Research in Early Autism Detection and Intervention
One of our goals at the READiLab is to provide students with opportunities to develop skills that align with their career aspirations. Last month, two of our talented student volunteers developed and presented posters at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium! Their projects garnered significant interest, and they did an exceptional job explaining their work and engaging with attendees. Congratulations to both of you!
Our postdoctoral fellow, Emily Britsch, recently presented her research at the Meeting on Language in Autism in North Carolina and published a paper in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Her findings highlight both challenges and strengths in the early conversational skills of toddlers with autism during play interactions with their parents. This work was a part of Emily’s dissertation, which she completed under the supervision of Jana Iverson at the University of Pittsburgh before joining the READiLab team.
Interested in learning more? You can read the full article here: https://rdcu.be/dDr9X
Museums are a great way for children to explore, learn and have fun! Many museums in Seattle can be explored for free, using your Seattle Public Library card for admission. If you are a library card holder, you can reserve one pass every 30 days. Most of the passes admit two adults and 2-3 children.
Please visit the following website for more information on how to obtain your passes.
Seattle Kraken Iceplex is offering a sensory-friendly skate night on Sunday, February 11th from 5:30-7:30 pm. The Iceplex will soften lighting, minimize sounds, and limit attendance to provide a comfortable sensory skating experience. There will also be a limited number of KultureCity Sensory Bags, as well as a quiet room for families to use. Tickets are $11, and skate rentals are $6.
Click here for more information.
Currently a senior at the University of Washington majoring in Psychology, Peyton aspires to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Her passion for working with children serves as a compass for her future endeavors. Previously employed as an Assistant Preschool Teacher, Peyton cherished her direct interaction with children. However, she now eagerly anticipates acquiring a fresh skill set and delving into the analytical realm of childhood intervention research. Being an in-state student, Peyton finds solace in Washington’s rainy days, relishing the opportunity to cozy up with a good book, a warm blanket, and a movie. We are happy that she is part of the READi Lab!
Attention Bluey fans! Get ready for a unique live theatre experience that you don’t want to miss! Featuring incredible puppets and bringing Bluey to life like never before!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 21st, at 3:00 p.m., for a sensory-friendly performance. During this special performance, Paramount Theatre will provide a supportive environment with adjusted lights, sounds, and other sensory elements.
Click here for more information.
Seattle Children’s Theater and Taproot Theater are hosting sensory-friendly holiday performances this winter. Experience the holiday magic this season in a sensory–friendly environment that will be fun for the whole family!
Seattle Children’s Theater “A Very Electric Christmas” Sensitive–Friendly Performance
Seattle Children’s Theater is hosting a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, December 17th, at 2:30 p.m. The theater offers picture books of the story to read prior to the performance, as well as maps and other theatre resources to help families prepare for the show.
Click here for more information.
A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Taproot Theater
Taproot Theater is offering sensory-friendly performances of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on Friday, December 8th, at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, December 20th, at 4:00 p.m.
Click here for more information.
Sarah Edmunds and Lizzy Karp, former grad students of Wendy’s, were back in Seattle for the ABCT Conference earlier this month. So fun to keep in touch!
Pacific Northwest Ballet is offering a sensory-friendly performance of “The Nutcracker” for their 2:00 PM matinée on Tuesday, December 19th. For this performance of the holiday classic, the theatre will keep the lights and sound low and offer sensory support, including a quiet area in the theater. They have developed a sensory guide for the performance and a social narrative overview which includes photos and explanations about what to expect when you visit McCaw Hall. Guests are also welcome to bring tablets, headphones, or other electronic devices, as well as any other items that may offer sensory support.
Click here to purchase tickets!
On the Third Thursday of every month, KidsQuest Museum in Bellevue offers a free museum experience for individuals or families with sensory sensitivities from 3:00pm-5:00pm. Low Sensory Afternoons offers an environment for exploration, play, and learning for children with autism and/or sensory processing disorders. During this time, the museum will lower lights and ambient noise, and limit museum attendance that creates an inviting, reduced sensory space that is open to any and all children with special needs and their families.
For more information and to register, visit their website.
Halloween is almost here! Get your costumes ready for some fun Halloween activities around the Seattle area. We have included a list with some sensory friendly Halloween activities for the whole family.
For more information, please make sure to check the website for each event listed below.
Gina Damilano, a Research Study Assistant in the UW READi Lab, is getting married in 10 days! The lab celebrated this happy occasion with a luncheon-shower. For added fun, Gina was adorned with a toilet-paper wedding dress (a 2-minute creation). We know Gina will be a beautiful bride (particularly in her actual wedding dress) and wish her much happiness in her soon-to-be married life!
Ann is currently a senior at the University of Washington studying Psychology. She has a heart for children experiencing challenges and hopes to work as a psychologist and be a part of their journey. Before joining the READi Lab, Ann gained experience in the EEU at UW, which confirmed her interest in children’s overall well-being and mental health. Ann is from South Korea and hopes to bring diversity and equity to every environment. She loves to boulder and go hiking with her friends, enjoying the Washington vibe. Ann is excited to learn more about early autism research and continue to gain experience in clinical psychology.
The READi Lab and friends said a bitter-sweet goodbye to our amazing postdoctoral fellow Daina Tagavi. Over the past two years she has played an integral role in numerous research projects — Sprout, RISE, ASF, and OAR – and demonstrated her talent in the development, adaptation, and implementation of assessments and interventions for individuals with ASD. We have all been inspired by her compassion and commitment to helping children with autism and their families. Daina is continuing her work at the University of Washington as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry. We will miss her dearly!
Emily Britsch is our new READi Lab postdoctoral fellow. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Rochester, where she worked in research labs studying autism and language development. Emily received her PhD in Clinical & Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, and she completed her predoctoral internship at HealthPoint, a community health center in Auburn, WA. Emily’s research interests include communicative development, the effects of parent-mediated interventions on children’s social communication, and implementation of early autism assessment and intervention with community providers to increase access to services for children with autism and their families. We are thrilled to have her join the READiLab team!
Jackson Keener began his journey with the READiLab as a student research assistant in September 2022. He quickly became a pivotal part of our team, especially for his work on the RISE research project. He graduated from UW in June 2023 with a BS in Economics and Pre-Med, and continued to work in the lab over the summer. We have appreciated his ‘can do’ attitude, flexibility, and sense of humor, and miss him already. We wish you all the best in your new adventures, Jackson, as well as your success in medical school!
Pacific Science Center is offering a free visit for individuals or families with sensory sensitivities on Sunday August 27th from 8:00-10:00 am. Guests will be able to experience exhibits outside of the public hours without heavy crowds, with softened general lighting and with decreased noise level and visual stimulation.
Tickets will be available at the entrance. Online ticket reservations are not available for this event.
To learn more, visit their website.
MoPOP is offering a free Sensory-Friendly Program on August 26th, 2023, from 8:00-10:00am. Families will have the opportunity to experience the museum with lowered volume and light levels. Once registered for the event, MoPOP will send guests a social story, a map of the museum, and an activity schedule, ensuring that families know what to expect during their visit. For more information and to register, visit their website.