Dr. Josephine Barbaro’s groundbreaking research merges neurodiversity affirmation with innovative methods for identifying autism in young children
This profile can be shared with students to enhance the visibility of psychologists of diverse backgrounds. As an additional activity, students can be asked to conduct research to learn more about the psychologist and their work. An alternative assignment could be to ask students to find other psychologists of diverse backgrounds whose work falls into this content pillar. Keywords highlight how psychological scientists study concepts within and across pillars.
Dr. Barbaroopens in new window is an associate professor, principal research fellow, and a neurodiversity affirming psychologist at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. She has won numerous awards for her pioneering work on the early detection of autism in very young children, including Best Translation of Autism Research by the Autism Cooperative Research Centre (2015 and 2016); the Business Higher Education Round Table Award for Outstanding Collaboration for National Benefit, Public Health (2019); and Autism Spectrum Australia’s ARCAP Research to Practice Award (2022). Dr. Barbaro is AuDHD (an Autistic person with ADHD).
Dr. Barbaro focuses on early autism detection in young children and improving family well-being after diagnosis. She developed a groundbreaking autism detection tool, the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS), leading to the creation of the world’s first early autism detection app for infants and toddlers, which has won significant awards. Dr. Barbaro shares her work with the public via articlesopens in new window in popular media outlets and podcastsopens in new window.
Barbaro, J., Sadka, N., Gilbert, M., Beattie, E., Li, X., Ridgway, L. Lawson, L.P., Dissanayake, C. (2022). Diagnostic accuracy of the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance–Revised with Preschool Tool for early autism detection in very young children. JAMA Network Open, 5(3):e2146415. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.46415opens in new window
Greenwood, E., Cooklin, A., Barbaro, J., & Miller, C. (2023). Autistic patients' experiences of the hospital setting: A scoping review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80, 908–923. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15880opens in new window
Davy, G., Barbaro, J., Unwin, K., & Dissanayake, C. (2023). Leisure, employment, community participation, and quality of life in caregivers of autistic children: A scoping review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 26(8) 1916–1930. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221105836opens in new window
Autism, Neurodevelopmental, Parenting, Infancy
The development of resources to broaden diversity and representation in the teaching of high school psychology resources is an APA Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools initiative supported by funding from the American Psychological Foundation David and Carol Myers Fund. This resource was developed by Kara Ayers, PhD; Emily Lund, PhD; Erika Sanborne; and Allison Shaver.