From the very beginning of my career, I’ve been drawn to helping children and families navigate the challenges that come with developmental disabilities and delays. Every child’s story is unique, and so is every family’s journey.
As a professor in the College of Education’s Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership, my research centers on applied behavior analysis and special education.
My goal is simple but profound — to make sure families feel supported, informed and equipped to help their children reach their full potential. That might mean guiding parents through the maze of forms and services that come with an early diagnosis or helping a child learn how to ask for help, share a toy or make a friend.
Those small victories add up. They become the foundation for lifelong social and emotional growth for children with developmental delays and disabilities.
Research That Builds Confidence
Much of my research focuses on early intervention — because the earlier we can teach essential skills, the longer they last.
Through University and state grants totaling more than $20 million, my team works with children from birth to age five who qualify for early-intervention services.
We partner with community organizations like Porter-Leath in South Memphis, where families receive direct support and join group sessions that help them connect with others who understand their experiences.
I use a combination of single-subject, qualitative and quantitative methods to understand what families need most.
Some of my recent projects explore how parents cope with the stress of a new diagnosis. Collaborating with researchers in Denmark and Australia, I’m studying the post-traumatic stress symptoms many parents experience — and how evidence-based interventions can ease that emotional weight.
“Much of my research focuses on early intervention — because the earlier we can teach essential skills, the longer they last.”
Our work has been replicated internationally, demonstrating that these approaches can make a difference for families everywhere. I’ve even written a textbook on applied behavior analysis in early childhood education, sharing these same principles with the next generation of educators and practitioners.
It’s deeply rewarding to see other scholars and clinicians build on our research and create new interventions that support children and parents alike.
Passing It Forward
After nearly two decades at the University of Memphis, the most meaningful part of my work continues to be the people — and not only the families we serve, but students I teach.
I love seeing that moment when a student’s passion clicks — when they realize this is what they’re meant to do. Whether they’re undergraduates in our Applied Behavior Analysis minor or doctoral students conducting research, their energy fuels the future of this field.
In the end, that’s what keeps me motivated: knowing that each child we help, each family we empower and each student we inspire carries this work forward in their own way.
Research in a Minute is part of a series from the University of Memphis showcasing the innovative research being done by our faculty.
Watch Dr. Laura Casey’s Research in a Minute video below.
