Program(s): Global Social Impact Fellowship

Students on Summer Project Team:
Kathleen Bauer 'G, School Psychology
Alyssa Blasko 'G, Special Education
Kelsey Johnson '22, Behavioral Neuroscience
Theodore Renz '22, Psychology
Sine Zungu 'G, Psychology

Faculty Mentor(s): Kristi Morin, Assistant Professor, Special Education program, College of Education

Project Video: Click here to view

Project description:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a global health concern; however, nearly everything we know about autism comes from research in high-income countries. The dearth of research on ASD is particularly problematic in countries across Africa, likely due to the lack of a culturally appropriate screening and diagnostic tool to identify individuals with ASD. This project is evaluating tools commonly used in the United States to diagnose autism, as well as analyzing perceptions of disability in sub-Saharan Africa, in order to assess their feasibility and cultural appropriateness.