05/29/2019 02:28:36 PMResearchers from the University of Houston’s school psychology program have received a national grant for a pioneering project to develop effective methods to measure the academic skills of students with autism spectrum disorder.
The study has the potential to help improve the academic performance of this special population, giving educators and psychologists better tools to track their progress. None of the standard assessments used today are designed specifically for students with autism.

“The development of basic academic skills is a right,” said Milena Keller-Margulis, an associate professor in the College of Education’s Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences. “Basic skills in reading, writing and math are not only a requirement for success in school but also for success in life. We need to focus on the development of these skills in students with ASD.”
Keller-Margulis has teamed with Sarah Mire, assistant professor and associate chair of PHLS, on the project. The pair was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Chicago-based Spencer Foundation, which exclusively funds education research.