HANDS in Autism

Helping Answer Needs by Developing Specialists in Autism

Julie Rusyniak, MS

Research Coordinator
HANDS Program
Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center

Julie Rusyniak serves as the HANDS Research Coordinator at the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center (CSATC) at Riley Hospital for Children. She is a board certified behavior analyst who has worked with children and adults with autism spectrum disorders since 1992. She has spent the past six years as a Research Coordinator, overseeing multi-site NIH and CDC funded studies related to: early detection of autism, causes of autism and developmental disabilities, and relational awareness in autism. She continues to work on the CDC’s Autism Surveillance study, helping to track the prevalence rate of autism in the US. Prior to her work in research Julie designed and oversaw in-home and school-based early intervention programs, conducted parent/professional trainings, provided educational/behavioral consultations to school districts, and developed community-based residential programs. In past roles she has conducted assessments with children with autism, developmental disabilities, and genetic disorders. Ms. Rusyniak received her B.A. from Seton Hill College and her M.S. from San Francisco State University.

The development of this project was facilitated by Grant Number E!!/CCU524062-01 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and other charitable organizations. The ongoing efforts of the project are primarily and currently supported through a grant from the Center for Exceptional Learners, Indiana Department of Education under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (P.L. 108-446). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of our sponsors.