Background

Amy L. Donaldson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University (PSU). Her research focuses on the assessment and intervention of social communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the natural environment, as well as intervention efficacy. Dr. Donaldson is currently part of a multi-university team that is investigating the effects of a preschool-based, joint attention and symbolic play intervention for children with ASD. She is also examining the efficacy of sibling-mediated intervention for young children with ASD. Prior to joining PSU, Dr. Donaldson was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Washington (UW), where she also completed her doctorate. At UW, she was part of an interdisciplinary team investigating the effects of an intensive developmental behavioral intervention for toddlers with ASD (the Early Start Denver Model). Dr. Donaldson received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She has been working clinically with children demonstrating communication challenges, and their families, for over 16 years.