Psychology Interest Network
Mission
AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
As part of AAIDD, the Psychology Interest Network (PIN) promotes wellbeing and quality of life among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, research, and identifying and promoting effective behavioral health practices. PIN aims to connect psychologists, researchers, practitioners, educators, and self-advocates in the field to further the wellbeing and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Research Spotlight
Check out the research projects our 2024 AAIDD Psychology Interest Network Scholarship Recipients are working on!
Emily Van Gaasbeek
Name, current position, and current place of work:
Emily Van Gaasbeek, PhD candidate in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Psychology at The Ohio State University
What is your research area of interest?
I’m interested broadly in the construct of belonging as it relates to quality of life for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially across the post-secondary transition. I’m particularly interested in how belongingness can act as a protective factor for mental health symptoms and contribute to psychological well-being.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a study examining the relationship between school belongingness, mental health symptoms (anxiety and depressive symptoms), and life satisfaction among college students with IDD in inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) programs across the country.
When you are not engaging in research, what are some things you like to do for fun/relaxation?
I enjoy being active outdoors. My partner and I are avid hikers and spend our vacations hiking in new places (next up – the North Cascades!). I also enjoy gardening and have a large plot in our local community garden where I’m growing lots of produce - tomatoes, squash, carrots, and watermelon, to name a few.
If people are interested in contacting you to learn more about your research, how can they reach out?
E-mail: vangaasbeek.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu.
Imogen van Jaarsveldt
Name, current position, and current place of work:
Imogen van Jaarsveldt, 2nd PhD student at University of Bristol and Macquarie University
What is your research area of interest?
Cognitive and developmental psychology
What are you currently working on?
Looking at cognition and executive functioning in neurodevelopmental disorders
When you are not engaging in research, what are some things you like to do for fun/relaxation?
I love doing sports, particularly team sports like Football and badminton, I enjoy long distance running too! I enjoy reading books particularly from non-English speaking authors (it's nice to read something away from my PhD topic!)
If people are interested in contacting you to learn more about your research, how can they reach out?
E-mail: Imogen.vanjaarsveldt@bristol.ac.uk or imogen.vanjaarsveldt@hdr.mq.edu.au
Conference Highlights
Interested in having your project highlighted on the website? Please fill out our research survey so we can learn more about your presentation: https://forms.gle/p9rKJRc41ZCv8Htj9
Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Award
The Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Award is presented by the Psychology Interest Network (PIN) of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The award recognizes a mental health professional who is committed to empowering clinical practice or research that amplifies the inherent dignity of all people. This award may also be used to recognize mental health and/or psychology professionals that have faced significant adversity in their pursuit of justice for all people. Each year, the award will honor a demonstrated commitment against discriminatory and oppressive practices through research, clinical practice or political activism that advances social inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
The award is named for Wolf Peregrin Joachim Wolfensberger, PhD (1934-2011), a leader in PIN and AAIDD whose research and practical skills influenced the discipline to focus on the fact that life has value. The award is meant to reflect the bravery of Wolfensberger who as a psychologist challenged the field with his innovative work and as a youth overcame a corrupt fascist system by immigrating to the United States.
Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Awardee 2024
Dr. Guy Caruso, PhD, FAAIDD
Dr. Caruso is the Senior Department/Western Coordinator for the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, which is Pennsylvania’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service. He is responsible for coordinating Institute training and related activities in the western part of Pennsylvania. He works on several Institute grants and provides technical assistance to the 25-year long Pennsylvania Independent Monitoring for Quality Program (IM4Q). This is a state funded and statewide program in which over 5000 interviews are conducted by people with disabilities, family members and interested others to discover how people served/supported view their life and how we can help improve their lives.
He has worked in human services for 53 years both in institutional and community settings and in several capacities and as a consultant in the US and Canada. Much of his work has been with families and people with disabilities using person centered approaches in helping family and people with disabilities plan their futures.
Dr. Caruso received his master’s and PhD from Syracuse University where he studied with Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger. Dr. Caruso was mentored by Dr. Wolfensberger and became a friend, colleague, and collaborator with him.
Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Awardees
Hall of Fame
2023 Tim Barksdale, Psy.D., LMSW, NADD-CC
2022 Cameron Neece, Ph.D.
2020 Karyn Harvey, Ph.D.
2019 Carol Salas, Psy.D.