Research Studies
A note for parents/caregivers and Autistic individuals interested in participating:
The following studies below are seeking participants! Some of these studies are a small time commitment and are research-based questionnaires only, while other studies may take place over a few months and include therapy, parent/caregiver training or coaching, or some other form of Autism support, therapy, or guidance. A few studies may involve compensation or a chance to get a gift card, which will be noted below.
Researchers: Do you want to post a study?
Please read our information on how to post a study here: https://tinyurl.com/StudyAST
The Autism Society of Texas has no affiliation with the organizations below and does not endorse or approve studies. All questions and concerns about studies should be directed to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or the poster of the study. Thank you!
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Featured Studies
The following organizations have made a donation to the Autism Society of Texas to be included in our “Featured Studies” section. We are grateful for donations that support our staff time and help us assist the Texas Autism community!
The University of Texas at Austin
The purpose of the study is to examine how state and district special education policies shape the ways Latinx families navigate special education services for emergent bilingual students.
End date of study: 06/01/2026
Time required for the study: 1 hour about 4 times
Compensation: None
I am conducting a study to better understand the experiences of Latinx families who have an emergent bilingual child receiving special education services. I want to learn how families navigate different special education processes including IEP/ARD meetings, evaluations, etc. The experiences of families can help policymakers understand how schools can better support families.
If you are interested in participating, or would like additional information, please email Liz Lizarraga atlizethlizarraga@utexas.edu
Web link: N/A
Phone: 775-857-9966
Contact: Liz Lizarrago, email: lizethlizarraga@utexas.edu
ABA at UTSA
The purpose of this study is pilot an innovative model to support caregiver-led communication training. Flier here.
End date of study: 03/31/2026
Time required for the study: Up to 9 hours total across no more than 2 months
Compensation: $50 Virtual Gift Card
We’re enrolling our final group of Texas families for the FREE & completely virtual BehaviorBuddy Telehealth training research project at ABA at UTSA!
This opportunity is for families with children ages 2–12 who have an autism diagnosis.
-Free 1-on-1 Zoom sessions with a BCBA
-Scheduled around your availability
-Play-based activities to support emerging vocal skills
-$50 gift card for completing the project
Contact: Haley Tapia, email: aba.utsa@gmail.com, phone: 210-370-7026
Visit: https://www.abautsa.com/behaviorbuddy.html
University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
The purpose of the study is to understand how social experiences and emotion regulation influence emotional well-being in adolescent girls with and without autism.
End date of study: 12/06/2026
Time required for the study: One 2.5-3.5 hr In-person visit; followed by weeklong survey check ins (4 times a day, 2-5 min each) every 3 months for 2 years
Compensation: Yes, participants can get gift cards for participating in our study following an incentive schedule.
Researchers at UT Austin are studying how social experiences and emotions relate to mood in adolescent girls, both with and without autism. Girls ages 14–16 can participate through one in-person visit and brief smartphone surveys over two years. By learning how girls feel and cope in their daily lives, this study aims to identify ways to better support emotional well-being for adolescent girls. Participation is completely voluntary and participants will receive compensation for their time and contributions.
Contact: Dr. Shuting Zheng, email: zheng.lab@utexas.edu, phone: 737-285-6869
More Information: Click Here
Baylor University
The purpose of this study is to understand family quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder.
End date of study enrollment period is 03/31/2026.
Time required for the study: 20-30 minutes, and a follow up 5 minute survey two weeks later
Compensation: Chance to enter in a raffle to win one of two amazon gift cards ($25)
Baylor University is conducting a research project that invites caregivers
of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to participate in an
An online study about family life.
Who is eligible:
-You’re 18+, English-speaking, and your child’s legal guardian
-Your child is 3–12 and has an ASD diagnosis by a healthcare provider
-If you have multiple children with ASD, please answer about the first child
diagnosed (age 3–12)
Contact: Anna Milliken, email: anna_milliken1@baylor.edu, phone: 508-246-0800
More Information: Click Here
Grand Canyon University
The purpose of this study is to describe how parents of children on the autism spectrum think and feel about ABA, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)or a combination to help their children with their social skills.
End date of study enrollment period is: 04/30/2026
Time required for study: 2 hours of which a 60-90 minute interview is the longest activity.
Compensation: Participants who completed at least a 60-90-minute interview and transcript review will receive a $25 gift card via email.
The purpose of this study is to describe how parents of children on the autism spectrum think and feel about ABA, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)or a combination to help their children with their social skills.
More Information: Click Here
Phone: 949-898-0654
Contact Info: Diana Verbeem (aka Diana Floris-Verbeem), Email: dverbeem@my.gcu.edu
Cook’s Children’s Health Care System
The purpose of the study is to investigate the neural correlates of sensory and emotional processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
End date of study enrollment period is 12/31/2028
Time required for the study: 3 visits, 1 hour/visit
Compensation: $100 Gift Card
Cook Children’s Neuroscience Research Center in Fort Worth, Texas is recruiting children ages 6-19 diagnosed with, and also without, autism spectrum disorder to participate in a brain imaging research study!
