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    researchers study northwestern neurodevelopmental diversity lab

    Exploring how genes and the environment interact in autism/fragile X syndrome.

    Learn More About NDL

    Leadership

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    Post-Doctoral Fellows

    Research Faculty and Staff

    Project Collaborators

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    Join Our Lab

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    • About NDL
    • Leadership
    • Graduate Students/Post-Doctoral Fellows
    • Research Faculty and Staff
    • Project Collaborators
    • Community Collaborators
    • Join Our Lab
    • Support Our Work
  • Our Research
    autistic child laughing with parent in northwestern neurodevelopmental diversity lab

    Studying families to reveal the roots of neurodiversity.

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News

News

  • NDL Lab Members

    NDL Fall 2024 Retreat

    We had an incredible time at our 2024 Lab Retreat! It was a great opportunity to come together, share insights on our exciting new projects, and foster collaboration.

  • NDL at ArtTism 2024

    The NDL was honored to attend the 2024 Chicago ArtTism event at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.

  • The NDL at the 19th NXFX International Fragile X Conference in Orlando!

    The NDL team shared research and connected with families at the 19th International Fragile X Conference in Orlando, Florida.

  • July is Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) Awareness Month!

    Our lab is grateful to be part of the FXS community and work with some of these incredible families and individuals.

  • A Family Genetic Study of Autism and Fragile X Syndrome – 3rd Phase of the Project

    In July 2024, the NDL was awarded the third renewal of A Family Genetic Study of Autism and Fragile X Syndrome (NIMH R01MH09113110).

  • Janna Guilfoyle presents dissertation findings at the 2024 FFR Workshop

    Janna shared her exciting dissertation findings on speech processing in autism at the Frequency Following Response (FFR) Workshop in Chicago in June.

  • NDL presents findings in prosodic traits of speech among individuals with autism at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism

    Jiayin Xing, Mitra Kumareswaran, and Sarah Ethridge (from left to right) presented findings from their work investigating prosodic traits of speech among individuals with autism at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism at Duke[...]

  • NDL presents findings in conversational speech synchrony at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism

    At the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism (MoLA), Janna Guilfoyle (left, 6th year clinical psychology doctoral student) presented a poster titled, “Physiological mechanisms contributing to atypical pragmatics in autism: A study of neural speech[...]

  • NDL presents findings on sex differences in social language use for individuals with ASD at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism

    Emily Landau, 5th year clinical psychology doctoral candidate, presented findings from her dissertation at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism. Her poster, “A Multi-Method Study of Pragmatic Language in Autistic Females," explored sex differences[...]

  • Discussing the utilization of AI to study pragmatic language in ASD at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism

    Dr. Joe Lau presented exciting findings from a collaborative project with Dr. Rob Voigt from NU Linguistics titled, Using AI Large Language Models to Detect Pragmatic Language Markers of Autism during the 2024 Meeting on[...]

  • Congratulations Jiayin for a wonderful dissertation defense!!!

    We are proud to announce that Jiayin Xing, 6th Year Communication Sciences & Disorders doctoral student, successfully defended her dissertation titled, "Multi-Modal Skill Coordination in Social Communication: An Investigation in Autism Spectrum Disorder and First-Degree[...]

  • Check us out in NU Magazine!!!

    Our lab has recently published important findings showing how machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence (AI), may be used to capture clinically significant features of speech impacted in autism across different cultures and languages. This[...]

  • Family Genetic Study of Autism – 3rd Phase of the Project

    We have received new NIH funding to continue our lab’s research focused on identifying specific language traits linked to brain and gene function involved in autism. This important award represents the 3rd cycle of continuous NIH funding for[...]

  • Welcome Lindsay Goldman, Research Assistant

    We are excited to welcome Lindsay Goldman to the NDL in the role of research assistant. Prior to joining as a research assistant, Lindsay volunteered in the NDL while completing her undergraduate degree at the[...]

  • Utilizing Machine Learning to Identify Autism Speech Patterns across Languages

    Work from our lab was recently featured in Northwestern Now. Click here to learn more about how machine learning can be used to identify potential speech patterns characteristic of autism across languages. Photo by Emily[...]

