Early Signs: How to detect learning disabilities in children

Dr. Richter gives an interview where she talks about early signs of learning disabilities. More details can be found here: Early Signs: How to detect learning disabilities in children – News | UAB

Reading to children at any age is a great way to support their vocabulary and listening comprehension skills.

Some signs of learning disabilities in preschool include:

  • Late talking compared to other children
  • Trouble producing the sounds of certain words, animals or numbers
  • Slow vocabulary growth or difficulty finding the right word
  • Trouble rhyming words or remembering songs
  • Difficulty learning numbers, the alphabet and the days of the week
  • Frequent fidgeting, restlessness and easily bored tendencies
  • Getting lost in the middle of instructions or being easily distracted

National LGBTQ Health Conference 2024

Justess and Shannon presented a poster at the National LGBTQ Health Conference in Atlanta, GA. They got to talk with other LGBTQ+ researchers and attend talks over the course of the conference.

Rice, J., Kirshy, S., Boatright, V.A., Richter., C. G. (2024, August). Evaluating Elements of Social Support as Protective Factors for Mental Health and Well-Being in Autistic Sexual-Gender Minority Young Adults Poster presented at the National LGBTQ Health Conference, Atlanta, GA.

William Syndrome Association Convention 2024

Alecia and Shannon attended the WSA biannual convention to represent the STARS lab as both an exhibitor and researcher. We were able to meet and interact with individuals with Williams Syndrome and their families, attend learning sessions, share information about our lab and ongoing projects, and collect data on emotional well-being in adolescents with WS. The Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team also hosted a game night for all of the families and attendees!

2024-2025 McNulty Civitan Scientist Award

Caroline G. Richter, Ph.D., and S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of Psychiatry and Behavior Neurobiology, have received the 2024-2025 McNulty Civitan Scientist Award, they will work closely with Sylvie Mrug, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychology.

This award is given on behalf of the McNulty Civitan Scientist Committee and the Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) for neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders. The purpose of the award is to fund interdisciplinary clinical or fundamental science research aimed at enhancing understanding of typical and atypical brain development, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental disabilities and malformations, impaired cognitive development, or the effects of environmental toxins on brain development. The UAB Civitan International Research Center offers $100,000 through the McNulty Award for interdisciplinary research focused on neurodevelopmental disorders.

This team of investigators is studying sleep disorders in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) with the intention to improve quality of life for them and for their families.