Our Crowdfunding Groups
Today, nearly 1 in 36 children in the United States are identified as being on the autism spectrum. Our graduate students and faculty in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Program are dedicated to advancing research and providing essential tools to support this growing number of children and their families. In honor of April’s global Autism Acceptance Month, we are raising funds that will directly support the world-changing research of graduate students specializing in autism and developmental disabilities.
We’ve made remarkable strides in our research, teaching and community impact but our journey doesn’t end here. With the increasing prevalence of autism, there is an urgent demand for research-based strategies and training. With your backing, the Department of Special Education at UT can continue providing essential resources and support to even more families of children with autism, educators, school leaders and the community at large.
Currently ranked #7 by U.S. News & World Report, the Department of Special Education at UT offers students world-class training and research opportunities. Master's and doctoral-level students in our Autism and Developmental Disabilities Program receive specialized training to work with children with autism and their families in clinical, academic, and residential settings. Many go on to pursue careers as applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists, special education teachers, researchers, behavioral consultants, school district leaders and more.
Your support helps provide invaluable resources for graduate students conducting important research, like that of doctoral student, Young Noh. Mealtime can bring many unique challenges for children with autism and their families. Noh's research focuses on family-centered mealtime coaching—integrating behavioral, sensory and play-based approaches to help children build a healthy relationship with food while fostering positive family interactions.
“As a mother of a young toddler, my graduate fellowship support has been instrumental in allowing me to pursue this work. By bridging the gap between clinical best practices and culturally responsive, family-centered interventions, I hope to develop effective mealtime routines that promote child development and overall wellbeing.” – Young Noh
Together, we are expanding access to education, research and resources that support children with autism and developmental disabilities. With your help, we can empower the next generation of changemakers—like Young Noh—who are driving groundbreaking research and transforming lives. Together, we can make a life-changing impact and create a more inclusive future!
