Adults (18 + years)
Eligibility
Individuals of all ages with a professional diagnosis of autism and their family members may participate.
Purpose
SPARK: Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research and Knowledge is a landmark national autism research study designed to speed up research and advance our understanding of autism to help improve lives. SPARK will collect unique information from thousands of individuals affected by autism to give researchers the information they need to improve treatment and achieve scientific advances as rapidity as possible. More participants in SPARK means more good data for research.
Involvement
Participation in SPARK can be done entirely at home – registration can be completed online and the DNA sample can be provided using a saliva collection kit mailed to the home. There is no cost to participate.
Benefits
Upon completion of the registration process, the individual with autism will receive a $50 gift card.
Contact
Raquel Amador: RaquelAmador@mednet.ucla.edu
For more information visit https://sparkforautism.org/?code=ucla
Learn more about SPARK for Autism!
¿Qué es SPARK?
SPARK es el mayor estudio sobre el autismo que se ha realizado hasta la fecha y potenciará la investigación sobre el autismo en los próximos años. Creemos que para encontrar respuestas para usted, necesitamos entender lo que le hace único. Y lo que le conecta con los demás. Lo hacemos mediante el estudio de la información genética, conductual y médica.
¿Quién puede unirse?
¿Es padre o madre de un(a) hijo(a) con TEA? ¡Únase a nosotros! ¿Es una persona con un diagnóstico de TEA? Necesitamos de usted. No hay ningún costo para usted y mantenemos sus datos privados.
¿Cómo puede participar?
- Cree una cuenta en línea.
- Invite a miembros de la familia.
- Entregue una muestra de saliva para el análisis de ADN.
- [Descubra y participe en nuevas oportunidades de investigación sobre el autismo].
Contacto:
Raquel Amador: RaquelAmador@mednet.ucla.edu
Eligibility
- You have one or more children the ages 3 years and older with symptoms of autism.
- Families must be of African American descent
Purpose
To help researchers understand autism spectrum disorders in African American families.
Involvement
- One screening phone call.
- One in-person visit to our clinic or community site for up to 6 hours.
- Observations of children’s behavior.
- Questionnaires and interviews for parents about themselves and their children’s development.
Benefits
- Participants will be paid $250.
- Participants will receive a written feedback report summarizing the psychological test findings on their child(ren) with autism.
Contact
Erin Graham at (310) 794-4090 or at EGraham@mednet.ucla.edu
Eligibility:
Individuals who are:
- Between 13-30 years
- Have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Purpose
The purpose of this 16-week study is to examine the combined effects of medication (L-DOPA or placebo) plus a specialized behavioral intervention aimed towards increasing social skills.
Involvement:
Participants will receive:
- UCLA PEERS (social skills training, 1 session/week for 16 weeks). Participants must first enroll in UCLA PEERS prior to joining this research study.
- Comprehensive diagnostic and cognitive evaluation
- Neurological testing
- L-DOPA or placebo (inactive medication)
- Questionnaire, interviews, psychological and laboratory testing
Benefits
- Up to $550 if all visits are completed
- Specialized behavioral intervention aimed towards increasing social skills
Contact
Study coordinator: 310-267-3377
PEERS: 310-267-3377
Eligibility:
Individuals who are:
- Participants must be currently or previously enrolled in junior college, community college, or 4 year university
- Participants are diagnosed with ASD
Purpose
The purpose of this 20-week study is to support young adults with ASD in their transition to adulthood, including attaining employment. This study is part of the UCLA College to Career Transition Program.
Involvement:
Telehealth appointments are available. Participants will participate in:
- Evidence-based social skills intervention focused on employment-related soft skills (such as building a resume, interviewing skills, finding a good career fit, and more)
- Group treatment for young adults with ASD focusing on self-advocacy and problem-solving
- Diagnostic services to help young adults and their families understand their strengths and weaknesses and identify a path forward
Benefits
- Specialized behavioral intervention aimed towards increasing social skills
Contact
Study coordinator: 310-267-3377 or peersclinic@ucla.edu
Eligibility:
Participants are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ages 18-45 years old.
Purpose
The purpose of this 16-week social skills program is to help adults with ASD learn skills to find and maintain romantic relationships, as well as to build stronger relational skills.
Involvement:
- In-person or Zoom eligibility appointment with our clinic
- Observations of social behavior, assessments, questionnaires
- 16 weeks of evidence-based social skills intervention focused on dating and relationships skills (such as flirting, common interests, asking someone on a date, dating do's and dont's) in person or via Zoom
- Group treatment for adults with ASD focusing on self-advocacy and problem-solving
- 16-week follow-up with observations of social behavior, assessments, questionnaires
Benefits
- Specialized behavioral intervention aimed towards increasing dating skills.
Contact
310-267-3377 or peersclinic@ucla.edu
Eligibility:
Black/African American and/or LatinX parents and/or caregivers of autistic individuals or individuals with suspected autism.
Purpose
We want to make our research better. We are interested in learning from Black and Brown parents and caregivers to help us make autism research more meaningful for your family and easier to participate in.
Involvement:
- Parents/caregivers will participate in a 1-hour online focus group.
- We'll ask your thoughts and experiences with autism research.
Benefits
- You will help UCLA CART make autism research more inclusive and meaningful for families.
- $50 for participation in a 1-hour focus group held over zoom.
Contact
chyde@mednet.ucla.edu. 310-825-8738
Flyers
Eligibility:
Autistic mothers (formal or self-diagnosis of autism) and their adult/adolescent non-autistic daughters aged 10 or older are eligible to participate.
Purpose
This study aims to understand how autistic mothers and their non-autistic daughters describe strengths, challenges, and communication in their parent-child relationships during adolescence. Co-investigators of this study include two community partners, who are both autistic mothers. The research team will collaboratively decide how to present the research findings to prioritize the goals of the autistic community.
Involvement:
Mothers and daughters will each participate in a one-on-one interview (up to 90 minutes). They will have the option to complete the interview in-person, over Zoom, or over a text-based application.
Benefits
Mothers and daughters will each receive an Amazon gift card for $50 USD (or equivalent).
Contact
NLibster@mednet.ucla.edu.
