Opportunities to participate

The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities promotes an interdisciplinary approach to research. To address the needs of our diverse community, we support research on a variety of topics to advance knowledge and improve services.

Children and adults with disabilities, caregivers and professionals are invited to take part in the research opportunities listed below. For specific information about a research study, please contact the principle investigator (PI) listed.

CED research opportunities

Understanding stress, puberty, and behavior in children with ASD

The WVU CED is recruiting families and their children to participate in a research study exploring how stress, puberty, and behavior are connected in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

About the study:

Our research has three main goals:
  1. Cortisol & Behavior - Explore how stress hormones (cortisol) relate to behavior differences by age and gender in children with ASD.
  2. Pubertal Stage & Stress - Examine how stages of puberty may influence cortisol levels and adolescent behavior.
  3. Cortisol as a Key Link - Test whether cortisol affects the relationship between age/puberty and changes in behavior.
What participation involves:
  • Completing behavior assessments (CBCL – Externalized & Internalized behaviors, MEPSI – Coping)
  • Reporting on your child’s pubertal stage (PDS)
  • Providing your child’s cortisol samples (rubbing inside cheek with cotton swab) to measure stress
Why your participation matters:

Your involvement will help us better understand how stress and puberty impact behavior in children with ASD. This knowledge may guide future strategies to support healthy development.

Interested? Contact Us!

Lesley Cottrell, PhD
Director, WVU CED
304-293-2914
lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu

Dental Care Experiences Study

NORC at the University of Chicago is conducting a research study on dental care experiences among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have Medicaid health insurance. We are looking to speak with parents or caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may be interested in participating in a one-time interview in May or June.

Interviews will be confidential, conducted over Zoom, and last approximately 30–45 minutes.

If you are interested, please email Shivani Dixit (dixit-shivani@norc.org) with times you are generally available for a brief, 5-minute phone call and the best phone number to reach you. This call will help determine whether you are eligible for the interview opportunity.

Call for Mentors: Help Future Health Professionals by Sharing Your Story

The WVU CED is seeking people with lived experience as an amputee, wheelchair user, person with limited vision, and/or person with hearing impairments to be a mentor for future healthcare workers. Mentors will share their personal experiences to help students and professionals learn about patient-centered care and how to make people with disabilities feel more welcomed and supported.

If interested in becoming a mentor, please send your name, contact info, and a short paragraph about why you want to mentor health sciences students to Dr. Lesley Cottrell at lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu.

Learn More About Lived Experience Mentors

IMPACT WV Family Survey

The IMPACT WV program is assessing the needs of women who are currently or have used substances in the past. The answers to this survey will tell us what trainings and resources we need to provide to help them and their families. Participation will take about 10 minutes.

This survey is for anyone who fits into one of these groups:

  • Pregnant women or mothers who have misused at least one substance and have a child under the age of 5
  • Family member of persons who have someone in their home who is currently using or has previously used substances and has a child under the age of 5

If you have any questions about this research project, please contact the PI, Dr. Lesley Cottrell, by email at lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu or call 304-293-2914.

Take the IMPACT WV Family Survey

*This study has been approved by the WVU Institutional Review Board

IMPACT WV Provider Survey

The IMPACT WV program is working to better understand service providers’ needs and additional training deemed useful when serving women who are using or have used substances, their families and/or their infants. Responses will be used to find existing or develop needed training materials and technical assistance to respond to service provider needs. Participation will take about 10 minutes.

If you have any questions about this research project, please contact the PI, Dr. Lesley Cottrell, by email at lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu or call 304-293-2914.

Take the IMPACT WV Provider Survey

*This study has been approved by the WVU Institutional Review Board

Traumatic Brain Injury Needs Assessment Survey

The WVU CED is seeking participants to complete a survey for the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) needs assessment study, including people with a TBI, family members and professionals.

This study will use information obtained through surveys to identify needs, gaps and barriers to further improve access to services for individuals with a TBI and their families. This is an opportunity to provide valuable, individualized feedback that can assist in steering TBI service efforts across West Virginia.

Who can participate?

  • Residents of West Virginia who are at least 18 years of age
  • You must belong to one of the following three groups:
    1. Person who had a traumatic brain injury or concussion in the last 10 years
    2. Family members to individuals with traumatic brain injury
    3. Professionals who serve individuals with traumatic brain injury

You can participate by completing the survey which will take approximately 10-30 minutes to complete. The survey is available electronically at the link below, or a paper copy can be requested by calling 877-724-8244 or emailing us at TBI@hsc.wvu.edu.

*This study has been approved by the WVU Institutional Review Board