Personal Information

Education

M.S., 1989, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Speech and Hearing Sciences

B.S., 1972, George Peabody College
Psychology and Special Education

University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, 1968-1970
 

Employment History

Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
December 1, 1991-November 30, 1994

Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
September, 1990-November 30, 1991

Speech/Language Pathologist
Specialized Services for Children
Raleigh, NC
January, 1990-June, 1990

Project Coordinator
TEACCH Demonstration Preschool
Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
October, l985-September, 1988
 
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division TEACCH
UNC-CH
September, l982-September, 1985
 
Research Associate
Division TEACCH
UNC-CH
February, l981-July, 1982

Visiting Instructor
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
UNC-CH
Fall, 1980

Adjunct Faculty
Graduate Program in Special Education
Lesley College, Cambridge, MA
1977-1978

Research Assistant
Department of Reading and Language
Boston University, Boston, MA
1976-1977

Teaching/Research Assistant
Department of Special Education
Boston University, 1973-1975

Research Assistant
Toddler Research and Intervention Project
George Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee
1971-1973
 

Certification/Licensure

North Carolina State Licensure
State License No. 2418
 

Professional Societies

Service

Professional Service

 Filomena Ramos, Doctoral Student, Institute of Education, Stockholm, Sweden, June,   1996

 Katrina Takayama, Speech Pathologist, Perth, Australia, November, 1996
 
Consultant
 Medical College of Georgia, Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Autism Evaluation Team, Augusta,             Georgia, 1999

 Northside Readiness School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1985-1986

 Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, Norfolk, Virginia, 1984-1985

 Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, UNC-CH, 1979-1980
 
 Lesley College summer program for special needs children,1977

Reviewer
 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1980-present

 Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 1988-1992

Conferences and Conventions
 Session chair, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, 1992, 1994,  1995, 1996

 Volunteer/session chair, North Carolina Speech-Hearing-Language Association, 1993-1998.
 
Program Coordinator, Second Annual Boston University Conference on Language  Development, 1977
Publicity Coordinator, First Annual Boston University Conference on Language  Development, 1976

Public Service

Member of the Orange County Partnerships for Young Children with Special Needs Collaborative, 1996

Orange County Preschool Interagency Council (OCPIC)
 Member, 1990-1996
 Secretary, 1991-1993
 Finance Committee Chair, 1992-1996
 Child Find Committee, 1993-1996

“Communication and autism.” Presentation and discussion at the Chapel Hill Area Local Unit of the Autism Society of North Carolina, 9/22/97

"Preschool speech and language services."  Presentation to Meridian Sertoma Club, Chapel Hill, NC, 5/11/94.

"Language, speech and hearing development and screening."  Presentation to child care providers attending inservice training in Hillsborough, NC, 10/28/93.

Staffed booth on preschool services at Early Intervention Fair, UNC Hospitals, 10/14/93.

"Preschool speech and language services."  Presentation to Tarheel Sertoma Club, Chapel Hill, NC 5/25/93.

"Technology for augmentative communication."  Presentation to TEACCH Mothers' Group, Chapel Hill, NC, 2/22/93.

"Facilitating communication in young children with autism."  Presentation to parent group affiliated with TEACCH Division, Chapel Hill, NC, 11/15/91.

"Speech-language pathology and audiology services."  Presentation to Kiwanis Club, Hillsborough, NC, 11/20/90.
 

Grants Funded

"Communication between Mothers and Autistic Preschoolers."  Frank Porter Graham Innovative Research Award, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, UNC-CH ($4,200; November 1, 1988-October 30, 1989).  Co-principal investigator.

"TEACCH Demonstration Preschool."  Funded by Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, Grant #G008530220 ($263,000; October 1, 1985-September 30, 1988).  Co-author and project coordinator.

"Variables Affecting Parents' Speech to Autistic Children."  Individual National Research Service Award, National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Grant #5 F32 MH08708-02 ($32,000; September 1, 1982-May 16, 1985).  Author and awardee.
 

