Purdue Autism Cluster event to focus on social and communication skills for children

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Autism Cluster is hosting a 2019 Autism Seminar Series.

Brian Boyd, associate professor of applied behavioral science at the University of Kansas and director of Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, will present a community seminar titled “Promoting the Social-Communication and Play Skills of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” It will take place at 6 p.m. March 28 in Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142. This lecture is free and open to the public.

In this lecture, Boyd will discuss the importance of working on the foundational social communication and play skills of young children with autism spectrum disorder and the need to ensure that every child with autism spectrum disorder has the means, motivation and opportunity to communicate and play with others.

Boyd’s research interests focus on the development and evaluation of evidence-based, behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, and understanding the effect of restricted, repetitive behaviors on the ability of these children to participate in their environment.

The Purdue Autism Cluster was established to develop an interdisciplinary and highly coordinated effort to understand, assess, and treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders. They explore biological, genetic, behavioral and applied approaches. Faculty associated with the Purdue Autism Cluster are from a number of academic units across campus, including the colleges of Health and Human Sciences, Science, Education and Veterinary Medicine. The Purdue Autism Cluster is invested in the testing and delivery of newly discovered clinical interventions to children with autism spectrum disorder and in generating the research that makes these interventions possible. 

Writer: Kelsey Schnieders Lefever, kschnied@purdue.edu

Source: Rose Mason, assistant professor of special education, rmason3@purdue.edu

Media contact: Brian Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu