Tennessee Disability Coalition News Blog

A survey study of social vulnerability in persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Principal Investigator: Robert Hodapp Ph.D.

Other Investigators: Marisa Fisher, M.S.

Why are our sons and daughters with disabilities at higher risk of being taken advantage of? We wonder, too. If you care about a 16 to 50 year old person with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability, and would like to help us answer this question, please contact us.

We will ask you to complete surveys about the personality, habits, behavior, gullibility, and living situation of your family member with a disability. These surveys will take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Surveys will be mailed to you, with prepaid return postage for you to send them back.

 

Participants needed: Parents or caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities aged 16 to 50
Compensation: $10 gift card will be mailed to you
Visits: none—Study can be completed by mail
Contact: Marisa Fisher at (615) 202-0773
PDF Flyer: Vulnerability flyer7-6-07.pdf
Last Updated: Thursday, August 16, 2007

 

 

Hanen Parent Training for Young Children at Risk for Autism

Principal Investigator: Wendy Stone Ph.D.
Other Investigators: Paul Yoder, Ph.D.

We want to help the parents of children at risk for autism support their children’s language. We are studying a parent-training program for children at risk for autism. Can it make a difference for parents and children?

Participants: Children 15 to 24 months old who are at risk for autism due to social or communication delays. Children will come for a screening visit to see if they qualify for the study. All families will receive $20 for this visit.

After the screening visit, children will be randomly assigned into one of two groups. All children may keep going to their current therapies during the study.

Treatment Group: “More Than Words” is a Hanen Program® that gives parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) practical tools to help their children communicate. Families in the treatment group will participate in:

1) a group orientation session
2) a home visit from the therapist
3) 8 weekly small group sessions at Vanderbilt
4) 3 in-home sessions.

 

Non-treatment group: Families in the non-treatment group will receive no intervention through this study. They are free to receive treatment from others in the community.

All children who qualify for the study will come for these 3 visits:

1st evaluation visit - will include cognitive testing and other measures of social and communication behaviors. Families get $30 for this visit.
2nd evaluation visit – will take place 5 months after the first evaluation visit, and will include the same social and communication measures. Families get $75 for this visit.
3rd evaluation visit – will take place 9 months after the first evaluation visit, and will include an autism diagnostic measure and a report on the child’s development. Families get $100 for this visit.

Autism Speaks funds this study. It is also going on at the University of Miami and the University of Massachusetts-Boston. 

Participants needed: Children 15 to 24 months old who are at risk for autism. Children considered to be “at risk” are those: (1) who have failed a routine autism screening; OR (2) who have delays in social and communication development; OR (3) who have an older sibling with ASD; OR (4) whose parents or service providers have expressed concerns about ASD.
Compensation: up to $225; half of the participants will receive a no-cost treatment
Visits: at least 4, more for those in treatment group
Contact: Nick Bennett at 615.343.7101
PDF Flyer: MTWflyer.PDF
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 11, 2007

 

 

 

New TRIAD Research Project: Simons Simplex Collection Project at Vanderbilt University

Principal Investigator: James Sutcliffe Ph.D.
Other Investigators: Wendy Stone, Ph.D., & Zachary Warren, Ph.D.

Vanderbilt professors Jim Sutcliffe and Wendy Stone are conducting a new multisite study designed to examine the genetic causes of autism spectrum disorders(ASD).

We are looking for families with: • One child with ASD, age 5-18.
• One or more siblings without ASD, age four or older.
• Both biological parents who are willing to participate.

To qualify for this intervention study, parents must be willing to complete a series of eligibility screening procedures and bring their family to Vanderbilt for assessment. All family members will be asked to give a small sample of blood as a source of DNA.

Children with ASD will receive a free behavioral assessment and families will be contacted for follow-up questions as researchers pursue promising findings. This study is funded by the Simons Foundation and is also being conducted at 10 other universities across North America.