Committees

Other Administrative Activities

Coordinator of Language Preschool
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, UNC-CH
1990-present

Coordinator of Speech-Language Pathology Services
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, UNC-CH
1994-1997

Coordinator of Speech Services
Piedmont Rehabilitation Services, Hillsborough, NC
1990-1993
 

Teaching Responsibility

Courses

Co-instructor, SPHS 264, Language Impairments in Children, spring semester 1996-present. Co-taught with Elizabeth Crais, Ph.D. Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences. Instructor, spring semester, 1994.

Co-instructor SPHS 302, Problems in Speech and Hearing (The Supervisory Process), spring semester, 1991-1995.  Course coordinator, 1994.

Mini-course on "Autism in Young Children" developed and taught in fall, 1993, to graduate students in DSHS.  Four class sequence.

Lectures

 "Autism."  SPHS 315, Audiology for Special Populations, 1994, 1995. SPHS 306 Clinical Practicum in Audiology, 1997, 1998.

 "Emergent literacy."  SPHS 163, Language Assessment and Management, 1992, 1993.

 "Designing preschool programs for children with language impairments."  SPHS 163,  Language Assessment and Management, 1993.
 
 "Cognitive development and play."  SPHS 302, Communication Assessment and  Management for Two- to Five-Year-Old Children with Disabilities", 1991, 1992.

 "Early lexical development."  SPHS 162, Language  Acquisition, 1991.

 Five class sequence on topics of "Pragmatic development" and "Adult-child interaction."   SPHS 162, Language Acquisition, 1991.

Guest Lecturer, School of Education, UNC-CH
 “Communication disorders in children.” EDSP 130, Introduction to Exceptional Children, Summer, Fall, 1998, Spring, 1999.

Guest Lecturer, Division of Occupational Sciences, UNC-CH
 “Communication and young children with autism.” OCCT 284, OT and Children II. 1998.

Guest Lecturer, Leisure Studies and Recreation Administration, UNC-CH
 “Communication and children with autism.” LSRA 199, Project Autism: Recreation and Play for Persons with Autism in School and Community Settings. Spring, 1998, 1999.

Guest Lecturer, Departments of Psychology and Special Education, UNC-CH, 1983-1987

Clinical Teaching

 DSHS Clinic, in addition to Language Preschool--1 to 3 hours per week of clinical services, 1 to 3 graduate students per semester.  1/2 to 2 hours/week of supervisory conferences. Spring, 1991-present.

 TEACCH Preschool--3 hours of clinical service per week, 1 graduate student per semester; approximately 1 hour/week of supervisory conferences; fall, 1993-spring, 1995. 6 hours of clinical service per week, 2 graduate student per semester; fall, 1997-spring, 1998.

 Piedmont Rehabilitation Services--8 to 10 hours per week of clinical service (including 8 hours per week under contract to Orange County Schools), 1 graduate student per semester.  Approximately 1 hour/week of supervisory conferences.  Spring, 1991-Spring, 1993.

Continuing Education Lectures

“Coordination of school and home programs for communication skills.” Panel presentation by S. Boswell, D. Odum, T. Goodman and L. Watson, TEACCH Winter Inservice, Chapel Hill, NC, 1/29/98.

“Communication intervention for young children with autism.” Presentation to early interventionists in Wake County, Raleigh, NC 1/9/98.

“Communication assessment and intervention with preverbal/low verbal children with autism.” Presentation to speech-language pathologists and special education teachers in the Wake County Public School System, Raleigh, NC, 11/12/97.

“Autism in young children:  Implications for communication intervention. One day Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC) workshop, Hickory, NC 10/14/97.

“Autism in young children:  Implications for communication intervention.  1/2 day Greensboro AHEC workshop, Greenboro, NC 11/10/95.

“Beyond the beginning:  Teaching communication to higher functioning preschool children with autism.”  TEACCH Winter Inservice, Durham, NC.

"Autism in young children:  Implications for communication intervention.  One-day Area L AHEC workshop, Tarboro, NC, 1/25/93.

