Tanya Paparella, Ph.D.
78-243A Neuropsychiatric Hospital
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1759
(310) 825-0147,
CURRENT POSITION
2006 – presentAssociateClinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
University of California, Los Angeles
2001 – presentCo-Director
Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
University of California, Los Angeles
EDUCATION
2000-2001University of California,Postdoctoral Fellow
Los Angeles, California Department of Child Psychiatry
2000University of California,Ph.D.
Los Angeles, California Psychological Studies in Education
Special Education
1996 Rutgers University,M.Ed. New Brunswick, New Jersey Counseling Psychology
1992Rutgers University,M.Ed. New Brunswick, New Jersey Special Education
1988Rand Afrikaans University, High School Teaching Credential
Johannesburg, South AfricaCounseling and French
1986 University of Cape Town,B.A.
Cape Town, South AfricaMajors: Psychology and French
LICENSURE
June 2005CA License (Clinical Psychology): PSY 20332
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2012 –presentManager (Functional Area) , UCLA, Resnick Hospital, Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program
2007 –2011Staff Psychologist III, UCLA, Resnick Hospital, Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program
2001-2006Staff Psychologist II, UCLA, Resnick Hospital, Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program
1997-1999Senior Psychometrist, UCLA, Autism Evaluation Clinic, Neuropsychiatric Institute
1996 - 1999Research Assistant, UCLA, Graduate School of Education
1997Teaching Assistant, UCLA, Graduate School of Education
1994-1996Autism In-Home Intervention Coordinator, Rutgers University, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center
1994Autism Behavior Specialist, Rutgers University, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center
1993Pre-school Autism Special Education Teacher, Rutgers University, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center
1990-1992Classroom Assistant - preschool children with autism, Rutgers University, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center
1989High School French Teacher (tenured), Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music, South Africa
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Ad-Hoc Reviews
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2007-2013
American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities2006 - present
Journal of Autism and Related Developmental Disorders2007 - present
Autism Research2014 - present
Hospital Committee Service
Peer CICARE Assessment TeamCommittee2013 - present
Child Psychiatry Advancement Reviews Ad-Hoc Committee2010 - present
Center for Autism, Research, and Training Interdepartmental
Coordinating Committee2006 - present
Neuropsychiatric Clinical Coordinating Committee2006 - presentNeuropsychiatric Hospital Behavioral Policy Committee 2006
Faculty Search Committee,
Applied Language Development and Literacy,
UCLA Graduate School of Education 1998
Community Service
California Legislative Blue Ribbon Committee on Autism 2007
Board of Directors, Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program2010 - present
Memberships
American Psychological Association2002 - present
Society for Research on Child Development2002 - present
GRANTS
Kasari, C., Gulsrud, A., & Paparella, T. (August 1, 2012 – July 31, 2017). NIH/ ACE Program Project Grant # 2P50HD055784-06 Targeting Joint Engagement in Infants at Risk for ASD: Integrating Treatment with Biomarkers $200,000. Investigator.
Kasari, C., & Paparella, T. (August 6, 2007 – July 31, 2012). NIH/ACE Program Project Grant # 5P50HD055784. Optimizing Social and Communication Outcomes for Toddlers with Autism. $750, 000. Co-principal investigator.
Kasari, C., Freeman, S.F., & Paparella, T. (June 1, 2005 – May 31, 2007). NIH/NICHD CPEA Program Project Grant # U19-HD035470. Longitudinal Follow-Up and Extension of Joint Attention and Symbolic Play Intervention. $370, 900. Co-principal investigator.
Paparella, T., & Freeman, S. (Initiated 12/2006 – ongoing). ECPHP Endowment Program: Development for the Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program # 441587-54808. $ 2.5 million. Co-principal investigator.
Freeman, S. F. N, & Paparella, T. (October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2003). Los Angeles County Children and Families First Proposition 10 Commission Community-Developed Initiative. Multimedia and technology for providing instruction, resources, and materials for young children with
autism. $54,806. Co-principal investigator.
PRESENTATIONS
- Paparella, T., Vallone, J., Bauminger, N., & Kasari, C. (April, 1997). Attribution of pride in children with autism. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Washington D.C.
- Paparella, T., Pruitt, L. & Kasari, C. (April, 1999). Joint attention in parent-autistic child dyads. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Kasari, C., Chamberlain, B., Paparella, T. & Bauminger, N. (June, 1999). Self-evaluative social emotions in children with autism. Poster presentation at the Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Barcelona, Spain.
- D’Angiola, N., Paparella, T. & Kasari, C. (June 2000). Trajectoria evolutiva de conductas de atencion conjunta e imperativas en ninos con autismo. International Congress in Neuropediatric Habilitation. Buenos Ares, Argentina.
