An archive of all RCAAS-related news, from Rutgers University publications (i.e., Rutgers Today and Rutgers Magazine), research publications, and more!
In the News
9.24
Adjusting to college life can be a difficult transition for any first-year student, especially for individuals on the spectrum.
To ease the adjustment and forge meaningful human connections, Rutgers University–New Brunswick provides specialized peer mentoring through the College Support Program (CSP). The CSP – run by the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, which is part of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology – provides support for neurodiverse students so they may be successful, both academically and interpersonally.
9.24
“This housing crisis has been here for decades,” said Christopher Manente, Ph.D., executive director of the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. “This is a community of people that have largely felt abandoned.”
While the traditional model of housing for adults with disabilities in New Jersey has historically been four-person group homes, Seifried explained, a statewide transition plan approved in 2023 integrates person-centered planning, separation of housing and services, individual choice and flexibility.
2.24
The Rutgers Today article, “Adults With Autism Get on-the-Job Training Through Rutgers Dining Services,” showcases the department’s instrumental partnership with the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS).
It also highlights the RCAAS mission and services provided for adults on the autism spectrum, including employment support through their SCALE Program.
This win-win collaboration allows adults with autism to have a meaningful job and gain valuable life skills.
11.23
Dr. Christopher Manente, RCAAS Executive Director; Associate Professor of Clinical Practice, Applied Psychology Department, was featured in The Targum article, “Advocating for adults with autism: U. professor awarded NJBIZ Veterans award.” The article highlights Dr. Manente’s receipt of this inaugural award honoring veterans who improve their communities through entrepreneurship. It focuses on Dr. Manente’s ground-breaking accomplishments at the RCAAS and his work to foster inclusivity and support for neurodiverse individuals at Rutgers and beyond.
12.20
To be able to enrich the ability of autistic adults to navigate life’s challenges and to have career opportunities available to this sector of the population means changing the course of research, offering life skills training, clinical needs, and education. A pioneering approach to supporting autistic adults is underway at Rutgers, and the hub for this program is in the newly constructed headquarters building for the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) on the Douglass Campus.
The center, which first opened in 2017, is a first-of-its-kind project, and will now have a new building... read more
6.20
Vanessa Hus Bal, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, conducts research to advance understanding of the aging population of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Emphasizing a lifespan perspective, her lab encompasses four broad research areas:
Defining meaningful achievements and specific needs of adults with ASD
Characterizing how ASD symptoms manifest across the range of cognitive and language abilities at developmental stages across the lifespan
Identifying behavioral, biological, and contextual factors that affect longer-term adult... read more
4.20
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended work and school schedules for millions across the country.
While new distance learning and working arrangements are aggravating and inconvenient to many, to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, disruptions in daily routines can trigger problematic – even dangerous – behaviors, said James Maraventano, who directs Supporting Community Access through Leisure and Employment (SCALE) at Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS).
“A lot of our participants and many people with autism thrive on schedules and really require consistency within their program in... read more
10.18
The Rutgers Board of Governors today awarded the Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism to Vanessa Hus Bal, associate professor in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), whose unique research emphasizes a life span perspective in the understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adulthood.
Internationally recognized for her scholarly contributions and leadership, Bal has established herself as a scholar with a unique and specific focus on adults with autism, examining both biological and behavioral approaches that may be useful in screening and... read more
4.17
New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney came to Rutgers University Friday to learn about plans for the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS), a unique mix of vocational and residential programs for adults to work and live within a university community.
Sweeney got a chance to meet Craig Lillard, 23, the first adult in the center’s day program who works at Harvest Café in the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, as he took time out from cleaning tables.
Read the full article here:
12.16
Rutgers is creating a center for adults with autism that will provide the opportunity for them to live and work independently within a university setting. The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, located on the Douglass Campus at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, will offer up to 60 adults university jobs and support from clinical staff and graduate students.
Read the full article here:
http://magazine.rutgers.edu/health-matters/autism-help-on-the-way
11.15
The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS), to be located in two buildings on the university's Douglass Campus in New Brunswick, will offer up to 60 adults with autism, who are living off campus, with university jobs supported by clinical staff and graduate students. A second phase of the center will offer a pilot residential program for 20 adults with autism who will work on campus and live alongside Rutgers graduate students in an integrated apartment-style residence.
Read the full article here:
http://news.rutgers.edu/news-release/rutgers-announces-initiative-launch-center-...
5.14
Like many college students, Max Skula and Merlin Moore, aren’t sure what their future holds when they graduate. They hope to find jobs or maybe go to graduate school after earning some money.
The two seniors – who will graduate from Rutgers May 18 – try not to think too far ahead, looking instead at how much they have progressed as college students and promising that they will stay in touch once they go their separate ways.