Student Preceptor

Masters' theses committee member:
 Krista Stewart, 1998-1999
 Cara Lento, 1997-1998
 Christina Berlardi, 1996-1997
 Diane Day, 1996-1997
 Cheryl Cox, 1995-1996
 Jennifer Lane, 1994-1995
 John Cook, 1994-1995
 Tracie Lynn Gaia, 1993-1994
 Karen E. Poole, 1993-1994
 Jennifer Twachtman, 1991-1992
 Svanhildur Svavarsdottir, 1991-1992

Independent study supervisor:
 Sarah Andrews, Ashley Frazier, Pamela Krasny, Ginny Smith, Summer, 1997. “Autism.”

 Judy Gehrig, continuing studies student, Fall, 1995: “Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome”

 Sarah Andrews, undergraduate in Psychology, Spring & Fall, 1994: “Communication and  Play in Children with Autism”

 Svanhildur Svavarsdottir, Master's student, DSHS, Spring, 1992:  “Conductive  Education”

Mentor for speech-language pathology students completing clinical projects in early intervention:
 Mary Dee Andrews, 1994-1995
 Hallie Lormand, 1994-1995
 Jenny Steben, 1994-1995
 Laura Ward, 1993-1994
 Margaret Lanning, 1992-1993
 Jennifer Twachtman, 1991-1992
 Linzy Abraham, 1991-1992
 Marsha Kann, 1991-1992
 Chris Brouillard, 1991-1992
 

Publications

Refereed Journals

Roberts, J. E., Crais, E., Layton, T., Watson, L. & Reinhartsen, D. (1995).  Developing an early intervention preservice specialization in speech-language pathology. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 4, 31-36.
 
Watson, L. R., Layton, T. L., Pierce, P. L. & Abraham, L. M. (1994). Enhancing emerging literacy in a language preschool.  Language, Speech and Hearing Services in the Schools, 25, 136-145.

Dawson, G., Hill, D., Spencer, A., Galpert, L., & Watson, L. (1990). Affective exchanges between young autistic children and their mothers.  Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18, 335-345.

Watson, L. R., Martin, J., & Schaffer, B. (1986).  Form, content, and function of the spontaneous communication of autistic students. Australian Journal of Human Communication Disorders, 14, 91-102.

Watson, L. R., & Lord, C. (1982).  Developing a social communication curriculum for autistic students.  Topics in Language Disorders, 3(1), l-9.

Non-refereed Journals

Ludington, J., Harris, H., Hooper, C., Ringwalt, S., & Watson, L. (1992).  Sample journal questions for supervision course participants.  SUPERvision, 16, 8.

Stokes, W. T., & Watson, L. R. (1974).  Psycholinguistics and deafness:  An annotated bibliography.  Journal of Education, 156, 52-62.

Bricker, D., Dennison, L., Watson, L., & Vincent-Smith, L. (1973). Language training program for young developmentally delayed children.  Vol. 2:  Training the basic actor-action-object proposition.  IMRID Behavioral Science Monographs, No. 22, George Peabody College for Teachers.

Watson, L., & Bricker, D.  (1973).  Syntax assessment.  In D. Bricker & W. Bricker, Infant, Toddler and Preschool Research and Intervention Project Report--Year III.  IMRID Behavioral Science Monographs, No. 23, 93-101.  George Peabody College for Teachers.
 
Bricker, D., Smith, L., Freck, T., & Ritchie (Watson), L. (1971). Two training procedures for facilitating the acquisition of receptive vocabulary in developmentally delayed toddlers. In D. Bricker & W. Bricker, Toddler Research and Intervention Project Report--Year I.  IMRID Behavioral Science Monographs, No. 20, 71-77.  George Peabody College forTeachers.
 
Bricker, D., Smith, L., Ritchie (Watson), L. & Freck, T. (1971).  A further comparison of training procedures to facilitate the acquisition of receptive vocabulary in delayed toddlers.  In D. Bricker & W. Bricker, Toddler Research and Intervention Project Report-Year I.  IMRID  Behavioral Science Monographs, No. 20, 77-80.  George Peabody College for Teachers.

Books and Book Chapters

Watson, L. R.,  Crais, E. R. & Layton, T. L. (Eds.) (In press).  Handbook of early language impairments: Assessment and treatment.  Albany, NY:  Delmar.

