Ya-Chih “Jilly” Chang, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Special Education and Counseling at California State University, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on social communication interventions with young children with autism and other developmental disabilities, the implementation of evidence-based interventions for young children with disabilities in inclusive settings, and community-partnered interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse children and families.
External Grants
Chang, Y.C. (PI), Kasari, C., & Shire, S. (Co-PIs). (2023-2028). Leaders in Multilingualism, Autism, and Early Childhood Supports, Training, and Research Opportunities (LMAESTRO). Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education (H325D230051). $3,750,000.
Kamei-Hannan, C. (PI), & Chang, Y.C. (Co-PI). (2023-2028). BIlingual Education Preparation and Network in Visual Impairment and Early Childhood Special EducatioN to Increase and Develop Optimal Supports in Language and Literacy (BIENVENIDOS). Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education (H325M230045). $1,250,000.
Chang, Y.C. (PI), Fryling, M. (Co-I). (2018-2023). Partners in Improving Social Communication in Early Childhood Special Education (PISCES). Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education (H325K180154). $1,250,000.
Chang, Y.C. (PI), Osipova, A. (Co-PI). (2022-2023). Improving and Reimagining Educational Approaches for Dyslexia (iREAD). California Commission on Teacher Credentialing- Dyslexia Grants to Preparation Programs. $14,000.
Selected Publications
Chang, Y.C., & Drescher, T. (2023). Addressing Attrition: Multi-level mentorship model. Journal of Special Education Preparation, 3(1), 68-75. DOI: 10.33043/JOSEP.3.1.68-75
Chang, Y.C., Hunt, N., & Dodds, R. (2023). Building Better Bridges: Perceptions of transition from early intervention programs to preschool from culturally and linguistically diverse parents, early interventionists, and preschool special educators. Infants and Young Children, 36(2), 164-174. DOI: 10.1097/IYC.0000000000000237
Chang, Y.C., Osipova, A., & Weinberg, L. (2023). Mentoring and Empowering Doctoral Students Through Collaborative Co-Teaching: Lessons from a joint doctoral program in special education. In B. Butler, A. Cuenca, and J. Ritter (Eds)., Pathways into teacher education: Profiles in emerging teacher educator development. Information Age Publishing.
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2023). Developmental Play Skills as Outcomes of Early Intervention. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 10.1007/s10803-023-06147-8
Chang, Y.C., Symon, J., & Fryling, M. (2023). Partners in Improving Social Communication in Children with Disabilities in Urban Early Childhood Settings. In D. Slanda and D. Pike (Eds)., Handbook of Research on Interdisciplinary Preparation for Equitable Special Education (pp. 177-197). IGI Global: Pennsylvania.
Dean, M., Chang, Y.C., Shih, W., Orlich, F., & Kasari, C. (2023). Social Engagement and Loneliness in School-Age Autistic Girls and Boys. Women’s Health, 19, 1-12. DOI: 10.1177/17455057231170973
Chang, Y.C., Avila, M.^, & Rodriguez, H.^ (2022). Beyond the Dotted Line: Empowering parent participation in culturally and linguistically diverse families. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 55(2),132-140. DOI: 10.1177/00400599221099868
Chang, Y.C., & Dean, M. (2022). Friendship Interventions and Measurements in Children with ASD: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2022.101947
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2022). Brief Report: An Exploratory Study of Young Dual Language Learners with Autism in a School-Based Intervention. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05765-y
Drescher, T., & Chang, Y.C. (2022). Benefits of Collaborative Teaching Models in Teacher Education Programs: Sharing disability knowledge and promoting inclusion. Teacher Development, 26(2), 151-165. DOI: 10.1080/13664530.2022.2032299
Seng, G.J., Chiu, Y.N., Tsai, W.C., Lin, H.Y., Li, S.C., Hsiao, M.N., Liu, T.J., Chen, H.M., Shih, A., Chang, Y.C., WHO CST Team, & Soong, W.T. (2022). Promotion and Implementation Effectiveness of World Health Organization’s Caregiver Skills Training Program in Taiwan. Frontiers in Psychiatry. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.904380
Dean, M., & Chang, Y.C. (2021). A Systematic Review of School-Based Social Skills Interventions and Observed Social Outcomes for Students with ASD in Inclusive Settings. Autism, 25(7), 1828-1843. DOI: 10.1177%2F13623613211012886
Shire, S., & Chang, Y.C. (2021). Coaching Supports for Early Interventionists: Enhancing Responsive Interactions for Social-Emotional Development of Children with Autism. Young Exceptional Children. DOI: 10.1177/10962506211028584
Shih, W., Shire, S. Y., Chang, Y. C., & Kasari, C. (2021). Joint engagement is a potential mechanism leading to increased initiations of joint attention and downstream effects on language: JASPER early intervention for children with ASD. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 62(10), 1228-1235. DOI:10.1111/jcpp.13405
Chang, Y.C., Menzies, H., & Osipova, A. (2020). Reading Comprehension Instruction for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Reading Teacher, 74(3), 255-264. DOI:10.1002/trtr.1929.
