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[sporadicpeacewombat-blog]

The First Two Weeks

Hello earthlings!

I have successfully completed my first two weeks as a summer fellow at the Autism Assessment Research and Treatment Services center at Rush University! Woo! *confetti explodes, the crowd cheers, etc.*

Considering I am still waiting to be added to the IRB (which essentially gives me permission to actually participate in doing research and collecting data), I have learned a lot. I am reading a ton: research protocols, diagnostic manuals, Psychology Today articles related to the work that is being done in the AARTS center, etc. So obviously, I am learning a lot simply from what I am reading. But what I think has been even more meaningful is what I have been learning through observations. 

I have the privilege to attend weekly research meetings (researchers gather together to update everyone on their respective projects) and weekly rounds. At rounds, the clinicians go around and share information about specific cases they have been working on. I went to my first rounds meeting this past Wednesday, and it was truly an eye-opening experience. It’s one thing to constantly be reading literature about a certain topic or disorder, but to hear it described in such detail knowing that what is being described is an actual person, it just brings this incredibly strong and new light to the entire experience. 

I’m not entirely sure if what I just said made sense.

Essentially, you can read a description of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the DSM-5 and have a decently good understanding of what that disorder looks like. But these cases are actual people. It makes the issue so much more tangible and meaningful. Something I wanted to note was that at the rounds meeting, yes it was a formal meeting and everything was handled very professionally and seriously, but there was no shortage of empathy in that conference room. It was incredibly heart-warming for me to see that these people who I look up to doing this research and this treatment work with people with ASD actually genuinely care about their patients. It was very clear that everyone in the AARTS center is truly passionate about their work, which is an amazing environment to be a part of. 

So what is my role, exactly? Like I said, I’ve been doing a lot of reading to familiarize myself with the topics and testing measures. In addition, I have been observing videos of participants in certain studies (ones who have consented to allowing their information to be shared for training purposes, of course), and I have been updating the Autism Resource Directory, which is essentially an online database on the Rush website that connects people on the autism spectrum and their families with opportunities in the Chicago area. I will also get to help recruit families for SPARK, which is a genetic study looking for specific genes that have been linked to autism.

The videos I have been watching are all from a specific study called Mirror Me. This study has to do with imitation skills of young children with autism. Because language and motor development are often delayed for these kiddos, their ability to imitate their parents and other people around them is crucial. Unfortunately, these skills are often quite limited. The principal investigator on this study was part of a group of people who created a website designed for the parents of these kiddos to teach parents how to be working on imitation skills with the kids. The study is essentially looking to see the effects of using the website in addition to professional intervention (clinicians monitoring some sessions and providing feedback), on imitation skills of children with autism.

So where do I fit in to all of this?

I get to help conduct assessments of these imitation skills. Next week, I will be trained on how to administer the UIA, or the Unstructured Imitation Assessment. Essentially, it is about a 45 minute test in which an unfamiliar person (i.e. the researcher) plays with a child and tries to get them to imitate certain actions and gestures. I then will get to score these assessments, which will be part of the deciding factor as to whether or not the child will be a good fit for the study.

So basically, my job is to play with kids.

HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THAT. 

I’m going home to the suburbs soon for a mini vacation/4th of July celebration. But you better believe I’m going to be spending my free time with my nose in books and protocols so I am ready to rock and roll come Thursday.

Live long and prosper, my friends. 

Until next time,

@sporadicpeacewombat

[imtheseagull]

My favorite shop monkey learning about lights! Internships are for learning and over coming fear of heights, right @stuartlrial #shoplife #screwit #feedtheinterns #internsarepeopletoo (at Circuit Playhouse)

[pixilatedfederalhill-blog]

The @pixilatedphoto interns designed this sweet image for our upcoming Pop Up show with @dhfbaltimore ! Be sure to join us on June 27 and 28 #getpixilated #internsarepeopletoo #baltimore #digitalharbor #dhf