Tag Archives: autism

Ausome Gym logo

Have you heard of the Ausome Gym right here in Columbia??

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The Ausome Gym‘s state-of-the-art equipment and specialized play areas gives children the opportunity to reach goals related to sensory processing, attention, movement, strength, behavior regulation, language, social interactions, safety, and self-care skills – while having fun! Exciting activities for people of all ages including ball pit, BEAM interactive game floors, super building blocks, bubble tubes, climbing structures, dome and light mirrors, swings, and much more!  They even have dance classes and soccer camps, as mentioned in their youtube video.


Making Strides logo

Get Ready! Strides for Autism Festival is the South Carolina Autism Society’s premiere fund-raising & awareness Event.

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Midlands Strides for Autism Festival  is April 28, 2018 at Irmo Community Park and Upstate Strides for Autism Festival  is June 9, 2018 at Heritage Park, Simpsonville, SC.  The Money raised for South Carolina Autism Society stays in South Carolina and goes towards individual and family support, education, advocacy, and training.  Information on how to get involved in this important event can be found on the SC Autism Society website: http://scautism.org/strides/


Debra Reisinger

Congratulations to Debra Reisinger for accepting a post-doctoral position at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital!

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Debra Reisinger is a current graduate student on internship at Kennedy Krieger Institute at the John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore Maryland.  She is on track to graduate with her doctorate this year and has already accepted a post-doctoral position at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital!  She will be working in Dr. Craig Erickson’s lab where they primarily examine pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment efficacy in individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including ASD and FXS.


Kelly Caravella and Jordan Ezell

Congratulations to Kelly Caravella and Jordan Ezell for each being awarded the SPARC Graduate Research Grant!

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Kelly Caravella and Jordan Ezell, graduate students working under Jane Roberts in our lab, have been awarded grants sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research.  This Support to Promote Advancement of Research and Creativity (SPARC) is given out each year in order to ignite research and creative excellence across all disciplines at USC.  Kelly’s work will be Comparing Autism Symptomatology in Young Children with Fragile X Syndrome and Down Syndrome.  Jordan will be studying Anxiety in Preschool Children with Autism.  Congratulations to both of them for winning this prestigious award which will allow them to pursue their scholarly projects!


NDD Lab hosts Dr. Jamie McPartland

NDD Lab hosts Dr. Jamie McPartland

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We were honored to host  Dr. Jamie McPartland of Yale University, who provided expertise on the development, implementation and interpretation of electrophysiological indicators of social perception in children.  Dr. McPartland is a key consultant on our NIH grant entitled Emergence and stability of Autism in Fragile X Syndrome. 


Dr. Roberts workings with members of the NDD Lab

Dr. Jane Roberts featured news story: Piecing together the Autism Puzzle.

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The work of Dr. Jane Roberts is currently featured on the College of Arts and Sciences website.  The new article entitled Piecing together the Autism puzzle explains how our research connects the social and biological science to improve the health of children and families.


Dr. Jane Roberts gave a talk at UC Davis Distinguished Lecture Series

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Dr. Jane Roberts participated in UC Davis’ Distinguished Lecture Series on April 12th 2017.  Her talk was entitled, Biobehavioral Profiles in Infants with Fragile X Syndrome: Emergence of Autism and Anxiety in Fragile X Syndrome.   She spoke about characterizing the phenotype of fragile X syndrome, the leading known single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorders. In addition, Dr. Roberts talked about her latest research which focuses on the role of anxiety in autism and their interface across the developmental spectrum.


Colorful letters spell out Autism

Join us in Lighting it Up Blue!!

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April is National Autism Awareness Month! According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 68 school-aged children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  This month gives an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness and acceptance around the world. Together we can make a better world for those with autism by taking action and supporting organizations which provide support for families affected by ASD.


Hannah Durham with USC mascot Cocky

Congratulations to Hannah Durham on her new position at Duke University!!

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Hannah Durham graduated from USC this past May and is currently a research assistant in our lab. She has accepted a clinical research specialist position at the Center for Autism and Brain Development at Duke University Medical Center! She will be joining a team who is studying the efficacy of umbilical cord blood infusion for improving outcomes of children with autism spectrum disorder. Congratulations!!


Lightbulb with inspirational doodles

Congratulations to Sara Matherly!!

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A big congratulations to Sara Matherly who received $5,000 funding from the University of South Carolina through the SPARC Graduate Research Grant Program! Sara, a graduate student in the School Psychology Ph.D. program, will be attending a training on the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule and Autism Spectrum Addendum to capture distinct profiles of anxiety in autism spectrum disorders. This will help to better understand the impact of anxiety across multiple domains impacting young adult independence within cross-syndrome ASD.


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