04/15/2026
The Shaw Center's Scholar Series Presents: Dr. Matthew Lerner, presenting on Rethinking Social Outcomes Across the Spectrum
Matthew Lerner, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Leader of the Life Course Outcomes Program Area in the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University, and the co-Founder and Research Director of the Stony Brook Autism Initiative. Dr. Lerner’s research focuses on understanding the emergence and “real world” implications of social challenges, especially among those with autism, as well as the development, evaluation, and dissemination of novel, evidence-based approaches for ameliorating those challenges. In his presentation "Rethinking Social Outcomes Across the Spectrum", Dr. Lerner will introduce an emerging perspective on social outcomes in autistic people, which focuses on leveraging qualitative community feedback to advance empirical, practical, and policy-level results. This approach will be demonstrated through a three-pronged research program that focuses on basic descriptive approaches designed to interrogate assumptions regarding social outcomes, translating these findings into improved and more responsive intervention models, and catalyzing community-based change resulting from both. Implications for engagement with and empirical study of service-based programs, as well as development of novel directions for research and services, will be discussed.
Location: Notre Dame, DeBartolo Hall, room 126. Room 126 is on the first floor.
Parking: Visitor parking is available in the Walsh Architecture Visitor Center Lot. Parking on campus is free after 4pm, and otherwise $2/hr through ParkMobile app. If using the app, the Walsh Visitor Lot is zone #11519