Watson, L. R., & Ozonoff, S. (in press).  Pervasive developmental disorders.  Layton, T. L., Watson, L. R., & Crais, E.  (Eds.), Handbook of early language impairments: Nature.  Albany, NY:  Delmar.

Layton, T. L. & Watson, L. R. (1995).  Enhancing communication in nonverbal children with autism.  In K. A. Quill (Ed.), Teaching children with autism:  Strategies to enhance communication and socialization (pp. 73-103).  New York:  Delmar.

Watson, L. R., Lord, C., Schaffer, B., & Schopler, E.  (1989). Teaching spontaneous communication to autistic and developmentally handicapped children.  Austin, TX:  Pro-Ed. (Italian translation, 1997: La comunicazione spontanea nell’autismo. Trento, Italy: Erickson. Translated by Enrico Micheli and Silvia Crippa.)

Watson, L. R. (1989).  Language and communication therapy.  In Treatments of psychiatric disorders:  A task force report of the American Psychiatric  Association.  Section II:  Pervasive developmental disorders (pp. 201-216). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Watson, L. R., & Marcus, L. M.  (1988).  Diagnosis and assessment of preschool children.  In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), Diagnosis and assessment in autism (pp. 271-301).  New  York: Plenum.

Watson, L. R. (1987).  Pragmatic abilities and disabilities of autistic children.  In T. L. Layton (Ed.), Language and treatment of autistic and developmentally disordered children (pp. 89-127).  Springfield, IL:  Charles C.Thomas.

Watson, L. R.  (1985).  The TEACCH communication curriculum.  In E. Schopler and G. Mesibov (Eds.), Communication problems in autism (pp. 187-206).  New York:  Plenum Press.

Watson, L. R.  (1978).  Conversational participation by language deficient and normal children.  In J. Andrews & M. Burns (Eds.), Selected papers in language and phonology II:  Remediation of language disorders (pp. 104-109).  Evanston, IL:  Institute of Continuing Professional Education.

Book Reviews

Watson, L. R. (1991).  (Review of How to prepare for the NESPA.)  SUPERvision, 15,(3), 6-7.

Donahue, M., & Watson, L. R. (1990).  (Review of Language perspectives: Acquisition, retardation, intervention). American Journal of Mental Retardation, 94, 567-574.

Watson, L. R. (1983).  (Review of How to teach sign language to developmentally disabled children).  Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 13, 444-445.
 

Presentations

Papers

Watson, L. R., & DiLavore, P. C. (1998, December). Assessment of communication and social development in young children with autism spectrum disorders. 10th Annual Leo M. Croghan Conference on Developmental Disabilities, Raleigh, NC.

Watson, L. R. (1998, November). Communication and literacy links for young children with autism and related disorders. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, San Antonio, TX.

Tyson, E. & Watson, L. R. (1997, April). The effects of repeated readings on communicative behaviors in young children with autism.  North Carolina Speech-Hearing-Language Association, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Watson, L. R., Andrews, M. D. & Orovitz, J. (1996, November).  Emergent literacy in children with autism vs. typical development.  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Seattle, WA.

Watson, L. R., Orovitz, J. & Andrews, M. D. (1996, November).  Survey of preschoolers’ emergent literacy environments and skills.  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Seattle, WA.

Andrews, M. D. & Watson, L. R. (1995, December).  A survey of emerging literacy skills and experiences in preschoolers with autism.  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Orlando, FL.

Watson, L. R. (1994, November).  Following the child's lead: Mothers' interactions with children with autism.  Paper presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, New Orleans, LA.

Layton, T. L. & Watson, L. R.  (1994, November).  Enhancing communication in young nonverbal children with autism. Miniseminar presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, New Orleans, LA.

Watson, L. R. (1994, April).  Following the child's lead:  Mothers' interactions with children with autism.  Paper  presented at annual convention of the North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association, Asheville, NC.

Watson, L. R. & Ward, L. E. (1994, April).  Clinical implications of hyperlexia in children with autism.  Miniseminar presented at the annual convention of the North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association, Asheville, NC.

