News
Tue, 07/15/2025
Study examines early sensory processing and development in people with autism
A researcher from the University of Kansas Life Span Institute recently published a comprehensive review of differences in sensory processing for people with autism during the prenatal (in utero) and neonatal (birth to a few months old) phases of life.
Thu, 07/10/2025
Scientists earn national recognition for study on long COVID's effect on people with disabilities
Researchers at the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies documented how people with preexisting disabilities face more than double the risk of long COVID than double the general population.
Thu, 07/10/2025
Life Span Institute’s Five-Year Review Affirms Research Strengths, Impact
In early spring, the KU Office of Research convened a committee of faculty, staff and administration from the Life Span Institute and other KU units to evaluate the effectiveness of LSI in fulfilling its mission, review the center director’s leadership and identify challenges facing the center. ...
Tue, 07/01/2025
KU offers open access tools to grow health and well-being in communities worldwide
The Community Tool Box at KU's Life Span Institute offers open resources to help people take action, build a coalition, and enact change to help create a better world
Tue, 06/17/2025
Educating versus lobbying: Understanding the difference to advocate for your research
Over the past several months, several Life Span Institute researchers have reached out for guidance on advocating for their research at the federal level. Researchers and staff are among the best people to convey the impact of research, but it’s important to understand the distinction between educating elected representatives as...
Fri, 06/13/2025
Scientists call for renewed focus on in neglected area of developmental psychology
Publication summary: scientists assert the field has moved away from contingency learning too quickly, overlooking the potential to deepen understanding of early development.
Thu, 06/12/2025
Eating disorders lab gains new designation as a center with continued goal to help improve access to better health
Research at the Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE) aims to improve screening, intervention and treatment monitoring for eating disorders, which are both hard to detect and treat — especially across diverse populations.
Mon, 06/09/2025
KU scientists and center director among experts calling for revision of federal food and nutrition guidance during pregnancy
Should women stop eating fish while pregnant? While women often limit fish intake during pregnancy, experts warn this restricts nutrients vital for the developing fetus.
Thu, 05/22/2025
Perspective: To support autistic individuals with mental health challenges, support individual needs
Autistic teens and adults share firsthand strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges that commonly affect the autistic community.
Fri, 05/16/2025
Program to reduce youth violence sees its first class of college graduates
ThrYve has supported hundreds of students through the program out of the KU Center for Community Health & Development and is based on decades of research on reducing youth violence. “Our best indicators of success are our young people,” Jomella Watson-Thompson, ThrYve director, said.
Thu, 05/08/2025
KU researchers conducting statewide assessment to inform literacy improvement among Kansas students
KU researchers are working to address literacy challenges and needs in Kansas schools by visiting teachers and families across the state this spring as part of the Blueprint for Literacy.
Tue, 04/29/2025
Professional autism training program and director move to KU, with potential to meet autism screening needs nationwide
GAIN, a nationally recognized professional development program that aims to improve the accuracy, quality and accessibility of autism diagnoses for families, is now based at the University of Kansas and has the potential to expand autism screening in schools, mental health clinics and other settings.
Mon, 04/28/2025
KU Center for Community Health & Development chosen to partner with Kauffman Foundation to improve economic mobility
The Life Span Institute's center will serve as third-party evaluator to support the Kauffman Foundation's Collective Impact Initiative and will provide a wide variety of educational and action support for staff and coalition partners.
Thu, 04/17/2025
Disparities in Black maternal health fuel KU research project to find better ways to identify eating disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals
In an effort to improve healthcare disparities among Black and pregnant or postpartum individuals, Mari Thomeczek, a KU graduate student at the Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE) recently finished an important phase of work to improve eating disorder screening questions.
Thu, 04/03/2025
KU center to host premiere of film on empowering young adults with disabilities navigating transition to adulthood
The Kansas University Center on Disabilities will welcome the community to a viewing of the film "The Ride Ahead" with its director and star. The screening will take place April 28 at Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence.
Wed, 04/02/2025
National KU-based survey asks adults with disabilities to share their experiences to guide future research and policy
The 2025 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) collects information that informs and shapes policy. The survey is based at the University of Kansas.
Fri, 03/28/2025
Record-high research at KU benefits Kansans, fuels state economy
LAWRENCE — Research and development expenditures spanning all University of Kansas campuses increased to $546.1 million in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the half-billion-dollar mark for the first time in university history. This record high represents a 17% increase year over year and the ninth consecutive year of research growth for...
Thu, 03/20/2025
Disaster Strikes Fast — Here’s How People with Disabilities Can Stay Safe
People with disabilities face unique challenges during natural disasters like tornadoes, yet emergency planning often overlooks their needs. These essential preparedness tips, including how to build an emergency kit and ensure accessibility in shelters, can help you stay safe and ready when disaster strikes.
Fri, 03/07/2025
Experts in language promotion, structural biology and extinction receive KU Research Achievement Awards
The annual awards recognize outstanding unclassified academic staff, unclassified professional staff and postdoctoral fellows whose research significantly influenced their fields and expanded intellectual or societal insights.
Thu, 02/27/2025
KU Autism Conference Returns to Edwards Campus March 14
The Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART) will offer a one-day conference that brings together members of the autism community with researchers, clinicians, educators and students at the KU Edwards Campus March 14.
Mon, 02/24/2025
Report reveals high levels of added sugar in US infant formula despite medical recommendations
A study published today from the University of Kansas in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis shows most infant formulas on the U.S. market contain primarily added sugars rather than the healthier, naturally occurring lactose found in cow-milk base that would be best for babies because it’s closest to human breast milk.
Thu, 02/20/2025
Successful mobile phone intervention for eating disorders on college campuses will expand
The BEST-U program, an 11-week treatment underpinned by guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy, has shown “most participants were fully recovered from their eating disorder” during a pilot program at the University of Kansas.
Tue, 02/18/2025
KU researchers developing AI-boosted program to help teach writing skills to students with disabilities
A KU research team is developing and expanding Project AI-Score, a system that uses artificial intelligence technology to help instructors more efficiently teach writing to students with disabilities.
Wed, 01/29/2025
KU research team develops virtual reality, AI-boosted system to help students with autism improve social skills
A KU research team has secured funding to boost systems called iKNOW and VOISS to help students with autism spectrum disorder improve social skills in a school setting.
Tue, 01/28/2025
Book will guide teachers and child care providers in using the Pyramid Model
“Unpacking the Infant-Toddler Pyramid Model: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Providers," co-edited by researchers at the University of Kansas, is a guide for early childhood education professionals.
Thu, 01/09/2025
Reauthorization of Autism CARES Act to provide almost $2 billion for autism programs and research
Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training researchers explain how funding provided by the bill is essential to funding the new discoveries and to addressing the needs of the autism community in Kansas and across the U.S.
Mon, 12/16/2024
Study examines how culture, family and identity shape body image challenges for Hispanic women
Better understanding of eating disorders is necessary to both identification and development of effective treatment, but the Latina demographic has historically been underrepresented in research.
Wed, 12/11/2024
Understudied but ‘significant public health issue’ FXTAS is focus of first-of-its-kind research at KU
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome may be more common than people realize because it looks so much like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. Some physicians may even be unaware of the condition.
Thu, 12/05/2024
Douglas County tenant survey explores intersections of income, housing and violence
KU project documents the experiences of 1,051 Douglas County tenants to help the community understand how the experiences of people facing housing insecurity.
Mon, 11/25/2024
Project to document medical ableism experienced by people with disabilities
A new project at the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies (IHDPS) at the KU Life Span Institute aims to examine how health care challenges rooted in prejudices, known as medical ableism, affect people with disabilities.