- Paparella, T., D'Angiola, N. & Kasari, C. (August, 2000). The emergence of joint attention and requesting skills in young children with autism. Eleventh World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities. Seattle, Washington, USA.
- Paparella, T., D'Angiola, N. & Kasari, C. (April, 2001). The emergence of joint attention skills, eye-contact and positive affect in young children with autism. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, F.N. & Paparella, T. (April 2003). Play intervention and the effect on play and language outcomes in young children with autism. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Tampa, Florida.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S., & Paparella, T. (April 2005). Symbolic play in young children with autism: A randomized controlled intervention study. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia.
- Forness, S.R., Freeman, S., & Paparella, T. (November 2005). Recent randomized clinical trials comparing behavioral interventions and psychopharmacologic treatments for school children with EBD. Annual TECBD Conference on Severe Behavior Disorders. Tempe, Florida.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. & Jahromi, L. (October 2006). RCT of targeted treatment on core symptoms in autism. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. San Diego, California.
- Kasari, C., Wong, C., Freeman, S. & Paparella, T. (May 2007). Does teaching approach matter in facilitating joint attention and symbolic play in young children with autism? Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis. San Diego, California.
- Paparella, T. & Freeman, S. (December 2007). A model autism treatment program: intervening on play skills (with S. Freeman), Center for Autism Research and Treatment Symposium, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior. LA, CA.
- Freeman, S., & Paparella, T. (March 2008). Predictions of Friendship Quality in Children with Autism. Gatlinburg Conference. San Diego, CA.
- Paparella, T. ( August 2008). Developing Symbolic Play in Young Children with Developmental Disabilities, Exceptional Parent Seminar Series, Tokyo English Life Line Clinic (TELL). Tokyo, Japan.
- Scheflen, S., Freeman, S. & Paparella, T. (November 2008). Teaching play, language and social skillsto children with autism: Techniques include video modeling. American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, Chicago, Illinois.
- Stickles, K., Paparella, T & Kasari, C. (April 2009). Communicative skills in young children with autism: One year of development within a treatment model. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Denver, Colorado.
- Paparella, T. & Forness, S. (October 2009). Research Strategies for Evidence-Based Practice: What can we learn from our colleagues in Psychology and Psychiatry? TECBD Conference, Tempe, AZ.
- Scheflen, S., Freeman, S. & Paparella, T. (November 2009). Teaching Play, Language and Social Skills to Children with Autism: Techniques including Video Modeling. American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Paparella, T., Freeman, S., & Forness, S. (October 2010). Depression and dysthymia in early childhood autism. TECBD Conference. Tempe, Arizona.
- Paparella, T., Stickles Goods, K., Freeman, S., & Kasari, C. (March 2011). The Emergence of Joint Attention and Requesting Skills in Young Children with Autism. Society for Research in Child Development. Montreal, Canada.
- Freeman, S., Paparella, T., & Forness, S. (October 2011). What Prevalence Studies Tell Us About the Extent, Severity, and Placement of Children with Emotional Disturbance. TECBD Conference, Tempe, AZ.
- Begum, G., Hayashida, K, Freeman, S., & Paparella, T. (2013). Improving Social Behaviorsin the Classroomfor Students with AutismSpectrumDisorders (ASD). National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference. Seattle, Washington.
- Paparella, T. (February 2013). Clinical Approaches to Autism: Targeting Social Communication. CART Symposium, Los Angeles, CA.
- Kim, J., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. & Forness, S. R. (May 2013). Five-Year Follow-up of Preschoolers with Autism and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders. International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). San Sebastian, Spain.
- Jalnapurkar, I., Freeman, S., & Jeste, S. (May 2014). Adaptive motorimpairment in youngchildren with autismspectrumdisorders. International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR).Atlanta, Georgia.
- Gulsrud, A., Carr, T., Huynh, L., Berry, K., Paparella, T., & Kasari, C. (May 2015). Infants and the Emerging Autism Phenotype. International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Salt Lake City, UT.
PUBLICATION/BIBLIOGRAPHY
RESEARCH PAPERS
RESEARCH PAPERS - PEER REVIEWED
- Paparella, T & Kasari, C. (2004). Joint attention in special needs populations: A review. Infants and Young Children, 17(3), 269-280.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S., Paparella, T., Wong, C., Kwon, S. & Gulsrud, A. (2005). Early intervention on core deficits in autism. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 2(6), 380-388.
