Research at the Koegel Autism Center

 MOTIVATION-BASED PRT EARLY INTERVENTION STUDY

The UCSB Koegel Autism Center is now recruiting families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ages 12 months to 59 months) for a research study focused on parent-child interactions and autism intervention.

Children must have an existing diagnosis of autism and have limited language use (i.e. be nonverbal or primarily use single words to communicate). 

Parents will participate in an series of 10 in-person one-hour training sessions. Families must live within 45 minutes of UCSB.

All research is voluntary.  Families may discontinue at any time without penalty.

Interested in Joining Our Project Waiting List? Complete our PROJECT INTEREST FORM and our team will reach out to you.

Questions? Email autism@ucsb.edu or call 805.893.2049

FLEXIBILITY & DEMAND AVOIDANCE PROJECT

Does your child struggle with flexibility, demand avoidance, and emotion regulation skills? 

The UCSB Koegel Autism Center is conducting a study on children and their parents to participate in a positive, neurodiversity-affirming program designed to increase child flexibility and emotional regulation skills. We will work with families to identify and target the top areas of inflexibility and demand avoidance using motivational, incentive-based strategies over the course of 15 one-hour in-person sessions.

Children must be ages 5-12, have a diagnosis of autism, have challenges with flexibility/demand avoidance, understand and speak English, and live within 45 minutes of the UC Santa Barbara campus to participate.

Participants are video recorded to facilitate understanding the root of their flexibility and demand avoidance challenges and assess for improvements to family routines and wellbeing.

Families are compensated up to $60 for their participation.

Interested in Joining Our Project Waiting List? Complete our FLEXIBILITY PROJECT INTEREST FORM and our team will reach out to you.

Questions? Email autism@ucsb.edu or call 805.893.2049

THE STARS PROGRAM

The Social Tools And Rules for Schoolchildren (STARS Program) is a 20-session activity-based afternoon socialization club designed to build social skills, relationship insights, self-awareness, and emotional regulation skills needed for school-aged children to improve interactions, make friends, resolve conflicts, and navigate social situations with both peers and adults. There will be a mix of children with different social skills needs in each group, including children with and without autism.

Please Note: As part of this research study, child interactions are video-recorded and analyzed for social skill improvements. Parents and children are also asked to complete surveys and other tasks to learn more about their social skills needs and changes over time.

TO QUALIFY, CHILDREN MUST...

• Be in grades K-6 and ages 5-12
• Understand and converse using full sentence spoken phrases
• Live within 45 minutes of UC Santa Barbara
• Be available to attend 16 weekly in-person sessions 

SESSION DETAILS

• 16 sessions: Once a week for 16 weeks
• Two Yearly Cycles: Fall (Sept-Jan) and Spring (Feb-June) with pauses during winter and spring breaks
• Social topics the group will explore include:
  • First interactions
  • Talking & playing with peers
  • Empathy & perspective taking
  • Disagreement & conflict
  • Making friends
  • Types of relationships
  • Self-Awareness
  • Emotions
• Emphasis on activity & game-based learning

Interested in joining our Project Waiting List? Complete our STARS Interest Form and our team will reach out to you.

Questions? Email autism@ucsb.edu or call 805.893.2049

Social Tools And Rules for Teens (The START Program)

A social interaction group for teens on the autism spectrum. Eligible teens will participate in an in-person program that features peer-facilitators, self-tracking of key skills, fun activities, social outings, and weekly interactive lessons. 

Want to learn more? Visit our START Program Webpage