the flyer!

This study is led by Mandy J. Rispoli, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, and approved by the University of Virginia (IRB SBS #5557), as part of the Supporting Transformative Autism Research Initiative.

UVA’s Sheila Johnson Center is offering Facing Your Fears, an evidence-based anxiety treatment group for autistic youth ages 8–14.

✨ Weekly small-group sessions help kids:
~ Understand and identify worries
~ Learn practical anxiety-management strategies
~ Face fears with support from peers and caregivers

📍 Thursdays, 4–5:30 PM
🗓️ 14 sessions starting January 2026
👨‍👩‍👧 Parent/caregiver participation required
💙 Many health insurances accepted | Financial assistance available

📞 Call 434-924-7034 for details

🌟 Seeking Autistic Adults for No-Cost Therapy Program! 🌟

Are you:

~Autistic and experiencing depression and/or anxiety?

~at least 18 years of age?

~currently living in Virginia?

If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study that compares two telehealth therapy programs.

If eligible, you will receive virtual therapy provided by a Virginia-based therapist.

If you are interested, please email [email protected].

You may also call us by phone at (919) 843-7850. A study member will be available on Mondays from 12-1 PM ET and Tuesdays from 4-6 PM ET. If a study member is not available at the time of your call, you may leave a voicemail, and we will be in touch as soon as possible. IRB #23-0871

Doctoral student and STAR collaborating researcher, Jessica Smith, grew up in New Orleans during the years following Hurricane Katrina, the 2005 storm that devastated the city and surrounding areas.

One thing Smith remembers well is the difficulty that she and her relatives with developmental and complex medical conditions had in finding care.

Post-Katrina New Orleans inspired this UVA student’s mission The National Institutes of Health is backing doctoral student Jessica Smith’s commitment to improve access to specialty care, especially for people with autism.

Funded by a Global Programs of Distinction grant, the STAR Global Autism Initiative connects UVA researchers with partners in Kenya and Bolivia to co-create autism interventions. Professors Mandy Rispoli and Michaela DuBay reflect on the program's first year, the promise of reciprocal innovation, and the future of global autism research.

https://global.virginia.edu/stories/star-global-autism-initiative-helps-kids-autism-soar?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6s97F8eqKWwLchSFCWtsXEurOGsUisX2c7J1iJx6H_mZhPSlknH-g38dIIKQ_aem_nFZGRiZN8zgMexThA6q6zQ

Recent policy changes and rhetoric from the U.S. administration are creating confusion and fear among the autism community, leading to a rise in evaluation cancellations and patient data privacy concerns. Psychologists and advocates are working to combat misinformation by educating the public on autism's scientific consensus and affirming neurodiversity.

STAR Director Micah Mazurek was recently invited to comment to the American Psychological Association on the current climate of autism research. She encourages us to keep three things in mind:

~Part of the scientific method is replication, and so conclusions can take decades to form.
~Cancellation of any evaluations made out of fear may disrupt needed care.
~Research needs to be focused on personalized interventions and should feature the voices of autistic people in planning and conducting studies.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/09/advocate-autism-wave-misinformation.html