News
Thu, 12/18/2025
How to manage alcohol intake this holiday season
Whether you’re interested in managing your health, avoiding additional stress, or just staying in control, these tips can help you and your guests manage your alcohol intake.
Wed, 12/17/2025
Grant to expand community-based research project focused on people with mobility disabilities
With new federal funding, a University of Kansas project is expanding access to exercise for people with disabilities. Life Span Institute researcher Lyndsie Koon says the community-based functional fitness program has shown strong results.
Tue, 12/16/2025
Study demonstrates potential predictive relationship between expected sensitivity to cannabis prices and increased future consumption
Young adults were relatively good at projecting their willingness to pay for cannabis in the future, the study found. Results improves scientific understanding of cannabis use, which researchers hope lead to targeted interventions.
Fri, 12/05/2025
KU graduate program inspires parent-child collaboration to make accessible toys
A teacher pursuing her master's degree in special education through KU's Project MounTaiN program inspired her son to make toys more accessible for children with disabilities after learning about assistive technology in her coursework.
Tue, 12/02/2025
KU part of collaborative grant to prepare new generation of special education leaders
The University of Kansas is part of the Collaborative Approaches to Impactful Special Education Leadership program, designed to enroll scholars with teaching experience who want to progress to leadership roles in research, teaching and serving students with disabilities.
Mon, 11/24/2025
KU advances tools and supports to improve postschool outcomes for students with disabilities with $1.8M federal grant
Continued funding for this work will "ensure that all of our shareholders, whether that be state-level personnel, local-level personnel, and/or students and youth with disabilities and their families, can really digest the work,” according to the primary investigator, Valerie Mazzotti, who is an affiliated researcher at the KU Center on Disabilities and KU distinguished professor of special education.
Mon, 11/17/2025
Parents of autistic children find training, support through online OASIS program
OASIS at the University of Kansas helps caregivers of autistic children learn evidence-based strategies founded on behavioral science, serving as a critical bridge between diagnosis and intervention.
Mon, 11/10/2025
Connecting Housing Policy to Violence Prevention: Insights from KU’s Center for Community Health and Development and Community Partners
KKFI 90.1’s She Talk Wha? featured a powerful conversation with Christina Holt, Assistant Director at KU’s Center for Community Health and Development; Zach Newby, Prevention Specialist at The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center; and Bre Kirkhart, Director of Housing and Economic Justice at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Together, they explored how housing policy plays a critical role in preventing sexual and domestic violence and shaping safer communities.
Mon, 11/10/2025
Researcher seeks to understand delays in language development
A research tool measuring how infants build communication skills into spoken language has been used for first time to study children with neurodivergent conditions. The new work by University of Kansas researcher Nancy Brady has been published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.
Mon, 11/03/2025
KU expanding program to bring students with disabilities to college, including to Wichita, Atchison
Researchers at KU have secured a grant to expand the Transition to Postsecondary Education program. The program helps bring students with disabilities to higher education, work toward career goals and meet in-demand jobs in their communities. The work will expand outreach to educators and families across Kansas and establish similar programs at WSU Tech and Benedictine College.
Thu, 10/23/2025
Intervention and assessment tools target overlooked area of literacy development
While literacy interventions tend to focus on word recognition challenges, language comprehension is an important component of reading comprehension.
Mon, 10/13/2025
6 ways technology tools can help Kansans live more independently
Assistive Technology for Kansans helps people with disabilities across Kansas access tools for safer, independent living. Whether you’ve wanted to try out tools to support independence but don't know how or you’re uncertain how devices can support your goals, ATK can help.
Tue, 10/07/2025
How understanding sensory differences can help parents support autistic children
Sensory inputs can create differences in children’s behavior compared to their neurotypical peers, which gradually shape the way they explore, learn, and connect with others over time, senior scientist Carissa Cascio explains.
Tue, 09/30/2025
KU lands grant to expand research including individuals with disabilities, creating new career pathways
The Kansas University Center on Disabilities has received a grant to help other universities adopt a model of research that includes individuals with disabilities as part of the entire research process. It will also create career pathways for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work in the research field.
Mon, 09/29/2025
Scientist to present latest research on alcohol and sexual assault
Researchers and professionals in substance use and sexual violence are welcome to attend virtually in person at the University of Kansas on Oct. 10 to hear Elizabeth Neilson, assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Wed, 09/24/2025
Using AAC with storytelling boosts literacy skills in proof-of-concept study
Children who depend on augmentative alternative communication (AAC) to communicate are usually encouraged to make requests rather than tell stories. However, narrative language skills are necessary for enhancing communication across social and educational contexts.
Wed, 09/24/2025
What is FAIR? An overview of an alternative to the 15 percent F&A cap
Earlier this year, the White House aimed to cut federal funding for scientific research by instituting a 15% cap on indirect costs. In response, a national group of university research representatives has developed the Financial Accountability in Research (FAIR) model as an alternative plan for funding indirect costs, which they...
Thu, 08/28/2025
Fair will offer opportunity to explore technology to increase accessibility, independence
The AT Fair on Sept. 9 in Topeka will feature hands-on demonstrations of technology to help Kansans with daily tasks, employment and recreation.
Tue, 08/12/2025
KU Life Span Institute Project Boosts Career and Community Transitions for Kansas Youth with Disabilities
KU disability research project aims to expand employment opportunities for youth transitioning from high school while strengthen community systems and supports across Kansas
Thu, 08/07/2025
Nancy Brady honored with ASHA’s highest award
The award is in honor of Nancy Brady's contributions in the field of speech-language-hearing, with much of her research focusing on pre-speech communication, language development, and interventions for individuals with developmental disabilites.
Mon, 08/04/2025
KU receives $1M to expand technology access for Kansans with disabilities
The state grant will support University of Kansas Life Span Institute research toward increasing independence, inclusion and quality of life for people with disabilities across Kansas.
Wed, 07/30/2025
'I’m striving to use innovative technologies to help educators support all students'
Some children struggle with social skills. Amber Rowland, associate research professor at the KU Life Span Institute and Achievement & Assessment Institute, developed virtual reality and artificial intelligence software, called VOISS and iKNOW, to help educators teach students social skills in a virtual space before going on to use those skills in real settings.
Wed, 07/23/2025
KU researcher advocates scientific framework to unlock music therapy’s full potential
Music therapy isn’t a “soft science,” according to KU Life Span Institute researcher Deanna Hanson-Abromeit, who advocates for wider adoption of her framework to evaluate and strengthen music therapy as a health intervention.
Sat, 07/19/2025
Q&A on literacy needs for autistic students
Researcher Meghan Davidson answers questions about the unique literacy challenges of autistic students, including the benefits of reading and particular challenges in comprehension
Fri, 07/18/2025
Explainer: Challenges in reading for autistic students
Autism spectrum disorder includes individuals with varying support needs, communicative abilities, and intelligence levels. However, autistic individuals of varying support levels and abilities face similar challenges in reading comprehension.
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...