Developmental Disabilities

Ciara Ousley is a board-certified behavior analyst - doctoral and former special educator. Her research and publications focus on supporting the social communication skills of young children with autism and other developmental disabilities through speech and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is also an expert in parent/family-implemented supports, naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions, social communication and more. Ousley serves as the director of the Social Communication for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (SCADD) lab, where the main goal is to design and implement efficient training and coaching practices for adults and family members working with young children with social communication needs to increase the child’s independent communication skills. (Updated July 2025)