About one in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts from the George Washington University are available for comment throughout April’s National Autism Awareness Month.
To schedule an interview with any of the below experts, contact GW media relations at 202-994-6460 or [email protected]
GW’s Flash Studio, a state-of-the-art broadcast studio, is available for remote, live or taped television and radio interviews. The studio is operated in partnership with VideoLink.
Kevin Pelphrey is the Carbonell Family Professor in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and the Director of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute. Dr. Pelphrey is a leading expert on adults and girls with autism. Dr. Pelphrey is working to refine and implement the institute’s vision as a resource that provides both evidence-based clinical treatments and conducts research.
Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, assistant professor of nursing, focuses on neonatology, infant health and developmental pediatrics. Dr. Darcy-Mahoney’s research on neonatal and early childhood outcomes related to cognitive development, school performance, perinatal brain injury and autism spectrum disorders has led to the creation of programs that improve health and developmental outcomes for at-risk and preterm infants.
Chung Hyuk Park, professor of biomedical engineering, is using robotic systems to engage in natural play and musical settings with children with autism for social and emotional interaction. The robots will encounter or display social and emotional situations--such as a room with bright light or loud noise, surprising or frustrating events, or diverse emotional expressions--and help children learn with robotic friends how to be more actively engaged in social and emotional interactions.
Roy Grinker, professor of anthropology, international affairs and human sciences, is an expert on autism, mental illness and psychological anthropology in children. Dr. Grinker completed the first-ever epidemiological study of autism spectrum disorder in South Korea and is the author of many publications, including “Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism.”
Jennifer Frey, assistant professor of special education and disability studies, researches early language and social behavior interventions to improve the social communication skills of young children with disabilities, including autism, across home and school settings. Dr. Frey is a board certified behavior analyst and the coordinator of the early childhood special education graduate program at GW.
Olga Acosta Price, associate professor of prevention and community health, is an expert on the role that schools play in helping children and adolescents with autism succeed, including the transition from high school to college or a career. Her work focuses on promoting evidence-informed policies, programs and practices in schools that support achievement andwell being for all children, including those with special needs. She is the director of the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools at the Milken Institute School of Public Health.