James Yang, Ph.D.

Dr. James Yang is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic. He earned his PhD in Human Development and Psychology at UCLA, where he studied the employment and post-secondary education attainment of high school students with autism under the mentorship of Dr. Connie Kasari. Dr. Yang has provided trainings and supported teachers from underserved communities to promote self-determination in students with developmental disabilities in school settings. His clinical and research interests include further understanding the role of adaptive functioning skills, self-determination, and co-occurring conditions on employment and educational outcomes of neurodiverse individuals. Currently, Dr. Yang supports the PEERS^® for Young Adults clinical groups and facilitates the PEERS^® for Careers research program. He also provides individualized format of PEERS^® for adolescents and young adults in clinical settings.