This might not seem unusual. But Skula and Moore were diagnosed as children with what was once called Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of autism characterized by social... read more
2.13
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ. - Two families, longtime friends who between them have three sons on the autism spectrum, have made a $1.5 million gift to Rutgers University to endow a faculty position in adult autism, a field in which there is a critical shortage of trained professionals and support services.
The Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism is being established by Dina Karmazin Elkins, daughter of Mel Karmazin, philanthropist and the former CEO of Sirius XM Radio; Michael Lillard, chief investment officer of Prudential Fixed Income, and his wife, Amy.
The endowed professorship is unique in... read more
5.23
Dr. Vanessa Bal, Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism; Associate Professor Director, GSAPP; LifeSPAN ASD Lab and RCAAS-Psychological Services Clinic; Co-director of Research, RCAAS, shared her expertise in the HuffPost article, "The 9 Biggest Signs Of Autism In Adulthood."
The article describes some possible signs that people with undiagnosed autism can experience in their daily lives. Dr. Bal explains that people with autism may consistently feel differently than others.
To read the informative article, which includes suggested resources, please click here.
5.23
Recent research shows that approximately 70% of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have at least one, if not multiple, co-occurring mental health conditions.
Dr. Vanessa Bal, Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism; Associate Professor, GSAPP; Director, LifeSPAN ASD Lab and RCAAS-Psychological Services Clinic; Co-director of Research, RCAAS, addresses this topic in Autism Speaks's Expert Q&A: Dr. Vanessa Bal discusses gaps in mental health care for autistic adults.
Dr. Bal discusses the biggest gaps in the care available for autistic adults with co-occurring mental health... read more
4.23
On Wednesday, April 26th, Dr. James Maraventano, RCAAS-SCALE Program Director, participated in a virtual panel discussion, "Autism and the Workforce: Fitting the Puzzle Pieces Together."
The webinar was hosted by the Middlesex County Workforce Development Board's Abilities Committee and the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. It was geared towards employers, families, and job seekers and focused on autism in the workplace, from training to employment, from a perspective of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Dr.... read more
4.23
Dr. Christopher Manente, Executive Director of the RCAAS, and GSAPP Clinical Associate Professor, and Ian Bober, College Support Program (CSP) Coordinator, continued to raise awareness of and share their expertise about the neurodiverse community at the April 19th hybrid event, Equity Mindset Workshop: Strategies for Supporting the Success of Neurodiverse Students. More than 25 individuals attended the forum, during which Dr. Manente and Bober educated Rutgers faculty and research students on ways to support students with autism both in the classroom and the lab.
To watch the recording of... read more
4.23
The RCAAS- College Support Program (CSP) was showcased in the New Jersey Monitor article, "Colleges and universities with support programs welcome students with autism."
The article focuses on the college support systems in place for the autism community, including CSP. Amy Gravino, RCAAS Relationship Coach, shared her expertise as an adult on the autism spectrum, explaining how she also struggled to feel comfortable in social situations in college. However, with CSP, "students learn to advocate for themselves, to be themselves, and to form friendships." Programs such as these allow... read more
4.23
The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) was featured in the TapintoNutley article, "Rutgers Pushes Acceptance During Autism Awareness Month," which highlights the services the RCAAS offers to the underserved adult autism community, its mission and advocacy efforts.
Executive Director (RCAAS), Clinical Associate Professor (GSAPP), and Chair (RU Neurodiversity Task Force), Dr. Christopher Manente, is quoted explaining how the autism community "have been generationally marginalized, and there has been an incredible debt that has amassed in terms of their segregation from society... read more
4.23
Congratulations to Sydney Hall, RCAAS Behavior Technician, for receiving this year’s Autism MVP Foundation Endowed Fellowship!
Sydney has demonstrated excellence in her work with the Intensive Outpatient Clinic (IOC) supporting adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who exhibit complex problem behaviors. This award creates new, hands-on educational opportunities for GSAPP students working at the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. For more about the Autism MVP Foundation, please click here.
We are so proud of Sydney for earning this outstanding honor!
"The Autism MVP... read more
3.23
RU’s Neurodiversity Task Force hosted a hybrid workshop at the RCAAS, "Mentalization for Neurodiverse Populations," presented by Dr. Stephanie Lyon, Assistant Teaching Professor, GSAPP Clinical Psychology Department. Dr. Christopher Manente, Executive Director (RCAAS), Clinical Associate Professor (GSAPP), and Chair (RU Neurodiversity Task Force), opened the engaging event.
