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Jenna L. Lequia, PhD

Jenna L. Lequia, PhD

Education and Training Researcher, Westchester Institute for Human Development

Assistant Professor, Center on Disability and Health, School of Health Science and Practice, New York Medical College

914-493-8109

EDUCATION

University of Connecticut

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, 2016

N/A

University of Wisconsin-Madison

PhD, 2015

Special Education; Minor in Prevention & Intervention Science: Research Methodology Special Education

University of Wisconsin-Madison

MS, 2010

Special Education; Concentration in Cognitive Disabilities

University of Wisconsin-Madison

BS, 2009

Human Development and Family Studies; Concentration in Child Development

BRIEF BIO / PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Dr. Jenna Lequia is a researcher with expertise in the areas of special education, child development, autism interventions, research methodology and implementation science. Her professional experiences were comprised of providing instruction to young children with ASD in the home, community and school settings; teaching in an inclusive preschool setting; consulting with and coaching parents to develop and implement intervention plans for their children with ASD; and using of telehealth to provide coaching and consultation to parents. She has extensive experience training both pre-service and in-service professionals, as well as collaborating with colleagues on multi-site research projects. As the Education and Training Researcher at the Westchester Institute for Human Development and Assistant Professor at New York Medical College (School of Health Sciences and Practice), she oversees various funded research, training and technical assistance projects, and serves as core faculty for an interdisciplinary graduate leadership training program. For nearly a decade, Dr. Lequia has been involved with federally or state funded technical assistance centers focused on early intervention, family outcomes, and children or youth with special health care needs. She is also the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Disability, Development and Education and serves on the editorial board for Journal for Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD).

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES

Dr. Lequia’s scholarship centers on the intersections of inclusion, family professional partnerships, and early intervention and early childhood, in particular for children with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families. Some of her recent projects include focus groups with stakeholders to understand perspectives and experiences with developmental screening, evaluation of a statewide learning collaborative for early intervention teams on family outcomes, and increasing capacity of early intervention providers to use a family centered approach to service delivery.
  • Inclusion: Dr. Lequia hopes to contribute to the field’s understanding of the factors that influence the quality of inclusion that students with autism and other developmental disabilities experience – specifically evaluating social inclusion, education professionals’ attitudes and participation of students in the school community.  In addition, she hopes to identify drivers that lead to increased placement of these students in inclusive educational settings.
  • Family-Professional Partnerships: Mutually supportive interactions between families and professionals that focus on the needs of children and families are considered best practice in the planning and implementation of educational programs for students with and without disabilities. Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between recommended practice and actual implementation of family-professional partnerships. In this research area, Dr. Lequia hopes to examine innovative strategies to improve communication between home and school, as well as teacher awareness of and implementation of accommodations and supports outlined in student IEPs.
  • Early Intervention/Early Childhood: The early years of a child’s life are the most critical for their overall development. Ensuring that both families and professionals are monitoring the developmental trajectory of children allows for timely connections to necessary services and supports. Dr. Lequia aims to explore experiences of stakeholders with the developmental screening process and evaluate mechanisms to increase implementation of developmental screening.

RESEARCH INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES CATEGORIES

SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL AND EDUCATION

  • Behavioral Interventions for Individuals with I/DD
  • Improving Access and Participation for Individuals with I/DD across the Lifespan
  • Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination in Individuals I/DD across the Lifespan
  • Special Education and Inclusion
  • Family & Professional Partnerships