  • New Publication: A longitudinal investigation of pragmatic language across contexts in autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions

    Check out our recently published paper in Frontiers! This paper was published in collaboration with former NDL students, Dr. Michelle Lee and Dr. Nell Maltman, and colleagues, Dr. Gary Martin, Dr. Klinton Bicknell, and Dr. Adam[...]

  • Recognizing National Fragile X Awareness Month

    July 1st marked the beginning of National Fragile X Awareness Month, and July 22 is World Fragile X Day.  The National Fragile X Foundation reports that the prevalence of FXS in males is approximately 1 in[...]

  • INSAR 2023 – spotlight on graduate student presentations

    Emily Landau (bottom left), fourth-year clinical psychology graduate student, presented her research at INSAR this year, and her study explored narrative (i.e. storytelling) ability, which is an important skill for social communication. Her project characterized[...]

  • Farewell and good luck to research assistant Lauren de Torres!

    We are happy and sad to share that Lauren deTorres, NDL research assistant, will be leaving Northwestern to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania’s M.S.Ed program for Counseling and Mental Health Services. Lauren[...]

  • Randi J. Hagerman Summer Scholar, National Fragile X Foundation – Maureen Butler

    Maureen Butler, NDL first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology, has just been announced a Randi J. Hagerman Summer Scholar by the National Fragile X Foundation! In her project proposal titled,” The Biological Basis of Pragmatic Language in[...]

  • Happy Holidays from all of us at the NDL!

    Please enjoy our holiday card and best holiday wishes from all of us at the NDL.

  • The NDL is recruiting families for our research!

    Please check out the flier below or attached PDF at bottom for more information on our study. NDL-flyer-FX2019_v2

  • NDL Celebrates World Fragile X Day

    The NDL is proud to celebrate World Fragile X day today. We had the pleasure of attending the International Fragile X Conference this past weekend and are looking forward to participating in NFXF X Strides[...]

  • NDL Returns from IFX 2022

    This past weekend, members from the NDL had the pleasure of attending the 18th International Fragile X Conference in San Diego, California. […]

  • NDL Members’ work featured in Northwestern Now

      Northwestern Now recently interviewed Dr. Losh and Dr. Lau, the lab’s post-doctoral fellow, on their recently published study, ‘Cross-linguistic patterns of speech prosodic differences in autism: A machine learning study’. In this study, machine[...]

  • NDL New Publication

    Our lab member Kritika Nayar has published a new paper titled 'A constellation of eye-tracking measures reveals social attention differences in ASD and the broad autism phenotype' in the journal of Molecular Autism! Click here[...]

  • Our friends at Have Dreams are currently hiring for their terrific Autism Job Coach Program. See below if interested!

    Have Dreams- Autism Agency - HIRING Autism Job Coach (young adult employment program) Qualifications: Experience working with youth and adults with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) preferred. About the Job: Provide support and assistance to interns[...]

  • NDL Plans to Attend the International Fragile X Conference

    Our team is so excited to attend the 18th International Fragile X Conference in San Diego on July 14th – 17th, where we will be presenting new findings, as well as providing opportunities for families[...]

  • Contributions to Handbook of Pragmatic Language Disorders

    Our lab has collaborated with Gary Martin, along with former PhD students in our lab, Drs. Shivani Patel and Lauren Bush on the publication of the Handbook of Pragmatic Language Disorders. This handbook examines pragmatic[...]

  • National Fragile X Advocacy Day

    Every year, the NDL celebrates Fragile X advocacy day and this year, it is on March 1st 2022! Advocacy Day is one day each year when we come together as a community, talk to our[...]

  • Happy Holidays from the NDL!

    Happy Holidays from the NDL! Please enjoy our annual holiday card, message pasted below: As this year comes to an end, we wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday season and a happy[...]

  • Growing Awareness in the Recreation Space

    As the research surrounding Autism has increased, we have also seen an increase in the awareness and acceptance of Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Community outreach programs are helping young adults get access to occupational[...]

