Research Connections in Japan (MT UCEDD)

October 11, 2017

Dr. Sumi Kato, a Professor from Aomori Chuo Gakuin University and the Research Center for Child Mental Development at the Hirosaki University School of Medicine, visited the Montana and Idaho UCEDDs in September. She is seeking U.S. research partnerships to investigate the similarities and differences of linguistic behavior in autistic children and adults.

Dr. Kato is hoping to compare Japanese and American native speakers on a variety of expressive language variables by reviewing ADOS-2 administrations and observing conversational interactions. She has already gathering nearly 400 observations in Japan. She is looking for a U.S. sample. While in the U.S., she met with researchers and community-based providers in Idaho and Montana. She is pictured here with Ms. Jackie Mohler of Family Outreach, Inc in Helena, MT, a long-time partner with the Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, the UCEDD.