Study Participation

Do you have a child with autism? Does s/he have a younger sibling? Would you like to participate in our current study?

We are looking for families in the greater Pittsburgh area to participate in our National Institutes of Health-funded study of early development in infants who have an older sibling with Autism.  We observe infants at home during everyday activities and play with a parent. Except for two visits to the University of Pittsburgh Autism Center, families do not need to come to us. We will come to you. Every month from the infant's 5th to 14th month of age, and at 18, 24, and 36 months, we will visit you in your home for about an hour to observe your child. All visits are scheduled at your convenience and are both interesting and fun for participating families.

To be eligible to participate, families must:

  • Have an infant younger than 5 months (or a baby on the way)
  • Have an older child diagnosed with autism
  • Be monolingual English speakers

To thank you for helping us, your baby will receive a small, age-appropriate gift at the end of each session, even if s/he does not complete the session. At the end of the study, you will also receive a baby book, a compilation DVD with brief clips from each of our visits, and $250.

If you would like more information about the study, please click here.