  • Recognizing National Fragile X Awareness Month

    The National Fragile X Foundation reports that an “estimated 1.5 million people in the United States alone are impacted by Fragile X making it a leading inherited cause of intellectual disability today.” As such, creating[...]

  • Making Medicine Accessible

    As the world continues to embrace technology, the medical industry is not shy in taking advantage of the latest technological gadgets. A historical problem within the medical field has always been access- access to a[...]

  • Easterseals: A Local Resource

    Easterseals is a non-profit organization that is proudly committed to serving the Chicagoland and Greater Rockford communities. […]

  • Chicago Area COVID Resources

    As the vaccine becomes more readily available, it is important to develop a plan while continuing to prioritize safety. The Vax For All website has been created to offer free resources to help individuals with[...]

  • COVID-19 Resources from the MIND Institute

    The MIND Institute, an international collaborative research and clinical treatment center, is hosting a multitude of Facebook live events and Q&A postings related to the pandemic, […]

  • Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month

    Every year, the NDL celebrates Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day and we encourage you to join us in supporting those affected by autism, as well as their family members, caregivers, and friends. […]

  • Job Opportunities in the NDL

    The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Laboratory at Northwestern University is seeking a research assistant, project coordinator, and/or project manager to work on ongoing NIH-funded research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS). Positions are for a minimum[...]

  • Benefits of Telehealth

    Although the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has created and presented many challenges for individuals locally and globally, one positive that has come out of this is the increasing popularity and acceptance of telehealth.  […]

  • Remote Learning Resource Tool for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    It is no secret that COVID-19 has presented a multitude of changes and challenges that we did not see coming, and these changes can be especially hard for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). [...]

  • NDL Doctoral Student Wins Best Poster Award at Houston Neuropsychology Symposium

    Kritika Nayar, a doctoral student in the NDL, who is currently completing her Pediatric Neuropsychology Internship at the Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, was recently awarded the best poster research award at this year’s[...]

  • The dream of attending college, a dream once again

      Recently, the University of California, Davis MIND Institute was awarded a $2.1 million grant with the sole purpose of creating a four-year college program for individuals with intellectual disabilities, including those with Fragile-X Syndrome. [...]

  • Article about new paper from NDL in Spectrum News

      An exciting new paper from the NDL and some of our collaborators was recently covered in Spectrum News. […]

  • Raising awareness and acceptance for those affected by Fragile X Syndrome

    Same but Different, a U.K non-profit organization has dedicated its efforts to raising awareness and acceptance for those with rare disorders such as Fragile-x syndrome. […]

  • Mom Equips Ambulances With Sensory Kits To Help Children With Autism

    Autism (ASD), Fragile-X syndrome (FXS), and other neurodevelopmental disorders don’t come with a handbook. As a caretaker of an individual with ASD, much of the learning must take place on the job and requires continual[...]

  • Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Day!

    Since 2000, July 22nd has been designated as  Fragile X Syndrome Awareness day. The goal of this day is to expand public awareness and educate those who can help. […]

  • Kritika Nayar Dissertation Defense and Future Plans!

    Kritika Nayar, 6th-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program, defended her dissertation, the culmination of her PhD program. […]

  • Shivani Patel Dissertation Defense and Future Plans!

    Shivani Patel, 5th- year doctoral student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, defended her dissertation, the culmination of her PhD program. […]

  • FRAXA Webinar Series!

    FRAXA, one of the leading Fragile X Syndrome research foundations, is starting a webinar series to continue providing important information centered around current topics in Fragile X Syndrome research. […]

  • NDL COVID-19 Remote Work Update

    Following CDC, State, and University guidelines, and to ensure the safety of our lab members and the families who participate in our studies, we have moved to remote work for all staff and students and[...]

  • Helpful Resources for Talking Individual with Autism through Uncertain Times

    With adjustments to routines for everyone working and learning from home the past few months, individuals with autism can  experience high levels of stress, frustration, and anxiety. […]

  • Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Month is Here!

