My research interests are focused on early indicators that may lead to an autism diagnosis, including sensory processing and communication differences. I am particularly interested in strengths-based parent education in relationship to screening, diagnosis, and early-intervention. As a research assistant in the Innovations in Neurodevelopmental Sensory Processing Research (insp!re) lab, I am working on a project that will use Respiratory Sinus Arrythmia (RSA) levels of both infants and caregivers to measure parent engagement and synchrony during early occupations (such as play, sleep, feeding, etc).
Prior to my time as a PhD student, I worked clinically as an occupational therapist in schools and for California Children’s Services for 4 years. During this time, I identified a need for more understanding of the parent and child relationship and how this impacts early occupation and development in young children with neurodevelopmental disorders. I am eager to explore this relationship, among many others, under the guidance of Dr. Baranek.
Gluck, S., Lillis, T. A., Aroor, K., Laine, C. M., & Karp, H. (2026). Longitudinal infant sleep monitoring using a sensor-enabled responsive bassinet: A population-scale feasibility study. Sensors, 26(13), 3990. https://doi.org/10.3390/s26133990 Show abstract
Sleep is crucial to infant development, and excessive sleep disturbances are associated with adverse outcomes for both infants and their caregivers. There is limited information on the longitudinal development of sleep (e.g., duration, fragmentation, etc.) from birth to 6 months of age. New technologies, which include real-time environmental sensing and responses, have the potential to overcome many of the traditional limitations on infant sleep monitoring. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing aggregated activity logs from a commercially available IoT (Internet of Things) bassinet to derive traditional sleep metrics (longest sleep stretch, total night sleep, and sleep efficiency), as well as novel metrics related to infant fussing and impacts of the bed’s ability to deliver responsive motion and sound. A total of 26,187 infants (1000–8000 per night) were included in this analysis. A data-driven approach was utilized to define the temporal boundaries of each night, divide each night into periods of sleep and fussing, and identify appropriate nights for inclusion. The derived data provide, in unprecedented resolution, a detailed longitudinal view of infant sleep in this specific population. Our results generally align with previous studies of traditional sleep metrics; however, they also demonstrate a methodological framework for descriptive or comparative monitoring of sleep and soothing, and uniquely characterize dyadic interactions that are not well-captured by traditional metrics. For example, the bassinet’s activity logs indicate not only the proportion of fussing episodes that are resolved without caregiver intervention (e.g., removal), but also reflect the delay between fussing and the need for caregiver intervention. Further evaluation of this sensor-enabled, responsive technology in relation to sleep and fussing is merited.
Keywords. infant; sleep; crying; longitudinal data collection; IoT bassinet
Sopkin, E., Teague, L., Gluck, S., Koenke, B., & Baranek, G. T. (2026). Occupational therapists’ perspectives on screening for autism in early intervention. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 19(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2025.2455623 Show abstract
Early signs of autism can be identified in children as young as 6–9 months; however, screening tools to identify characteristics of autism in young children are underutilized by pediatricians. This qualitative study aimed to 1) understand the role of occupational therapists (OTs) in early intervention teams when identifying and intervening with infants and toddlers demonstrating early markers of autism, and 2) determine the readiness and capability of OTs within early intervention to utilize autism screening tools in practice. Two semi-structured 90-minute focus groups were conducted with 13 OTs with current or past work experience in early intervention settings across Los Angeles, California. Participants expressed pride in their versatile role on early intervention teams; however, they had mixed feelings about the value of formal autism screening. Even when they were confident about their ability to detect early autism signs, participants cited numerous barriers related to knowledge of screening, stigma related to autism, and reliance on other providers such as pediatricians. These qualitative findings illuminate a need for mitigating expressed barriers to service delivery, bolstering education on screening procedures, and capitalizing on the adaptability of OTs in early intervention practice in order to advance the role of OTs in initiating the early autism screening process.
Keywords. Early intervention; screening; autism; occupational therapy; practitioner perspectives
Gluck, S., & Angell, A. M. (2025). Mothering a child with Down syndrome in 1950s America: A familial autoethnography. Disability & Society, 40(11), 3085–3103. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2025.2458008 Show abstract
This study drew on familial autoethnographic and narrative methodologies to analyze the lived experiences of a mother (Ruth), the first author’s grandmother, situated within the cultural and societal context of 1950s America, to understand the choice she made at that time to care for her son with Down syndrome rather than place him in an institution. This study sought to better understand the contextual factors that influenced this mother to make decisions outside of her cultural contexts, while also recognizing the cultural and personal factors that may support or enable such decisions. We then discuss how such factors may be relevant for contemporary contexts.
Keywords. Disability; lived experiences; narrative; familial autoethnography; motherhood; cultural context
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