ASD Researchers at UNC, Executive Committee

Executive Director, UNC TEACCH Autism Program

Laura Grofer Klinger, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, a tenured associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the UNC School of Medicine, and the executive director of the UNC TEACCH Autism Program.  She oversees TEACCH’s clinical services (seven regional centers, supported employment program, and the Carolina Living and Learning Center, an integrated vocational and residential program for adults), international training program, and its community-based research program.

Dr. Klinger serves on a variety of community advisory boards including Sesame Street (an initiative to increase ASD awareness), Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (supporting their development of an insurance policy for individuals with ASD), Government Accountability Office (adult transition), and Extraordinary Ventures (an employment program for adults with ASD). She consults with school systems and employment programs internationally about best practices for supporting the transition to adulthood including supports for employment and postsecondary education.

Her research includes the study of learning differences in individuals with ASD and the development of community-based intervention programs to promote successful adult outcomes. She is the Principal Investigator of a longitudinal study examining outcomes related to employment, quality of life, and aging in 25-60-year-old adults with ASD who were served by TEACCH during childhood. She is also the Principal Investigator of a school-based pilot intervention study examining the effectiveness of the TEACCH School Transition to Employment and Post-Secondary Education (T-STEP) Program.