7/28/2019 RAFIN

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ResearchonAutismandFamiliesinIndia(RAFIN)

Funding:FoundationforPsychoculturalResearch

ResearchSites:UCLAandNewDelhi,India

PI:ThomasS.Weisner,Prof.ofAnthropology,DepartmentsofPsychiatry(NPISemelInstitute,

CenterforCultureandHealth)andAnthropologyatUCLA(tweisner@ucla.edu)

Co-PI:Dr.TamaraDaley,SeniorStudyDirector,Westat(TamaraDaley@westat.com)

IndiaActionforAutismResearchDirector:Dr.NidhiSinghal(drnidhisinghal@gmail.com)

PostDoctoralFellow:RachelBrezis,UCLA,CenterforCulture&Health(rbrezis@ucla.edu)PurposeToassembleandhelpsustainateamofstudents,postdoc,faculty,andaffiliatesofdisability

organizationswhoarecommittedtocross-culturalandUSfieldandlaboratoryresearch

focusedonchildrenandfamilieslivingwithAutismSpectrumDisorder(ASD)incultural

context.

PrimaryObjectives EstablishingafieldsiteinNewDelhi,India,ledbyculturalpsychologistTamaraDaley,

incollaborationwithResearchDirectorNidhiSinghal,DirectorMerryBarua,and

othersatActionforAutism(AFA),aDelhi-basedNGO.

Acomprehensivestudyofanintensive,empowerment-basedparenttrainingprogram,theParentChildTrainingProgramconductedatAFA.Thestudyusesamixed-method

approachtoexamineculturallyrelevantoutcomesattheconclusionofthethreemonthtrainingperiodandata6and12monthfollowup.

AstudyofadultswithautisminNewDelhi,Indiathatwillexaminedailyroutines;independentfunctioning;educationalandinterventions;adultself-conceptsamong

higherfunctioningparticipants;andfutureplansforcare.

ApotentialfMRIstudyofadultswithautisminIndiausingtheAFAadultsample. Timeline:TheevaluationofthePCTPwaslaunchedinFall2011;thefirstcohortwas

completedinApril2012andthesubsequentcohortswillfollowinJulyandOctober.

TheadultandfMRIstudiesarecurrentlybeingplannedandpiloted,withrecruitmentanddatacollectiontobegininearly2013.