      Each and every year, we celebrate Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) Awareness Month! […]

  • Corona virus creates novel obstacles for families and researchers alike but both share a common goal: to help those loved ones

      Due to the rarity of certain diseases such as Rhetts and Fragile-X Syndrome, funding for research and resources is limited. […]

  • How to Help Your Child with Fragile X Syndrome Cope with COVID-19

    Dr. Marcia Braden, a clinical psychologist and a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board to the National Fragile X Foundation, created a helpful guide titled, How to Help Your Child Cope with COVID-19.[...]

  • Helpful Resources for Families and Individuals with ASD and FXS

    During these trying and uncertain times, we want to offer our support to anyone who may need it! […]

  • Northwestern’s Autism Research and Clinical Collaborative

    The NDL is part of Northwestern’s Autism Research and Clinical Collaborative – an alliance of Northwestern educators, researchers, and clinicians who are dedicated to serving the autism community by working together to understand autism [...]

  • National Fragile X Foundation Advocacy Day!

    The National Fragile X Foundation (NFXF) leads an advocacy program to help advance research and programs to help provide better opportunities and lives to those living with Fragile X and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.[...]

  • Midwest Fragile-X Syndrome Research Exchange

    The NDL recently attended the second annual Midwest Fragile X Research Exchange hosted by those at the Waisman Center in Madison, Wisconsin. […]

  • Families Struggle to Find Services for Developmentally Disabled Adults

    Individuals with developmental disabilities in the state of Illinois are currently faced with large wait lists and little finical aid as they seek services. […]

  • Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience!

    This holiday season, Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs are partnering up to bring sensory-friendly Santa and holiday experiences to individuals of all ages and abilities! […]

  • Full-Time Clinical Research Assistant or Coordinator Position Opening!

    The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Laboratory at Northwestern University is seeking a research assistant or project coordinator to work on ongoing NIH-funded research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS). […]

  • The 4th International Conference on FMR1 premutation

    The International FMR1 premutation conference is a major interdisciplinary meeting held yearly for scientists, students, and clinicians involved in the fields associated with clinical phenotypes of the FMR1 premutation. […]

  • Fragile X and Autism Education Conference in West Des Moines

    On Saturday, August 17th, the National Fragile X Foundation Heartland Chapter will be hosting a one- day Fragile X and Autism Education Conference in West Des Moines, Iowa. […]

  • Lauren Bush Dissertation Defense

    On Friday, May 31st, 5th-year doctoral student Lauren Bush completed her dissertation defense, the culmination of her PhD program. […]

  • Scholar’s Day 2019

    NDL doctoral student Janna Guilfoyle presented a poster on developmental academic profiles in siblings of individuals with ASD at the annual Feinberg School of Medicine Scholar’s Day. […]

  • Mindful Parenting for High Needs Kids: Free online conference

    The creators of the Happy Family Conference are hosting a free online conference May 16-20 […]

  • NDL in Spectrum News

    Check out this new article in Spectrum News about Dr. Losh, the NDL, and the broad autism phenotype! We would like to thank Rebecca Wiesenthal, one of our most loyal participants, who was interviewed about[...]

  • Career assistance for adults with autism

    After watching the television series ‘Shark Tank’, Heidi Stieglitz Ham, the director the Spectrum Fusion organization, decided to launch a program modeled after the show for adults on the autism spectrum. […]

  • Iconic buildings light up blue

    Check out the world-wide support that Autism Awareness Day received on April 2nd, as iconic buildings across the world lit up blue!

  • NDL Newsletter 2019

  • Autism Awareness Month and Upcoming Autism Conference

    Northwestern’s Autism Research and Clinical Collaborative (NUARCC) is sponsoring a daylong conference on April 26th, 2019.

  • NUARCC supports World Autism Awareness Day

    Northwestern’s Autism Research and Clinical Collaborative (NUARCC) is proud to support World Autism Month.

  • World Down Syndrome Day

    On this day, those affected by Down Syndrome and those who live/work closely with them organize events world-wide to bring public awareness to Down syndrome.

  • An Office Designed for Workers with Autism

    Business offices can be overwhelming for just about anybody, but individuals on the autism spectrum often have a particularly hard time adjusting to the noise, fluorescent lights, and small talk, as well as understanding various[...]

