Early Intervention for Young Autistic Children: What the Evidence Tells Us

About Cynthia Anderson

Dr. Cynthia M. Anderson is the Chief Clinical Officer at Avela Health. She took her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from West Virginia University in 1990 and has focused her career on enhancing outcomes for children and families. Dr. Anderson’s research has been funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Institutes of Health , and the Department of Defense and has advanced the understanding of interventions that promote meaningful outcomes for neurodivergent individuals. Dr. Anderson has contributed to the field in numerous ways including serving as an AE for several journals, and as the Applied Representative on the ABAI Executive Council. She is committed to translating research into practice, most recently at Avela Health working closely with families to implement neurodiversity-affirming, individualized approaches to enhance outcomes for children and families.

Disclosures: None.

Degrees/Credentials

• Licensed Psychologist #PSY34154
• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Walden University
• MS, Applied Psychology, Walden University
• MS, Educational Counseling, National University
• BA, Counseling Psychology, William Jessup University
• RUBI Certified

Disclosures: Employee of Catalight.

Current Position

• Vice President of Clinical Excellence, Catalight
• Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco

About Micheal Sandbank

Bio Dr. Micheal Sandbank is an internationally renowned expert on early interventions for children on the autism spectrum. She received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt University. She is the lead researcher on Project AIM, a comprehensive and ongoing meta-analysis of all nonpharmacological interventions designed for young autistic children, which was selected as one of the Top Advances in Autism Research in 2020 by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Her work has been published in prestigious journals such as The BMJ, JAMA Pediatrics, and Psychological Bulletin.

Disclosures: Dr. Micheal Sandbank has received fees for presenting research findings in invited talks for the New Jersey Autism Center for Excellence, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Oslo University. She has also received fees from the Australian National Disability Insurance Agency for providing expert evidence in court hearings. She previously taught courses on both behavioral and naturalistic developmental behavioral early childhood interventions and directed a program that was accredited by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and was paid for this work.