Chang, Y. C., & Shire, S. (2019). Promoting Play in Early Childhood Programs for Children With ASD: Strategies for Educators and Practitioners. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 52(2), 66-76. DOI: 10.1177/0040059919874305
Shire, S. Y., Shih, W., Chang, Y. C., Bracaglia, S., Kodjoe, M., & Kasari, C. (2019). Sustained Community Implementation of JASPER Intervention with Toddlers with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5), 1863-1875. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-03875-0
Saeki, E., Chang, Y.C., & Osipova, A. (2018). Parental involvement across the globe. School Psychology International, Online Special Issue, 1-24. Available online at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/spi/collections/special-issues/index
Chang, Y. C., Shih, W., Landa, R., Kaiser, A., & Kasari, C. (2017). Symbolic play in school-aged minimally-verbal children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(5), 1436-1445.
Chang, Y. C., Kamei-Hannan, C., O’Connor, K., & Toelle, N. (2017). Consultation and Collaboration. In C. Holbrook, C. Kamei-Hannan, & T. McCarthy (Eds). Foundations of Education (pp.386-399). New York, NY: AFB Press.
Chang, Y.C., & Locke, J. (2016). A systematic review of peer-mediated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 27, 1-10.
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., Gelfand, C., & Kasari, C. (2016). Preschool Deployment of Evidence-Based Social Communication Intervention: JASPER in the Classroom. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(6), 2211-2223.
Shire, S., Chang, Y.C., Shih, W., Bracaglia, S., Kodjoe, M., & Kasari, C. (2016). Hybrid implementation model of community partnered early intervention for toddlers with autism: A randomized trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(5), 612-622.
Shire, S. Y., Shih, W., Chang, Y. C., & Kasari, C. (2016). Short Play and Communication Evaluation: Teachers’ assessment of core social communication and play skills with young children with autism. Autism, 22(3), 299-310.
Chang, Y.C., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2015). Friendships in preschool children with ASD: What holds them back, child characteristics or teacher behavior? Autism, 1-10.
Selected Presentations
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2023, May). The Emergence of Joint Attention Skills in a Diverse Sample of Autistic Children. Poster presentation at the 22nd Annual International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
Chang, Y.C. (2023, March). Early Intervention. Invited speaker at the Autism Speaks National Pathways to Early Intervention and Support Event.
Chang, Y.C., Symon, J., Orta, C.*, Garcia, H.*, & Fryling, M. (2023, January). Interdisciplinary collaboration through a preservice training program in Autism Spectrum Disorders for Early Childhood Special Educators and Behavior Analysts: Exploring the process for meaningful outcomes. Poster presentation at the 21st Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Chang, Y.C., & Drescher, T. (2022, November). Strengthening the “Bridge” for Additional Demands: Preparing ECSE Teachers in Under-Resourced Classrooms. Conversation Tables at the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children in Richmond, Virginia.
Chang, Y.C., & Osipova, A. (2022, September). Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Early Literacy Instruction for Diverse Young Learners. Poster presentation at the International Society for Early Intervention in Chicago, Illinois.
Chang, Y.C., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2022, May). Social Engagement in Children with ASD in Inclusive Urban Classrooms. Poster presentation at the 21st Annual International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Conference in Austin, Texas.
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2022, April). Improving Developmental Play in Young Children with Autism. Poster presentation at the SRCD 2022 Special Topic Meeting: Learning through Play and Imagination: Expanding Perspectives, St. Louis, Missouri.
Chang, Y.C., Avila, M., & Rodriguez, H. (2022, January). Making Key Connections: Supporting Novice Teachers in Urban Communities. Poster Presentation at the 2022 CEC Convention and Expo, Orlando, Florida.
Chang, Y.C., & Hunt, N. (2022, January). Resilience in Challenging Times: Building Support Systems for Early Childhood Special Education Preservice Teachers. Poster Presentation at the 2022 CEC Convention and Expo, Orlando, Florida.
Chang, Y.C., & Avila, M. (2021, September). LMNOP: Leadership, Mentorship, and Network Opportunities for Preschool Teachers. Virtual poster presentation at the 37th Division of Early Childhood Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Chang, Y.C., Symon, J., & Fryling, M. (2021, July). A collaboration model: ECSE teachers and Behavior Analysts in urban communities. Virtual presentation at the 2021 OSEP Leadership & Project Directors' Conference.
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2021, May). Play Diversity and Complexity in Diverse Young Children with Autism. Virtual poster presentation at the 20th Annual International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Conference.
Chang, Y.C., Osipova, A., Hunt, N., *Larios, R., & *Oropollo, M. (2020, February). Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Experiences of pre-service early childhood special education teaches in inclusive classroom settings. Poster presentation at the 2020 CEC Convention and Expo, Portland, Oregon.
Chang, Y.C., Shire, S., Shih, W., Kasari, C. (2019, May). Joint Engagement in Minimal Verbal Children with Autism. Poster presentation at the 18th Annual International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Conference, Montreal, Canada.
Chang, Y.C. (2019, April). Learning to Play, Playing to Learn!: Using the JASPER model in the classroom to increase engagement and social communication in children with ASD. Invited presentation at the Center for Autism Related Disabilities 13th Annual Statewide Conference, Albany, New York.
Chang, Y. C., & Hunt, N. (2019, March). Building better bridges: Perceptions of early intervention transitions from parents, early interventionists, and special educators. Poster presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2012 Ph.D., Education, University of California, Los Angeles
2009 M.A., Education, University of California, Los Angeles
2005 B.A., Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles