Dr. Kinard and colleagues are presenting at the 2025 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention about their work, “Exploring Autism,” a series of audio/visual education materials in Spanish designed to help parents and caregivers learn about autism. To make these materials, Dr. Kinard and colleagues completed focus groups with Spanish-speaking providers and parents to find out what families most wanted to know. Materials are currently in progress! Volunteer help welcome!

*Award winning! This presentation received a “Centennial Session” special recognition at the 2025 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention for having a significant impact in the field

Dr. Kinard and colleagues at UNC Chapel Hill recently published a study in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, looking at bilingualism and emotion recognition in autistic adults. We found that autistic adults who had stronger skills in two languages (as opposed to just one) were better able to identify emotions from facial expressions.

*Award winning! This article won the 2024 Editor’s Award from the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.

Dr. Kinard, partnering with Dr. Jessica Amsbary at UNC Chapel Hill, was recently awarded pilot funding to develop parent education resources for families in early autism intervention. Resources will be developed in both English and Spanish and will be freely available. Pilot funding is generously provided by the UNC-CH Autism Research Center Kelley Altman Greer Family Research Fund.

Dr. Kinard and colleagues at UNC Chapel Hill presented at the 2022 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention about a remote telehealth assessment that they culturally adapted and translated into Spanish. Explore the interactive poster here, along with an audio-recording of the presentation.

Dr. Kinard and colleagues at UNC Chapel Hill recently published an study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders about a remote telehealth assessment that they culturally adapted and translated into Spanish. In the article, parents talk about their experiences completing the assessment.