- Forness, S.R., Freeman, S. F. & Paparella, T. (2006). Recent randomized clinical trials comparing behavioral interventions and psychopharmacologic treatments for school children with EBD. Behavioral Disorders, 31 (3), 284-296.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S. F. & Paparella, T. (2006). Joint attention and symbolic play in young children with autism: A randomized controlled intervention study. Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(6), 611-620.
- Gulsrud, A. C., Kasari, C., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. (2007). Children with autism's response to novel stimuli while participating in interventions targeting joint attention or symbolic play skills. Autism,11 (6), 535-546.
- Wong, C., Kasari, C., Freeman, S. F., & Paparella. (2007). The Acquisition and generalization of joint attention and symbolic play skills in young children with autism. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities,32(2), 101-109.
- Kasari, C., Paparella, T. & Freeman, S. F. (2008). Language outcome in autism: Randomized comparison of joint attention and play interventions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,76 (1),125-137.
- Hayashida, K., Anderson, B., Freeman, S., Paparella, T., & Forness, S. (2010). Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 35, 243-254.
- Paparella, T., Stickles , K., Freeman, S. & Kasari, C. (2011). The emergence of joint attention and requesting skills in young children with autism. Journal of Communication Disorders,44, 569-583.
- Kasari, C., Gulsrud, A., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. & Hellemann, G. (2012). Longitudinal follow-up of children with ASD receiving targeted interventions on joint attention and play skills. Hayashida, K., Anderson, B., Freeman, S., Paparella, T., & Forness, S. (2010). Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 35, 243-254.
- Paparella, T., Stickles , K., Freeman, S. & Kasari, C. (2011). The emergence of joint attention and requesting skills in young children with autism. Journal of Communication Disorders,44, 569-583.
- Kasari, C., Gulsrud, A., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. & Hellemann, G. (2012). Longitudinal follow-up of children with ASD receiving targeted interventions on joint attention and play skills. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 5, 487-495.
- Scheflen, S., Freeman, S. & Paparella, T. (2012). Using video modeling to teach young children with autism developmentally appropriate play and connected speech. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 47(3), 302-318.
- Kim, J.; Freeman, S.; Forness, S. & Freeman S. F. (2012). Five-Year Follow-up of Preschoolers with Autism and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 38, 57-70.
- Forness, S., Freeman, S., Paparella, T., Kauffman, J. & Walker, H. M. (2012). Special education implications of point and cumulative prevalence for children with emotional or behavioral disorders. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 20 (1), 4-18.
- Jeste, S. S., Kirkham, N., Senturk, D., Hasenstab, K., Sugar, C., Kupelian, C., Baker, E., Sanders, A. J., Shimizu, C., Norona, A., Paparella, T., Freeman, S. F. N., Johnson, S. P. (2015). Electrophysiological evidence of heterogeneity in visual statistical learning in young children with ASD. Developmental Science, 18, 90-105.
- Kasari, C.; Gulsrud, A.; Paparella,T.; Hellemann, G.; Berry, K. (2015). Randomized Comparative Efficacy Study of Parent-Mediated Interventions for Toddlers With Autism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Mar 30 , 2015, 554-563.
- Paparella, T., & Freeman, S. (2015). Methods to improve joint attention in young children with autism: a review. Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, May 19, 2015, Vol 6, 65-78.
BOOKS
- Freeman, S., Begum, G., Hayashida, K. and Paparella, T. (2011). Social Skill Activities for Teachers of Young Children with Autism, Other Developmental Disabilities, and Typical Children: An EasyCurriculum for Improving Social Behaviors in the Classroom. New York, NY: Different Roads to Learning, Inc.
- Paparella, T., Lavelle, L.(2012).More Than Hope: For Young Children On The Autism Spectrum. Los Angeles: Quick Link Learning.
- Paparella, T., & Lavelle, L.(2013). More Than Hope: For Young Children On The Autism Spectrum[e-book version]. Los Angeles: Quick Link Learning. Retrieved from amazon.com.
CHAPTERS
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S. F. N. & Paparella, T. (2001). Early Intervention in Autism: Joint Attention and Symbolic Play. In L. M. Glidden (Ed.), Autism: International Review of Research in Mental Retardation, San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
- Freeman, S. F. N. & Paparella, T. (2009). Autism Intervention Research: From the Reviews to Implications for Practice. In R. M. Hodapp (Ed.), International Review of Research in MentalRetardation, San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
CATALOG/NON-PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES
- Hayashida, K., Freeman, S., & Paparella, T. (2012). Conceptualizing Pathways of Social Behavior. Different Roads: Tolls for Kids on the Spectrum since 1995.
ABSTRACTS
- Chamberlain, B., Paparella, T., Vallone, J., & Chow, V. (March, 1997). Interventions to increase joint attention in a preschool child with autism: A pilot study. Abstracts of the 30th` Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Irvine, California.
