Michaelene Ostrosky

The Principal Investigator (PI) will conduct a program of research focused on improving social, communication, and developmental outcomes for minimally verbal students with autism (ASD). The PI will also participate in mentoring and training to build skills related to intervention development, measurement of language and communication, interdisciplinary research, and grant writing and dissemination. Strengthening peer interactions and relationships for children with ASD who are minimally ver...

This project proposed to fully develop a class-wide motor skills intervention, CHildren in Action: Motor Program for PreschoolerS (CHAMPPS), for preschool children with developmental disabilities. Many of these children have delays in motor development, yet do not engage in structured motor play and physical activities to improve these skills. Enhancing motor development is an important goal itself, but fundamental motor skills are also linked to the development of cognitive processes and so...

Successful peer interactions lead to positive social and emotional development. Children with disabilities engage in social interaction with peers less frequently than typically developing children do. Children with disabilities who fail to develop positive social relationships with peers are at elevated risk for social maladjustment and academic failure. In addition, they are at great risk of being rejected by their peers. Therefore, effective interventions that can be used in education s...