Scarlet Hope for Autism: The Road to Excellence in Education (SHARE) 

New Jersey has the second highest rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the nation, with 1 in 35 children diagnosed. This project aims to address the significant disparity in access to resources and specialized services for children with ASD in the state.  

It is nationally recommended that educators of learners with ASD use instructional methods that are backed by research. However, there is a shortage of school-based professionals trained in effective interventions for this growing student population in underserved, ethnically diverse communities. This shortage creates a significant gap in service delivery and raises educational equity concerns for students and families.

Building on the existing partnership between the Douglas Disabilities Center and New Brunswick Public Schools, this project aims to expand the capacity of underserved school districts. By providing appropriate educational programs for students with ASD, this project will impact the shortage of school-based professionals trained in research-based practices for students with ASD in the New Brunswick School District.

Moreover, the project aims to increase the accessibility of highly qualified educators who implement evidence-based interventions to meet the unique needs of learners with ASD in underserved, ethnically diverse communities. This will be accomplished by training Rutgers students to deliver evidence-based instruction to learners with ASD and by creating training webinars that can be used by district trainers when delivering training to educational staff.