- Paparella, T., D'Angiola, N. & Kasari, C. (March 2000). A developmental analysis of joint attention in young children with autism. Abstracts of the 33rd Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. San Diego, California.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S. N., & Paparella, T. (March 2001). Targeted intervention changes in joint attention and symbolic play skills in young children with autism. Abstracts of the 34th AnnualGatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Charleston, South Carolina.
- Paparella, T., Freeman, S. N., & Kasari, C. (March 2001). Early joint attention and requesting skills in young children with autism: Deficit or Delay? Abstracts of the 34th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Charleston, South Carolina.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S. F., Paparella, T., & Minor, L. (March 2002). Development of play - an intervention for young children with autism. Abstracts of the 35th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. San Diego, California.
- Bertellotti, W. & Paparella, T. (March 2003). Obtaining early intervention services for children with autism: Parents’ Role and Related Stress. Abstracts of the 36th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Annapolis, Maryland.
- Guiou, T.D. & Paparella, T. (March, 2003). Emotional language in parent-child interactions of children with autism. Abstracts of the 36th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Annapolis, Maryland.
8.Kasari, C., Freeman, S. N., & Paparella, T. (March 2004). Factors influencing treatment success: Does teaching approach matter in skill development? Abstracts of the 37th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. San Diego, California.
- Freeman, S. N., Paparella, T. & Wong, C. (May 2004). Prediction to one year follow-up from targeted joint attention and play interventions. Abstracts of the 3rd Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Sacramento, California.
10.Wong, C., Freeman, S. F. & Paparella, T. (March 2005). Factors affecting growth trajectories in a joint attention and symbolic play intervention for young children with autism. Abstracts of the 38th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Annapolis, Maryland.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. & Wong, C. (May 2005). Growth in joint attention and symbolic play. Abstracts of the 4th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Boston, Massachusetts.
- Freeman, S. N., Paparella, T., Stickles, K & Blazekjo, A. (May 2005). The effects of an interdisciplinary program on the development of young children with autism. Abstracts of the 4th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Boston, Massachusetts.
- Freeman, S., Paparella, T., Kasari, C., Jahromi, L. & Wong, C. (March 2006). Growth trajectories in a joint attention and symbolic play intervention for young children with autism. Abstracts of the 39thAnnual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. San Diego, California.
14.Paparella, T. & Freeman, S. F. (May 2006). Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program: A model short-term comprehensive treatment program for children with autism. UCLA Semel Institute Conference, Innovative Approaches: Treatment for People with Developmental Disabilities & Psychiatric Disorders. Ontario, California.
- Paparella, T., Freeman, S., Lee, J. & Auyeung, B. (June 2006). Tracking changes in attention states in preschool children with autism Attending the Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program. Abstracts of the 5th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Montreal, Canada.
- Kasari, C., Freeman, S. F. N., Paparella, T. (March 2007). Longitudinal Outcome of ChildrenInvolved in a Play Intervention. Abstracts of the 32nd 2007 SRCD Bi-Annual Meeting. Boston, MA.
- Freeman, S. F. N, Paparella, T., Wong, C., & Hayashida, K. (May 2007). Academic improvements of children participating in a direct academic teaching program: Interrelationships among IQ, Language Skills, Behavior, and Motivation. Abstracts of the 6th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Seattle, WA.
- Freeman, S. & Paparella, T. (March 2008). Predictions of Friendship Quality in Children withAutism. Abstracts of the 41st Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. San Diego, CA.
- Stickles, K., Paparella, T & Kasari, C. (May 2009). Impact of Joint Attention Treatment on Children withDiffering Language Abilities. Abstracts of the 8th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Chicago, Illinois.
- Paparella, T. & Forness, S. (October 2009). Research Strategies for Evidence-based Practice: What can we learn from our colleagues in psychology and psychiatry ? Abstract of the Teacher Educators for Children with Behavior Disorders Conference (TECBD). Tempre, Arizona.
- Jeste, S., Paparella, T. & Freeman, S. (May 2011). Neural Correlates of Implicit Learning In Young Children with ASD. Abstracts of the 10th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). San Diego, CA.
- Kim, J., Freeman, S., Paparella, T. & Forness, S. R. (May 2013). Five-Year Follow-up of Preschoolers with Autism and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders. Abstracts of the 12th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). San Sebastian, Spain.
- Gulsrud, A., Carr, T., Huynh, L., Berry, K., Paparella, T., & Kasari, C. (May 2015). Infants and the Emerging Autism Phenotype. Abstracts of the 14th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Salt Lake City, UT.
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