What to Expect:
• Three short, ~1-hour visits.
• Potential compensation for participation.
• Flexible scheduling, including after-school and weekend options.
• School excuse notes available.
Study Details:
• We use non-invasive, radiation-free brain imaging (MEG, EEG, and MRI).
• Study is observational only – no medications or interventions given.
• Unfortunately, children with braces or permanent metal implants cannot participate.
Why Participate?
• Learn more about the brain and careers in neuroscience, engineering, and medicine.
• Contribute to research that can help other children with autism.
We welcome questions from interested young scientists!
Connect with us:
Email: Jane.Townsend@cookchildrens.org
Text: 682-715-5026
The University of Texas at Dallas
The purpose of the study is to understand what types of language input helps autistic children learn vocabulary.
End date of study enrollment period is 03/30/2027
Time required for the study: 2 hours for the first study appointment, 3 hours for the second study appointment
Compensation: Yes, participants may receive up to $200 in form of a prepaid debit card.
Our study seeks to improve vocabulary learning in young autistic children. During the first visit, we will assess your child’s language and cognition, and you can receive a report summarizing their performance. During the second visit, your child will watch short videos and play with the experimenter to learn words. There is an optional follow up part, in which you record home language samples and receive a report detailing your child’s language environment. We have a flexible schedule and will provide free parking and childcare for siblings, and families can earn up to $200 for participation.
More Information: Click Here
Contact Info: Aline Guerrero, Phone: 972-883-2427, email: lilac.lab@utdallas.edu
Studies
University of Texas at Austin, Steve Hicks of Social Work Texas Center for Disability Studies
The purpose of this study is to help us learn more about the healthcare experiences of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
End date of study enrollment period is 05/31/2026.
Time required for the study: Two 1 hour virtual interview sessions for youth with IDD, 1 hour virtual interview session for caregivers
Compensation: Each will receive a gift card for participation in each session
We are recruiting youth (12-26 years) with an intellectual or developmental disability from racial/ethnic minority communities to participate with their caregiver or primary support person! Do you want to help improve healthcare for people with disabilities?
Contact: Sandra Vanegas, email: Sandra.Vanegas@austin.utexas.edu, phone: 512-475-7203
University of Houston Cognitive Development Lab
The purpose of this study is to explore the visual experiences of children with or at high-risk of autism spectrum disorder during social play with their parents.
End date of study enrollment period is September 16th, 2026
Time required for the study: 1-4 hours
Participants will be given a $20 Amazon Gift Card, Family Passes to the Children’s Museum of Houston, and Gift-Bundle (T-shirt, Books, Crayons, Stickers, etc).
The UH Cognitive Development Lab invites families with children between the ages of 3 months and 5.11 years to participate in our exciting research project! We are specifically looking for children with autism, children that have a sibling with autism, and/or children suspected of having autism. This project consists of a parent-child play session, and depending on the age of your child: a motor test, a vocabulary test, an IQ test, and/or the ADOS-2 (a gold-standard autism diagnostic test). Compensation will be provided alongside a full summary of your child’s results on the tests.
For more information, email Elizabeth Perkovich at esperkovich@uh.edu.
Speech Studies
Coming Soon
Parent/Caregiver Coaching Studies
Baylor College of Medicine
We are looking at how children and parents talk about emotions in day-to-day life, and how these conversations may help children cope with emotions such as anxiety.
End date of study: 07/01/2027
Time required for the study: One 2-hour session + 15 minutes/day for 15 days
Compensation: You will earn up to $90 depending on how much of the study activities you complete.
Are you the parent of a child 8-17 years old with anxiety? We are studying how children and parents talk about emotions on a day-to-day basis and how this helps children cope with emotions like anxiety. If you agree to participate, you and your child will both be asked to: 1) complete one 2-hour study visit together to answer questions about thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and 2) fill out short surveys on a smartphone app for 15 days. If you’re interested, contact us at REALStudy@bcm.edu or fill out the interest form at https://redcap.link/bcmrealstudy!
If you are interested in participating, or would like additional information, please email Erika Trent at erika.trent@bcm.edu
Web link: https://redcap.link/bcmrealstudy
Contact: Erika Trent, email: erika.trent@bcm.edu
Phone: 617-676-7660
Michigan State University
The purpose of this study is to explores whether a brief mindfulness program can help parents and caregivers of children with Autism and developmental disabilities in reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being.
End date of study enrollment period is: 03/10/2026
Time required for study: 10 minutes/day for two weeks
Compensation: A maximum of $100 e-gift card for completing all activities.
Hello, I am Chandani Bhandari, a PhD candidate at Michigan State University. I am recruiting parents of children with Autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome or Intellectual disability to participate in a two-week online mindfulness study as part of my dissertation research. It includes daily 10-minute independent mindfulness practice.