Participants needed:

We are looking for families with: • One child with ASD, age 5-18.
• One or more siblings without ASD, age four or older.
• Both biological parents who are willing to participate.

Compensation: Children with ASD will receive a free assessment & families will be compensated for their time.
Contact: Zachary Warren, Ph.D. 615.936.7159 or Amy Nicholson, M.A. 615.343.9648
PDF Flyer: Simons handout.pdf
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 14, 2007

 

 

Studies of Perception, Memory, and Creativity

Principal Investigator: Sohee Park Ph.D.

We use a variety of techniques to study the biological basis of memory, attention, creativity, and personality as they relate to schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Most of these studies are conducted in our laboratory in Wilson Hall.

Participants needed: (relatives of patients diagnosed with bipolar or schizophrenia disorder, ages 18-55;
people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, ages 18-55;
people with no history of mental illness in themselves or their family, ages 25-55)
Compensation: Participants receive $20 hour for their time.
Visits: varies
Contact: Crystal Gibson, B.A. OR call 615-322-3435.
PDF Flyer: Parkbrochure_recruitment.pdf
Last Updated: Monday, July 16, 2007

 

 

 

Survey of Adult Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities in Tennessee

Principal Investigator: Ann P. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Other Investigators: Ann B. Morse, M. Ed.

We would like to know more about the relationship between individuals with disabilities and their adolescent and adult brothers or sisters. If you are 18 or older and have a brother or sister with disabilities who lives in Tennessee, we would love for you to take our survey!
The Adult Sibling Questionnaire has questions in the following general areas:

• You
• Your Sibling with Disabilities
• Your Family
• Joint Activities and Involvement
• Support Needs of Brother/Sister
• Your Health and Well-Being
• Reflections on Your Relationship with your Brother/Sister

The survey takes 25-30 minutes to complete. All your answers are private. You may be interviewed later, if you are willing.

 

Participants needed: If you are 18 years of age or older and have a brother or sister with disabilities who lives in Tennessee, please participate!
Compensation: None for survey.$50 gift certificate to Target or Walmart for interview.
Visits: None for survey. (One for follow up interview)
Contact: Take the online version of the questionnaire here . Paper copies are also available. Call or email your contact information (Name, Address, City, State, Zip) to: Family Research phone: 1.888.322.5339 [free] or E-MAILSibling Research .
PDF Flyer: 5-22TN_SibSurvey_sib_flyer no TN.PDF
Last Updated: Monday, July 16, 2007

 

What do infants see in faces? An ERP and eye tracking project with the younger sibling of children with autism

Principal Investigator: Alexandra Key, Ph.D.
Other Investigators: Wendy Stone, Ph.D.

In this Vanderbilt research study, we see babies at 9 months and 30 months.
At 9 months, we will measure your baby’s attention and social interest. Your baby will sit in your lap and watch a slide show.

Our experienced personnel will slip a cap with damp sponges on your child’s head to record the brain’s electrical activity. We will show them pictures of faces on a computer screen. While they look, we will record their eye movements and brain activity.
For more information, including pictures and video, please visit VKC EEG/ERP studies.

You will receive a coupon for a complete evaluation of social, cognitive, and communicative development as well as diagnostic evaluations for autism at (or before) 30 months.

Participants needed: 8½ to 9 ½ month-old infants with older siblings who have AUTISM OR have TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT
Compensation: A $25 check/$50 savings bond for the first visit & a coupon for a complete evaluation at 30 months.
Visits: 1 visit for ERP, 1 for evaluation by 30 months
Contact: Susan M. Williams (615) 343-1961
PDF Flyer: InfantsFacesFlyer 3-07.pdf
Last Updated: Tuesday, April 17, 2007

 

For more Information about Studies Contact:

Lynnette Henderson, Ph.D.

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Research Participant Coordinator

(615) 936-0448

Office: MRL 235

http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/studyfinder

Trackback This Post |