Autism links among Bolivia, Kenya, and Virginia
What are teams around Earth sharing?
Michaela DuBay and Mandy Rispoli of the University of Virginia collaborate with people in Bolivia and Kenya about services for children and youth with autism and their families in those countries. Emily Mellen of UVA’s Global Communications Office published an interview the two professors 6 October 2025, and some readers of Special Education Today will likely find it of interest.
Professors Dubay and Rispoli1 are members of UVA’s initiative known as Supporting Transformative Autism Research. One of STAR’s activities is a Global Autism Initiative, on which Michaela and Mandy work. In the interview they explain their efforts to help create autism support programs and networks that are able to deliver evidence-based services in these areas of Earth that are economically and culturally very different from the US.
The researchers do not consider their work as a one-way street with them delivering rewarmed US practices to Bolivian and Kenyans. They draw on cultural values methods to adapt already validated practices for caregivers and educators in those countries. One result that they have seen is that the work of integrating practices into other cultures has helped them to refine their own efforts in the US for the benefit of families and teachers in their local work.
Ms. Mellen’s story is available at “STAR Global Autism Initiative Helps Kids With Autism Soar.” In the story she provided a link to the audio for the interview as well as a transcript. Dear Readers might also want to consult these other resources about the global work Michaela and Mandy are doing:
A Q-and-A with Mandy by Ms. Mellen: Community-Driven Autism Research: Insights from Kenya
Audrey Breen’s coverage of Ms. Mellen’s story under a similar title for UVA SEHD: News in Brief: STAR Researchers Discuss Their Global Autism Research
Ma. Breen’s July 2023 story about Mandy’s Kenya work: UVA Partnership Innovates Autism Support in Kenya And U.S.
Of course, Dear Readers will recognize Mandy Rispoli, as she is a contributor to SET. Michaela DuBay is Mandy’s colleague at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, and someone whose work will also appeal to many DR of SET.