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

  1. Lequia, J., Passmore, R., Chidsey, L., & Pachter, M. Voices of families caring for children with special health care needs. AUCD 2021 Annual Conference. Virtual. (November 2021).
  2. Morales, A., Hampton-Risucci, J., Burlazzi, S., & Lequia, J. Families’ perspectives on complex, fragmented service systems. AUCD 2021 Annual Conference. Virtual. (November 2021).
  3. Smith, S., Milberger, S., Moriarta, M., Natale, R., Lequia, J., & Passmore, R. Strategies for improving services for children and families in and out of a pandemic. AUCD 2020 Annual Conference. Virtual. (December 2020).
  4. Lequia, J., Smith, V., & Adler, N. Improving family centeredness in early intervention: A 3 UCEDD collaboration. AUCD 2018 Annual Conference. Washington, D.C. (December 2018).
  5. Lequia, J. Perspectives on inclusive education: Themes and trends of the literature. TASH 2018 Annual Conference. Portland, OR. (November 2018).
  6. Lequia, J., Siegenthaler, K., & Smith, V. Improving Family Centeredness Together (IFaCT): A Learning Collaborative in New York State. New York State Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference. Albany, NY. (October 2018)
  7. Patrick, P., Mislow, S., & Lequia, J. Library accessibility for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. 2017 AUCD Conference. (November 2017).
  8. Acharya, K., Stuart, S., Peebles, S., Barrows, M., Toppers, K., & Lequia, J. Nothing about us, without us: Opportunities for self-advocates as co-teachers, leaders, and trainees in LEND programs. 2017 AUCD Conference. Washington, D.C. (November 2017).
  9. Lequia, J. & Kim, S. A meta-synthesis of attitudes towards inclusive education. 2017 NYS CEC Annual Conference. Binghamton, NY. (October 2017).
  10. Brickel, N. & Lequia, J. Supporting student participation in the IEP Process: The student “draft IEP” tool. 2017 NYS CEC Annual Conference. Binghamton, NY. (October 2017).
  11. Lequia, J. Social acceptance of elementary school students with severe disabilities. TASH 2016 Annual Conference. St. Louis, MO. (December 2016).
  12. Born, T., Asmus, J., Lyons, G., Vincent, L., & Lequia, J. Social skills instructions for students with autism spectrum disorders delivered through a peer network. 41st Annual ABAI Convention. San Antonio, TX. (May 2015).
  13. Carter, E., Asmus, J., Moss, C., Cooney, M., Lyons, G., Vincent, L., & Lequia, J. Fostering social connections and learning in high schools through peer-mediated interventions. TASH 2013 Annual Conference. Chicago, IL. (December 2013).
  14. Lequia, J., Vincent, L., & Lyons, G. Inclusive experiences for secondary students with significant disabilities. TASH 2013 Annual Conference. Chicago, IL. (December 2013).
  15. Lequia, J., Born, T., Cooney, M., & Moss, C. Peer-mediated strategies to improve social outcomes of students with disabilities in high school and beyond. College & Career Readiness Conference. Wisconsin Dells, WI. (November 2013).
  16. Lyons, G., Dietmeier, J., Lequia, J., & Cooney, M. Improving relationships and learning of students with disabilities in general education contexts through peer supports and peer networks. 2013 Wisconsin’s 20th Annual Inclusion Institute. Wausau, WI. (July 2013).
  17. Lequia, J. & Heim, J. Behavioral health clinic for Waisman Center. UCEDD LEND Poster Session. Madison, WI. (May 2013).
  18. Lequia, J. Improving transitions in students with autism: An evaluation of interventions in educational settings. AERA Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. (April/May 2013).
  19. Lequia, J. Teacher preparation on evidence-based practices for students with autism spectrum disorders. Panelist at the WI DPI PST/Autism COP ASD/DD. Pewaukee, WI. (February 2013).
  20. Kim, S., Lyons, G., Lequia, J., Kulkarni, S., & Trainor, A. Unstructured to structured setting generalization of peer-mediated pivotal response treatment in an inclusive school. 38th Annual ABAI Conference. Seattle, WA. (May 2012).
  21. Lyons, G., Machalicek, W., Lequia, J., & Kim, S. A Meta-Analysis of Classroom-Based Interventions to Address Challenging Behaviors in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. 38th Annual ABAI Conference. Seattle, WA. (May 2012).
  22. Lequia, J., Machalicek, W., & Rispoli, M. Effects of activity schedules on challenging behavior in children with ASD. 38th Annual ABAI Conference. Seattle, WA. (May 2012).
  23. Lequia, J., Machalicek, W., & Lyons, G. Making positive changes together: Educational intervention for parents of children with autism and developmental disabilities. Poster session at Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Conference. Bloomingdale, IL. (October 2011).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapters

  1. Wilkerson, K. & Lequia, J. (2015). Maximizing the benefits of small group instruction. In K. R. Harris & L. Meltzer (Eds.). The Power of Peers: Enhancing Learning, Development and Relationships. New York: Guilford Press.
  2. Machalicek, W., Didden, R., Lang, R., Green, V., Lequia, J., Sigafoos, J., Lancioni, G., & O’Reilly, M.F. (2013). Parent and sibling interventions. To appear in P. Sturmey, J. Tarbox, D. Dixon, & J. L. Matson (Eds.). Handbook of Early Intervention and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Journal Articles

  1. Kim, S., Yan, M., Wang, J., & Lequia, J. (2021). School outcomes of students with and at-risk for disabilities in poverty: An evaluation of school-based interventions in the United States. Journal of International Special Needs Education, 24(2), 50–65.
  2. Lequia, J. (2018). Social acceptance and paraprofessional support for students with severe disabilities. International Journal of Special Education, 33, 330-342.
  3. Kim, S., Lyons, G., Lequia, J., & Kulkarni, S. (2017). Preliminary study of social skills generalization with Pivotal Response Treatment. International Journal of Special Education, 32, 55-87.
  4. Asmus, J., Carter, E., …Lequia, J., et al. (2017). Efficacy and social validity of peer network interventions for high school students with severe disabilities. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 122, 118-137.
  5. Wilkerson, K., Afcan, K., Justin, W., Perzigian, A., & Lequia, J. (2016) Behavior-focused alternative schools: Impact on student outcomes. Behavioral Disorders, 41, 81-94.
  6. Carter, E., Asmus, J., …Lequia, J., et al. (2016). Randomized evaluation of peer support arrangements to support the inclusion of high school students with severe disabilities. Exceptional Children, 82, 209-233.
  7. Machalicek, W., Lequia, J., Pinkelman, S., Knowles, C., Raulston, T., Davis, T., & Alresheed, F. (2016). Behavioral telehealth consultation in family homes: An evaluation with families of children with autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral Interventions, 31, 223-250.
  8. Lequia, J., Wilkerson, K., Kim, S., & Lyons, G. (2014). Improving transition behaviors in students with autism spectrum disorders: A comprehensive evaluation of interventions in educational settings. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 17, 146-158.
  9. Lequia, J., Machalicek, W., & Lyons, G. (2013). Parent implemented homework intervention to decrease challenging behavior and improve task engagement for children with developmental disabilities. Behavioral Interventions, 28, 322-343.
  10. Lequia, J. (2011). Motivation, interest, and attention: Re-defining learning in the autism spectrum? International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 58, 405-408.
  11. Lequia, J., Machalicek, W., & Rispoli, M. (2011). Effects of activity schedules on challenging behavior exhibited in children with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 480-492.
  12. Lequia, J. (2011). Motivation, interest, and attention: Re-defining learning in the autism spectrum? International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 58, 405-408.
  13. Lequia, J., Machalicek, W., & Rispoli, M. (2011). Effects of activity schedules on challenging behavior exhibited in children with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 480-492.

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