  • 2019 Midwest Fragile X Research Exchange

    Dr. Losh and members of the NDL team recently traveled to Madison, WI to participate in the 2019 Midwest Fragile X Research Exchange. […]

  • Night of Dreams gala 2018

    The NDL was thrilled to support Have Dreams at the 2018 Night of Dreams! We're looking forward to continuing to work with this important organization in 2019. http://havedreams.org/

  • New Paper on Pragmatic Language Published

    A new paper from Dr. Gary Martin and the NDL, “A Multimethod Analysis of Pragmatic Skills in Children and Adolescents With Fragile X Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Down Syndrome,” was recently published […]

  • UCLA PEERS Social Skills Program Provides Lasting Benefits

    A recent study on the PEERS program at UCLA confirmed that this young adult/adult social skills program is providing lasting benefits to those who complete it! […]

  • Dr. Molly Losh Receives Teaching Award

    Congratulations to Dr. Molly Losh, who recently received the Clarence Simon Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring! […]

  • Free Autism Screenings

    The Illinois LEND program and the UIC Department of Disability and Human Development will be conducting free autism screenings […]

  • Upcoming sensory-friendly events in Chicago

    There are some great sensory-friendly events coming up in the Chicago area! […]

  • Thank you Iowans!

    We want to thank everyone who made our experience at the Iowa State Fair so wonderful! We are so grateful to the 200+ Iowans who signed up to be a part of this important research,[...]

  • Helping young adults with autism transition into adulthood

    After realizing there are few resources for young adults with autism a group at the UC Davis MIND Institute designed a curriculum to help adults with autism better maneuver through the adult world and the[...]

  • NDL Newsletter 2018, Part 2

    Click the above image to check out part 2 of 2018 newsletter!

  • Find the NDL at the Iowa State Fair!

    Our group will be at the Iowa State Fair from August 9-19 to share information about our studies with Iowans! […]

  • Kritika Nayar at Seven Minutes of Scholarship

    Kritika Nayar, a 5th year doctoral student in the lab, presented her work at Northwestern University’s Seven Minutes of Scholarship on Wednesday, August 1st. […]

  • Eye Movement Test Could Help Diagnose Autism

    In a study recently published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, researchers conducted a number of experiments comparing eye movements in typically developing individuals and individuals with autism. […]

  • The Growing Acceptance of Autism in the Workplace

    In 2015, Jenny Lay-Flurrie, the chief accessibility officer at Microsoft, helped create a new hiring system focusing on key talents of candidates with autism. […]

  • MRI Scans of Children with Autism Show Differences in Social Reward Brain Pathway

    A study from Stanford University School of Medicine, published in the journal, Brain, compared brain scans from children with autism and typically developing children, focusing on the pathway in the brain that typically makes social[...]

  • Teacher Training Leads to Improvements for Students with Autism

    A recent study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that when teachers of school-aged children with autism received special training, their students showed improvements in social participation in the classroom. [...]

  • Autism Awareness Night with the Chicago Dogs

    The Chicago Dogs, Chicago’s newest independent baseball team, is hosting its first Autism Awareness Night on Sunday, August 12th! […]

  • NDL at the International Fragile X Conference

    The NDL team had a great time at the National Fragile X Foundation’s 16th International Fragile X Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. […]

  • Fragile X Awareness at New York Stock Exchange

    On July 5, representatives from the FRAXA Research Foundation took part in the ringing of the New York Stock Exchange opening bell to raise awareness for fragile X syndrome. […]

  • NDL Undergraduate Ania Holubecki Presents Senior Thesis

    Ania Holubecki, an undergraduate research assistant in the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Lab, presented a poster on her senior thesis at Northwestern’s 2018 Undergraduate Research and Arts Exposition. […]

  • New Autism Prevalence Estimate

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 1 in every 36 children in the United States has an autism diagnosis representing the importance of continued research in this area. [...]

