Projects
Enhancing Marylanders’ Sense of Belonging, Knowledge of Rights, and Involvement in Advocacy for Communities of Educators, ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Students, and Individuals with Disabilities (EMBRACE-MD)
Description: This project will expand on the ongoing allyship in which PI (Kang) participates in Maryland Equity Coalition for People with Disabilities (MECPD) which consists of 30 community organizations in Maryland. We will invite ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®students across disciplines, Maryland public school teachers, and families to this allyship and develop a ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®student-led disability advocacy initiative, facilitate of a year-long interdisciplinary collaboration among ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®students, teachers, and families, and evaluate the impact of the allyship on ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®students, Maryland teachers, families, and policies. This project is funded through the ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Institute for Public Leadership Seed Grant.
Autistic Individuals’ Caregivers’ Views Towards Autism, Inclusion, and Neurodiversity (ATTAIN)
Description: We hope to better understand the perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse parents of individuals with or without a developmental disability on autism, inclusion, advocacy, and neurodiversity.
Collaborators: Ashley Johnson Harrison (University of Georgia), Luodi Yu (Guangzhou University), James Lee (University of Washington Seattle), & Sean Joo (University of Kansas)
ATTAIN Fliers.pdf
Korean Parents' Perspectives on Autism (KASKQ)
Description: We hope to better understand the perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse parents of individuals with or without a developmental disability on autism, inclusion, advocacy, and neurodiversity.
KASKQ KoreanEnglish Flyer.pdf
Program for Meaningful Interaction and Social Engagement (PROMISE)
Description: This project examines a community-based social skills program and caregiver workshop for Asian immigrant children and youth with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. This project is funded by the ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ® College Park Graduate College Faculty Student Research Award.
Collaborators: Kate Lu (Chinese Culture and Community Service Center) and Ariel La
AI-driven Development of Neurodiversity Affirming Practices for Teachers and Clinicians (ADAPT)
Description: Our project aims to provide research and clinical opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students and post-bac interns across six institutions who are passionate about partnering with underserved youth in the field of education, speech language pathology, psychology, and public health. We will use TerpAI and ADAPT checklist to develop neurodiversity-affirming and culturally sustaining lessons that support emotion regulation, identity development, communication, friendship, and sportsmanship with autistic youths from diverse cultural backgrounds at the Promoting Meaningful Interaction & Social Engagement (PROMISE) summer program which was developed through partnership between ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®and the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center. This project is funded through the ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) Research Seed Award Program Community-Based Grant.
Upholding Neurodiversity In Teacher Engagement with family, culture, and disability (UNITE)
Description: The project will partner with Prince George’s County Public Schools Infants and Toddler Program teachers to discuss and apply neurodiversity affirming and culturally sustaining practices in their collaboration with families. We will engage in teacher participatory action research to understand their lived experiences and problem of practice and identify and co-create possible solutions. This project is funded through the ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®College of Education Research Practice Partnership Grant.