Mentalization is the ability to understand our own and others' mental states and reactions that underlie overt behavior. Dr. Lyon and team members from the Cultivating Compassion Project provided a brief background on... read more
3.23
The Neurodiversity Task Force hosted a hybrid workshop at the RCAAS, "Mentalization for Neurodiverse Populations," presented by Dr. Stephanie Lyon, Assistant Teaching Professor, GSAPP Clinical Psychology Department. Dr. Christopher Manente, Executive Director (RCAAS), Clinical Associate Professor (GSAPP), and Chair (RU Neurodiversity Task Force), opened the engaging event.
2.23
Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism; Associate Professor, GSAPP; Director, LifeSPAN ASD Lab; Co-Director of Research and Director of the Psychological Services Clinic, RCAAS; Dr. Vanessa Bal, was chosen for "40 under 40" in Spectrum’s fifth annual book. This list is comprised of 40 young researchers who are working on autism-related science across the globe. They are rising stars in their labs or among their former students.
Dr. Bal was featured in the article, "Rising star: Vanessa Bal traverses fine work-life balance." To read the full article, please click here.
To read... read more
4.23
The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) was featured in the TapintoNutley article, "Rutgers Pushes Acceptance During Autism Awareness Month," which highlights the services the RCAAS offers to the underserved adult autism community, its mission and advocacy efforts.
Executive Director (RCAAS), Clinical Associate Professor (GSAPP), and Chair (RU Neurodiversity Task Force), Dr. Christopher Manente, is quoted explaining how the autism community "have been generationally marginalized, and there has been an incredible debt that has amassed in terms of their segregation from society... read more
2.23
Dr. SungWoo Kahng, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Applied Psychology Department, GSAPP; Co-Director of Research, RCAAS; Courtney Butler, Behavior Analyst, RCAAS-SCALE Program; Christeen Zaki-Scarpa, Behavior Analyst, RCAAS-SCALE Program, Brianna Boragi, former Behavior Technician, RCAAS-SCALE Program; and colleagues co-authored the article, "An individualized approach to teaching adults with autism to successfully navigate job interviews via remote instruction." It appears in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
The current study evaluated the use of behavioral skills... read more
2.23
Dr. Julia Iannaccone, Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice, Applied Department; Director, Intensive Outpatient Clinic, RCAAS, co-authored the article, "Varying reinforcer dimensions during differential reinforcement without extinction: A translational model" in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
This study supports the notion that differential reinforcement of alternative behavior without extinction can be an effective form of treatment. Read the article, here.
2.23
Dr. Vanessa Bal, was highlighted for being 1 out of 31 women who have made a mark on Autism research by Spectrum! Dr. Bal's roles include: Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism; Associate Professor, GSAPP; Director, LifeSPAN ASD Lab; Co-Director of Research and Director of the Psychological Services Clinic, RCAAS.
2.23
SungWoo Kahng, Courtney Butler, Faris R. Kronfli, Christeen Zaki-Scarpa, Brianna Boragi and Joseph Scott co-authored, "An individualized approach to teaching adults with autism to successfully navigate job interviews via remote instruction." The research subject touches on adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experiencing challenges securing employment, which may partially explain overall underemployment or unemployment in this population. One of the first steps to obtaining employment is participating in a job interview. However, social communication deficits may interfere with an... read more
2.23
Dr. SungWoo Kahng, Department Chair, Applied Psychology; Associate Professor, Applied Psychology, GSAPP; Co-Director of Research, RCAAS, co-authored the article, "A systematic review of the correspondence between descriptive assessment and functional analysis." This article appears in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
The publication's co-authors conducted a review of 48 studies that included descriptive assessments and functional analyses and evaluated several measures of correspondence between each pair of assessments. To read the full article, please click here.
2.23
A growing awareness of the conflict that can happen between police and individuals on the autism spectrum led Kenneth Cop, executive director of public safety and chief of the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) to join the Rutgers Neurodiversity Task Force. Chaired by Christopher Manente, executive director of the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCCAS), the task force – comprised of a group of thought leaders, faculty and students – aims to identify the needs and priorities of the university’s neurodivergent community in order to create a more... read more
11.22
Tune in to watch Dr. Christopher Manente, Founding Executive Director of the RCAAS, featured on NBC News! The RCAAS's comprehensive program trains practitioners and partners with dedicated organizations, such as RISE at Warren, to take action on key initiatives for autistic adults to thrive.
RISE at Warren will offer adults with autism a home of their own. It is an innovative, active, and long-term residential community for young adults with autism with the mission to provide programming and support, activities, vocational opportunities, and most of all, purpose.
Special thanks to Jodi... read more
10.22
The Rutgers Today article "Takeaways From the Tyler Clementi Center’s First Inclusion Summit," highlighted the In A Different Key viewing and Dr. Christopher Manente and Amy Gravino's speeches discussing the film's messages and how to help address opportunities and challenges within the Rutgers community.