Watson, L. R., Coleman, P., & Layton, T. L. (1991, November).  Facilitating emergent literacy in a language preschool. Miniseminar presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Bristol, M., Mates, T., Watson, L. R., & DiLavore, P.  (1988, July).  Strategies for promoting competence in preschool children with autism.  Paper presented at the meeting of the Autism Society of America, New Orleans, LA.

Olley, J. G., & Watson, L. R. (1986, May).  Developing a public school based model for preschool education for children with autism.  Paper presented  at the meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Milwaukee, WI.

Watson, L. R.  (1977, November).  Conversational participation by language deficient and normal children.  Paper presented at the American Speech and Hearing Association Convention, Chicago, IL.

Donahue, M. L., & Watson, L. R. (1976, October).  How to get some action. Paper presented at the First Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development, Boston, MA.

Panels

Workshops and Invited Presentations

Watson, L. R. (1999, March). Communication intervention for young children with autism. National Teachers’ College of Hualien, Taiwan.

Watson, L. R. (1999, March). Communication and diagnosis of autism. International Seminar on Autism, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Watson, L. R. (1999, March). Communication and classroom structure. International Seminar on Autism, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Watson, L. R. (1999, March). Parent-professional collaboration in communication intervention. International Seminar on Autism, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Watson, L. R. (1999, March). Communication and classroom structure. Kaohsiung Municipal Cheng-Kung Developmental Disabilities School, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Watson, L. R. (1998, May). Pervasive developmental disorders. 13th Annual Dewar Holmes Lectureship in Communicative Disorders, Charleston, SC.

Watson, L. R. (1998, April). Communication and literacy links for young children with autism and related disorders. Presented at The Child with Special Needs Preconference on Autism, Anaheim, CA.

Watson, L. R. (1997, October). Emergent literacy and hyperlexia in young children with pervasive developmental disorder. Presented in conjunction with grant, “Training Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Intervention with Children with Autism and Children with Hearing Loss.” Graham, NC.

Watson, L. R. (1997, August). Communication assessment and intervention with preverbal/low verbal children with autism. Presented in conjunction with grant, “Training Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Intervention with Children with Autism and Children with Hearing Loss.” UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC.

Watson, L. R. (1996, May).  Teaching spontaneous communication to children with autism and related disorders.  Presented at The Child with Special Needs Preconference on Autism, Washington, DC.

Watson, L. R. (1996, November).  Teaching spontaneous communication to children with autism.  One-day workshop presented for the NSSLHA Symposium, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA.

Watson, L. R. (1996, October).  Literacy and communication:  Two pieces to put together.  The Annual Meeting of the Autism Society of North Carolina, Durham, NC.

Watson, L. R. & Ward, L. (1994, June).  Clinical implications of hyperlexia in preschool children with autism.  The Fourth Annual Symposium on Literacy and Developmental Disabilities, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Watson, L. R. & Pierce, P.  (1993, August).  Facilitating emergent literacy in preschoolers with speech and language impairments.  Workshop presented at the 11th Annual Special Education Institute, Southern Pines, NC.

Watson, L. R. & Coleman, P. (1992, April).  Facilitating emergent literacy in preschoolers with language impairments. Workshop sponsored by Information, Please, Secacus, NJ.

Watson, L. R. (1984, May).  The TEACCH approach.  Institute on Communication Skills of Autistic Youth.  Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Watson, L. R. (1984, May).  A communication curriculum for individuals with autism.  Paper presented at the Virginia Department of Education Workshop for Teachers of Individuals with Autism, Williamsburg, VA.

Watson, L. R. (1983, May).  The TEACCH communication curriculum. Paper presented at the 4th Annual TEACCH Conference, "Communication Problems in Autism," Chapel Hill, NC.

Watson, L. R. (1978, April).  Repetitions in adults' speech to children.  Paper presented at the Conference on Classroom Communication, Clark University, Worcester, MA.
 

Special Honors and Awards

NCASSPA (North Carolina Association of Supervisors in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology) “Supervisor of the Year” Award, 1995

Individual National Research Service Award, National Institute of Mental Health, #MH08708, 9/82 - 5/85

Graduated with Honors, George Peabody College, 1972

Outstanding Undergraduate Psychology Major, George Peabody College, 1972
 

Last edited 8/20/99

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