  • Dr. James Pennebaker at NU

    Dr. James Pennebaker, an expert in the computational analysis of language, recently visited Northwestern from the University of Texas-Austin. […]

  • 2018 Night of Dreams gala

    The NDL was proud to sponsor the 2018 Night of Dreams gala on April 27 in support of Have Dreams, an organization that provides job training and other services to individuals with autism.  […]

  • 2018 Autism Speaks Walk Des Moines

    As part of our recognition of Autism Awareness Month, The NDL was proud to sponsor the 2018 Autism Speaks Walk in Des Moines, Iowa on April 29. […]

  • Autism Awareness Month

    April is Autism Awareness Month! […]

  • DevSci and Dr. Rashmita Mistry

    Many of the NDL graduate students are members of The Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences (DevSci) at Northwestern University, a collaborative, cross-campus research and training initiative focused on research in the developmental sciences. Last[...]

  • Thank you!

    Members of the NDL team had a wonderful time this past weekend working with a whopping four generations of one family! Thank you to all of the amazing families who participate in our research.

  • Happy Halloween from the NDL!

    The NDL team had a great time working on new research grants while in costume!

  • Dr. Losh at Autism Speaks Town Hall

    On Saturday, October 28, Dr. Losh was a panelist at the “Autism Research Series: Discovery to Solutions” Town Hall, sponsored by Autism Speaks at Rush University in Chicago, where she highlighted the importance of studying[...]

  • NDL in local Iowa newspaper

    The NDL was recently featured in an issue of The Carlisle Citizen, the official weekly newspaper of Carlisle, Iowa. […]

  • Dr. Losh at “Autism Research Series: Discovery to Solutions”

    Dr. Losh will be leading a panel at the upcoming event “Autism Research Series: Discovery to Solutions,” sponsored by Autism Speaks, on October 28. […]

  • Dr. Losh at “The Latest Trends in Fragile X Research”

      Dr. Losh was one of the keynote speakers at “The Latest Trends in Fragile X Research” conference, sponsored by the Fragile X Association of Southern California, on October 1st. […]

  • NDL among Northwestern research groups rethinking genetics

    Environmental factors are now recognized to play a strong role in development, and pose risk factors even in strongly genetic conditions like autism. The NDL is one of the many labs at Northwestern that are[...]

  • NDL Newsletter, 2018 Part 1

      Click the above image to check out part 1 of 2018 newsletter!

  • New Publication from the NDL in Special Issue of AJIDD

    A new study from the NDL was recently published in a special issue of the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AJIDD) focused on Down syndrome. In the study, we examined the rate of[...]

  • Dr. Losh to speak at Naomi Ruth Cohen Mental Health Conference

    Dr. Losh will be participating in a Discussion Group (“Children who see the world differently”) at this year's Naomi Ruth Cohen Mental Health Conference. This year’s theme is “Raising Resilient Children: Prioritizing Their Mental Health.” The Conference[...]

  • The X-Factor in Infertility and Neurological Health

    The article in Scientific American discusses the lab's recent research findings with individuals with the FMR1 premutation, along with other research laboratories. Our research lab explores how the FMR1 gene can influence developmental domains by[...]

  • Parents’ Traits Predict Autism Features in Children

    Check out recent research findings from our lab that are highlighted in a recent edition of Spectrum!

  • National Fragile X Foundation Advocacy Day

    Beginning February 28th through March 1st of 2017, the annual event, “National Fragile X Foundation Advocacy Day” will be taking place. Our research lab advocates for the National Fragile X Foundation by hosting a Fragile[...]

  • Employing Adults with Autism

    Autism Speaks, New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA) and the Poses Family Foundation are expanding an innovative program to hire, train, and retain employees on the autism spectrum. Our research lab partners with Project SEARCH[...]

  • Film Screening & Panel Discussion at Northwestern University

    On Monday, October 24th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the Department of Communication Science and Disorders and the Department of Radio/Television Film at Northwestern University will be hosting the film screening and panel discussion for the[...]

  • Autism Risk In Younger Children Increases If They Have Older Sibling With Disorder

    Results of a recent study indicate that younger siblings are 14 times more likely to develop autism if an older sibling has autism. These findings are particularly relevant to our NIH-funded family studies of autism[...]