10.22
Tune in to hear Amy Gravino, M.A. give her insights on the Changemakers In Autism podcast, which is produced by REED Autism Services (of the Reed Academy). Listen for a frank discussion about navigating relationships when you’re on the spectrum.
2.23
Dr. SungWoo Kahng, Department Chair, Applied Psychology; Associate Professor, Applied Psychology, GSAPP; Co-Director of Research, RCAAS, co-authored the article, "A systematic review of the correspondence between descriptive assessment and functional analysis." This article appears in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
The publication's co-authors conducted a review of 48 studies that included descriptive assessments and functional analyses and evaluated several measures of correspondence between each pair of assessments. To read the full article, please click here.
9.22
Congratulations to Dr. Vanessa Bal, Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism, and her former Research Assistant and alumna, Nikita Jadav, on their newsworthy research! As noted in Rutgers Today, the article on their research entitled, "Autism diagnosis in adulthood linked to higher rate of psychiatric conditions” was featured in both The Hill and Spectrum News online publications.
According to Dr. Bal, "There is a shortage of mental health clinicians adequately trained to provide support for autistic adults — many providers report lower feelings of competence and are reluctant to take... read more
7.22
Congratulations to RCAAS Relationship Coach, Amy Gravino, on co-authoring a chapter in the Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder! The chapter is titled, “Sexuality and Sexuality Education with Individuals with Autism: What You Should Know But Probably Don’t.”
According to Amy, “It addresses the complex subject of autism and sexuality education through both a clinical and personal lens. In this chapter, Dr. Gerhardt, Dr. Cauchi, and Ms. Gravino highlight the cultural and institutional barriers that professionals encounter in teaching sex education to... read more
7.22
This informative and helpful resource was created by a collaborative team headed by Dr. Vanessa Bal, Co-Director of Research, Director of the Lifespan ASD Lab and the RCAAS-Psychological Services Clinic (PSC), Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism, and Dr. Evan Kleiman, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University, as part of an Organization for Autism Research (OAR)-funded project, https://researchautism.org.
The team that created the guide was comprised of graduate students, staff, faculty, and clinicians, including several who identify as on the spectrum or neurodiverse... read more
1.22
Congratulations to Ellen Wilkinson, graduate student and valued member of the Psychological Services Clinic (PSC) and LifeSPAN ASD Lab teams, on having her new article featured in a recent Autism Science Foundation (ASF) podcast! Ellen’s article, “Parent Reported Strengths and Positive Qualities of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability,” appeared in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and was one of three topics of discussion in this popular weekly forum.
Read the full article here:
5.21
Dr. Christopher Manente, BCBA, RCAAS Executive Director, alongside esteemed colleagues from Caldwell University - Alexandra M. Campanaro, MA, BCBA; Jason C. Vladescu, PhD, BCBA-D; Meghan A. Deshais, PhD, BCBA-D; and Ruth M. DeBar, PhD, BCBA-D - published a literature review drawing on trends of successful vocational training methods. This review, which covers a total of 50 articles, including 53 experiments, will aid in establishing a collection of effective and viable techniques for teaching pertinent vocational skills to adults with ASD.
Read the full research... read more
4.21
This new journal publication from Director of the RCAAS-SCALE Program, Dr. James Maraventano; Director of Behavioral Services at the RCAAS and Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC), Dr. Robert LaRue; DDDC Adult Program Behavior Analyst, Jenna Budge; and Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) alumni, Catherine Kishel, and Dr. David Singer, calls attention to the use of Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) reinforcement systems and how they can be optimized in practice.
Read the full research... read more
3.21
Congratulations to Dr. Vanessa Bal, MSc, Karmazin and Lillard Endowed Chair in Adult Autism, Director of RCAAS-PSC, and RCAAS Co-Director of Research, Amy Gravino, MA, RCAAS Relationship Coach, and Gabrielle Gunin, Rutgers GSAPP PsyD Student on having their paper, “Advancing Mental Health Supports for Autistic Postsecondary Students: A Call for Research,” published in the journal Autism in Adulthood! This paper highlights the need for more accessible mental health supports for adults with autism enrolled in college or university and recommends further research in the... read more
2.21
In collaboration with colleagues from the SPARK Consortium, Simons Foundation, the Kennedy Kreiger Institute, and Columbia University, Dr. Vanessa H. Bal, MSc, BCBA, Karmazin and Lillard Endowed Chair in Adult Autism, Director of RCAAS-Psychological Services Clinic (PSC), and RCAAS Co-Director of Research, and Ellen Wilkinson, PSC Team Member, published this study documenting the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of adults with ASD. Results from this study present new developments for supporting adults on the autism spectrum during the... read more