People

Hi, I’m Isabelle! I’m an Autistic PhD student in the Institute of Child Development. I work primarily with Dr. Phil Zelazo in the Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. I’m interested in studying how autistic people think about the mental lives of others. More importantly, I am starting the RADAR project to help change the way research on autism is conducted. My goal is to bring the perspectives of more autistic people into the research about us, and make sure our voices are heard.

When not working, I can be found befriending every dog I see, running, or coaching rowing.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Language Preference: Identity-first language (autistic person)

Hello! My name is Aysha. I’m 22, I’m autistic and ADHD, and I am a 2022 graduate from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s of science in Psychology, minor in Integrative Neuroscience, and certificate in Technical Writing and Communications. I’m one of the collaborators at RADAR and I’m especially interested in cross-cultural studies and looking at the experiences of autistic people within other minority groups. In the past, I’ve worked on visual psychophysics at the Engel Vision and Imaging Laboratory and adolescent behavioral and cognitive studies at the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research. I am also the a former president of the Disabled Student Cultural Center at the University of Minnesota. In addition to being disabled, I also identify as a first-generation Asian-American and a Muslim and I’m bilingual in English and Mandarin. Outside of the lab, I love music, travel, photography, creative writing, and comic books. As of writing this, my special interests are superheroes, Korean language and culture, and unsolved mysteries.

Pronouns: They/Them

Language Preference: Identity-first language

Howdy howdy! I am an autistic individual who enjoys a variety of creative hobbies as special interests such as: jewelry making, wire sculpture, painting, and crocheting. I also am a creative writer, and currently am majoring in creative writing at my university. Outside of that I enjoy reading, walking, boxing, weight lifting, cooking, baking, watching tv, and exploring the outdoors. I joined this research project because psychology is actually a special interest for me, and I’d love to be able to help provide more information and research on autism to the world.

Pronouns: She/Her

Language Preference:

A transgender female who is in a domestic partnership with my wife Emily. I’m 21 with 20 years experience and I am also a disabilities advocate and Podcaster. I have autism and I also love to write poetry.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Language Preference: Identity-first language

Hi, I’m Jes, an Autistic + ADHD speech-language pathologist and Ph.D. student in communication sciences and disorders (COMD) with a minor in psychology at Louisiana State University (LSU). I will be conducting my research in the Language and Neurodevelopmental Trajectories Lab focusing on my areas of interest including the integration and utilization of sensory and emotional integration techniques to foster progress of all modalities of communication skills for autistic clients (lifespan), and holistic approaches to language assessments and interventions for autistic clients (lifespan) with communication difficulties. Gaining a greater understanding for the various ways marginalized people are underrepresented in higher education, recruiting, and retaining autistic and neurodivergent individuals in academia to ensure our voices are heard in future research is of paramount importance to me.

Outside of work, I enjoy music, running, reading, writing, and petting/feeding any animal I see!

Pronouns: He/Him

Language Preference: Autistic, on the spectrum

Kal is an autistic multidisciplinary artist, poet and sometimes educator. He has a BA in Philosophy and Communication that will probably never get paid off, and over 8 years experience working in Disability Support and behavioral health. He likes to spend his time researching his various interests and getting involved in his community. He lives for his elderly cat, Nina, and his plants, and his biggest hero is Keith Haring.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Language Preference: Identity-first language

As an autistic child who struggled to use her voice to communicate, I grew up using art as a primary means of expressing my thoughts and feelings. I went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in art history and studio art from the University of Minnesota, and I’m excited to be back and to bring my creative arts background to the RADAR project and to grow as a researcher. I hope to study the influence of paralinguistic communication differences (such as intonation, volume, gestures, facial expressions) on social cognition across the full range of speaking behavior, but I would especially love to center the “inner voices” and experience of the nonspeaking and unreliably speaking communities.

Pronouns:

Language Preference:

I am working hard to earn my master’s degree in Physics & Astronomy at Tufts University. In 2021, I started an “On the Spectrum” club at my undergraduate college to create a warm and welcoming space for autistic students. My hobbies include speed-solving the Rubik’s Cube, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and drawing portraits in color pencil.