Graduate Training in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Psychology

General Information about the IDD Psychology Program
One of seven graduate degree program areas of Ohio State University's Department of Psychology , the IDD Psychology Program specializes in training researchers and practitioners to work with people with IDD. The hub of program activity is the Nisonger Center, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) devoted to the interdisciplinary study of IDD. Relevant experience at the Nisonger Center can be gained through its Autism Clinic, Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and Behavior Support Services. Clinical and research experience are also available through Children's Hospital and the Franklin County Program.

Program Orientation
The IDD Psychology Program is designed to produce research-oriented scholars prepared to accept academic and other major leadership positions in the field. Click here to find out more about current students. There are two specialization options leading to a Ph.D. degree available:

  • IDD Psychology - for students who are interested in any area of research relevant to IDD. Areas in which students have specialized in the past include instrument development, social supports, psychometric assessment, applied behavior analysis, sleep disorders, aggression, dual diagnosis, diagnosis in autism spectrum disorders, and aging and dementia.
  • IDD & Clinical Psychology (APA-Approved) – a joint track with the clinical psychology program for students interested in psychopathology and IDD, which includes research on assessment, treatment, and prevention of behavior problems and psychiatric disorders. There are relatively few admissions for this specialization.

Program of Study
Graduate Students write a research based master's thesis in IDD after two years of graduate study, then prepare for the Candidacy Examination (CE). Successful completion of the CE admits you to Ph.D. candidacy. The doctoral dissertation is based on research into a specific aspect of developmental disabilities. Students in the clinical track are expected to complete one year of predoctoral and one year of postdoctoral, supervised clinical experience. Internships are available in the field of IDD. After graduation and postdoctoral training, you are eligible for psychology licensure in Ohio.

Financial Support
Fellowships and teaching associate positions are available to first year graduate students on a competitive basis. Research assistant positions are available through the Nisonger Center and allied programs. Employment at community agencies is available after completion of the master's degree.

 

IDD Psychology Faculty

Michael G. Aman; Professor, Ph.D., University of Auckland (New Zealand), 1979-Psychopharmacology; experimental child psychology, developmental psychobiology. Current work: psychotropic drug effects in persons with autism spectrum disorders; behavioral and emotional disorders in people with intellectual disability and young people with disruptive behavior disorders. Editorial Boards of American Journal on Mental Retardation, Clinical Medicine: Psychiatry, Clinical Therapeutics, Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Research in Developmental Disability and Associate Editor: Journal of Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities.

Betsey A. Benson; Adjunct Associate Professor, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University, 1975-Clinical Psychology. Current work: mental health issues in IDD; anger management training; social cognition and aggressive behavior; depression; cognitive behavior therapy; group therapy.

David Hammer; Adjunct Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Georgia, 1981- Clinical, human development; neuroscience; pediatrics; behavior management. Current work: the treatment and management of persons with intellectual disability, emotional disturbance and autism spectrum disorders; habilitation and management of challenging behaviors in persons with moderate, severe, and profound levels of developmental disability.

Luc Lecavalier; Associate Professor, Ph.D., Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada), 2000-Clinical Psychology; Mental health issues and behavior problems in individuals with IDD; diagnosis and intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorders; scale development; motivation/personality variables.

Marilee A. Martens, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Melbourne (Australia), 2005-Neuropsychology. Current work: Director of Williams syndrome program, Researching the cognitive, behavioral and neuroanatomical phenotype of Williams syndrome.

James A. Mulick; Professor, Ph.D., University of Vermont, 1975-Pediatric Psychology; human development; learning and behavior development. Current work: basic and applied behavior analysis in child development, psychopharmacology, autism and IDD; infant assessment; treatment of severe behavior disorders in children with developmental disabilities, including antisocial behavior, stereotypy and selfinjurious behavior; ecobehavioral analysis. Editor: Transitions in Mental Retardation; Associate Editor: Research in Developmental Disabilities; Co-Editor: Handbook of Mental Retardation. (Jointly with Department of Pediatrics).ealth in IDD; development of diagnostic and assessment instruments for dual diagnosis; psychotherapy research; depression; anxiety, fear, panic; child abuse; basic human emotions.

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