For more information, please contact me at: bhanda36@msu.edu or visit the study’s screening link. Thank you.
Screening Link: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ihzuA1AvlixlwW
Phone Contact: 608-598-8779
Other Studies and Categories
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The purpose of this study is to understand the school experiences of Disabled parents and how these experiences inform their engagement with their child’s early childhood education.
End date of study: 04/30/2026
Time required for the study: 3 hours, one time
Compensation: None
A study called Disabled Family Engagement in ECE: Explorations Using Educational Journey Mapping is recruiting participants. The study is about the school experiences of Disabled adults and how these experiences inform their engagement with their child’s early childhood education. Research activities include creating an educational journey map (an arts-based diagram) and a 90 minute follow-up interview. Eligible participants must have a disability, have at least one child between the ages of birth and 8 years old, and reside in the United States.
If you are interested in participating, or would like additional information, please email Christina Ihnen at ihnen@wisc.edu.
Web link: N/A
Contact: Christine Ihnen, email: ihnen@wisc.edu
Phone: N/A
The University of Texas at Austin
The purpose of this study is seeking insight into AAC users’ perspectives on family members who speak on their behalf without permission to see how it affects independence, self-esteem, and relationship-building tools.
End date of study: 04/03/2026
Time required for the study: One hour or less for one meeting
Compensation: $40.00 USD paid via gift card or wire transfer, payment type up to participant preference.
My name is Morgan Peterson, and I’m a second- year MA student at the University of Texas at Austin, studying AAC for my thesis. I’m seeking insight into the perspectives of AAC users on family members who speak on their behalf without their permission. To participate, you must be 18 years or older, currently use high-tech AAC devices to communicate or assist in communication, and once you’re able to rely on vocal/oral communication, but no longer do so, and have access to a computer for Zoom interviews.
If you are interested in participating, or would like additional information, please email Morgan Peterson .
Web link: https://qualtricsxm9jw5syhwk.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etfs73TOKtDpfV4?
Contact: Morgan Peterson, email: atmrp3377@eid.utexas.edu
Phone: 214-364-3822
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
The purpose of the study: To test a Person-Centered Outcome Measure for people who use Home-and-Community Based Services.
End date of study: 07/01/2026
Time required for the study: 2-6 hours over span of 3 months
Compensation: Yes, payments between $30-$200
Researchers in the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab are looking for people who receive HCBS to pilot test surveys designed to evaluate the person-centeredness of their services. Participants will undergo a brief screening and consent call (Zoom or phone, unpaid) and will complete two or more 1 hour surveys on different aspects of their HCBS (online, via Zoom with a research assistant, or via phone) and will receive a $30 gift card for each completed survey. Participants will complete the same surveys 2 to 6 months later for $40 per completed survey. Participants can complete up to 6 surveys for a total of $200.
Web link: https:/www.sralab.org/research/labs/rrtc-home-and-community-based-services
Contact: Ross Kaine, email: rkaine@sralab.org
Phone: 312-238-3042
Sensory & Motor Behavior Studies
Grand Canyon University
The purpose of this study is to describe how parents of children on the autism spectrum think and feel about ABA, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)or a combination to help their children with their social skills.
End date of study: 04/30/2026
Time required for the study: 2 hours of which a 60-90 minute interview is the longest activity.
Compensation: Participants who completed at least a 60-90-minute interview and transcript review will receive a $25 gift card via email.
Study Title: Parents’ Reflections on Interventions to Improve Social Skills for Children With Autism. The purpose is to describe how parents of children with autism experience or have experienced therapies to help their children with social skills. The parents I am looking for are familiar with ABA and/or the Early Start Denver Model. The informed consent form in SurveyMonkey explains everything; unless you sign, there will be no record that you read it. Participating is completely voluntary. Your insights can help with understanding what works best for families.
Contact: Diana Verbeem (aka Diana Floris-Verbeem), email: dverbeem@my.gcu.edu, phone: 949-898-0654
More Information: Click Here
Social Media and Friendships Studies
University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
The purpose of the study is to understand how social experiences and emotion regulation influence emotional well-being in adolescent girls with and without autism.
End date of study: 12/06/2026
Time required for the study: One 2.5-3.5 hr In-person visit; followed by weeklong survey check ins (4 times a day, 2-5 min each) every 3 months for 2 years
Compensation: Yes, participants can get gift cards for participating in our study following an incentive schedule.
Researchers at UT Austin are studying how social experiences and emotions relate to mood in adolescent girls, both with and without autism. Girls ages 14–16 can participate through one in-person visit and brief smartphone surveys over two years. By learning how girls feel and cope in their daily lives, this study aims to identify ways to better support emotional well-being for adolescent girls. Participation is completely voluntary and participants will receive compensation for their time and contributions.
Contact: Dr. Shuting Zheng, email: zheng.lab@utexas.edu, phone: 737-285-6869
More Information: Click Here
Academic Studies
More studies coming soon! Please check back as we will update studies monthly!