Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability impacting social-communication and behavioral functioning throughout the lifespan, and it profoundly affects not only diagnosed children but also the people in systems around them.  Dr. Sarah Mire, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, researches how families, mental health clinicians, and school personnel are impacted by ASD in their daily lives.

Dr. Mire is conducting two different studies in order to better serve these populations. The first involves understanding how family factors like parenting stress and perceptions about the ASD diagnosis, and how the overall family functioning influences treatment-seeking behaviors for children with ASD.

The second identifies and addresses barriers to implementation of evidence-based intervention for kids with ASD and their families by working directly with mental health care providers who are treating the frequently-occurring emotional and behavioral difficulties.

While the studies differ in scope, participants, and approach, ultimately the projects fit together by representing two facets of intervention-related issues: how parents make treatment decisions, and how providers implement treatment plans.

Dr. Mire stated, “My current work moves increasingly toward informing development of early, effective, systems-focused interventions,” which builds upon her previous research that focused more on understanding children diagnosed with ASD themselves.

Dr. Mire is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), is licensed by Texas as a specialist in School Psychology, and a Licensed Psychologist. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral clinical internship and a subsequent post-doctoral fellowship at Western Youth Services in Orange County, California.  She received her doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Houston.