  • Autism Genes Identified Using New Approach

    A powerful new machine-learning approach has been developed to analyze the entire human genome. Putting this to use to study autism resulted in the identification of over 2000 new genes that may be linked to[...]

  • From the Community: High School Students Graduate from Autism Employment Program

    Several students from Project SEARCH Collaborates for Autism program at Northwestern University, a transition to employment program for students with autism, have graduated from the program. Our research team had the wonderful opportunity of supervising[...]

  • M&S Launch Autism-Friendly School Range

    A retailer store has launched a range of school wear options that take into consideration the sensory needs of children with autism. One of our research projects includes tasks that address sensory sensitivity and tactile[...]

  • Autism and Language: Do Children with Autism Really Struggle in Bilingual Environments?

    Language use and development is a primary focus of the research in our lab, so we were excited to see new findings from a study examining children with autism who are raised in bilingual environments.[...]

  • Photos Capture Challenges for Teens with Autism, Show Animals as Resource

    A recent study showed that the use of photos, often of animals, can help teens and young adults with autism to more easily share accounts of their experiences and difficulties transitioning out of school and[...]

  • The A Word Airing on Sundance TV

    New York, NY - NY Daily News OUT - 6/28/16 - Special NYC Screening of SUNDANCETV's Original Series "THE A WORD". -Pictured: Charlie Collier, Peter Bowker, Ilene Lainer, David Remnick and Eli Gottlieb -Photo[...]

  • Psychiatric problems common in siblings of people with autism

    A new study investigating mental health outcomes in siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (e.g., autism) reported increased risk of mental health problems in siblings of individuals with autism. We are currently studying similar questions[...]

  • A Single Species of Gut Bacteria Can Reverse Autism-Related Social Behavior in Mice

    A new project in our lab builds on exciting findings from researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, who reported that the absence of one specific species of gut bacteria causes social deficits in mice reminiscent[...]

  • ‘It’s Changed His View of Life’: Companies Find Hiring Autistic Employees Has Vast Benefits

    Williams, CEO of suit-maker Hart Schaffner Marx, seeks to accommodate the communication and sensory needs of individuals with autism in the workplace setting by implementing repetitive and structured tasks which include visual cues. Additional companies[...]

  • Researching the “Loss” of an Autism Diagnosis

    A recent investigation of individuals with autism who subsequently lost their diagnosis over time found evidence that these individuals were able to make such substantial gains in language and communication because they may have developed[...]

  • Autism is Not Just a Disorder of the Brain, Mouse Study Suggests

    Published June 9th in Cell Press, a mouse study revealed aspects of ASD inclusive of touch perception, anxiety, and social abnormalities linked to defects in peripheral nerves. Our research studies seek to investigate social language (pragmatics) use[...]

  • Stress Exposure During Pregnancy Observed in Mothers of Children with Autism

    A recent study highlighted the important influence that stress may have on health –to both children with autism and  their mothers.  Our own lab is contributing to these questions through a study examining the types[...]

  • Talking Sense: What Sensory Processing Disorder Says About Autism

    Discusses the importance of highly individualized treatment plans for individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities; our research studies explore various profiles (assessment of the Broad Autism Phenotype) occurring in families with autism and the influence of[...]

  • Through Play, Children with Autism Can Hone Thinking Skills

    Cognitive abilities, language skills and executive functioning can influence the development of play skills in individuals with autism. Our research seeks to investigate these aforementioned domains (e.g., language use) in families of children with both[...]

  • Questions for Elizabeth Berry-Kravis: Dodging Mouse Traps

    View our colleague and collaborator, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, professor of child neurology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago discussing the challenges of assessing cognitive problems in fragile X mice. We collaborate with Dr. Berry-Kravis on[...]

  • Autism Can Be an Asset in the Workplace, Employers and Works Find

    Employment opportunities and social services available to individuals with autism spectrum disorder: our research lab partners with Have Dreams, Project SEARCH Collaborates for Autism, an internship program for individuals with ASD in their final year[...]

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  • Frances Searle 2-366
    2240 Campus Drive,
    Evanston, IL 60208

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  • ndl@northwestern.edu

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