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Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence

Leadership

Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
  • Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
  • Director, Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence
  • Professor, Farber Institute for Neurosciences
Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence

130 South 9th Street
6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107

At the Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence (JeffACE), we are committed to connecting and collaborating with our community. We believe that meaningful partnerships with families, neurodiverse individuals, clinicians, educators and community organizations are essential to conducting research that reflects real-world experiences and priorities.

Through active community engagement, we listen and learn from the diverse needs of the communities we serve. This shared understanding guides how we design and implement our research, ensuring that there is collaboration, and the knowledge and programs we generate are relevant, culturally responsive, and ready to be applied in ways that truly benefit the population while advancing a more inclusive and responsive system of care.

Consultation & Educational Services

The Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence (JeffACE) offers consultative services to support individuals and organizations seeking individualized guidance on autism-related and neurodiversity-affirming practices. Our team provides expert consultation in sensory integration and participation in daily routines, as well as friendly practices, and designing and developing multi-sensory environments and neurodiverse-friendly spaces using the most up to date evidence that promote inclusion, accessibility, and meaningful participation.

JeffACE is committed to building partnerships that foster supportive and inclusive experiences for autistic and neurodiverse individuals across a variety of settings, including healthcare, educational, workplace, and community environments.

In addition to consultation, JeffACE provides educational programs and training for organizations, schools, and companies seeking to expand their understanding of sensory needs and neurodivergent practices. Our educational initiatives aim to increase awareness, build capacity, and empower teams to create inclusive spaces that meet the diverse needs of children and adults.

We offer workshops and tailored trainings on topics such as:

  • Understanding sensory integration and its impact on learning, behavior, and participation
  • Implementing neurodiversity-affirming approaches in schools, workplaces, and community programs
  • Designing and maintaining multi-sensory environments that support participation in a variety of environments, engagement, and inclusion
  • Applying current, evidence-based practices to improve everyday participation and experiences

Through these educational efforts, JeffACE ensures that the most up to date, evidence informed knowledge is shared and applied in real-world settings to promote inclusion and improve quality of life for autistic and neurodiverse individuals.

For more information, please contact Lady.Rios-Vega@jefferson.edu.

JeffACE CARES Support Group 

We are proud to offer the new support group for families of autistic individuals called JeffACE CARES. Our objective is to connect with the autism community, and for them to connect with each other and to provide needed information and resources. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with other families of autistic persons, learn about autism from evidence-based sources, receive information about evaluation and treatment services and special events. The group will be offered online in English and Spanish to increase participation from diverse autistic communities. Please complete this survey to be connected to the support group (available in English and Spanish):

JeffACE CARES Support Group Survey
Spanish JeffACE CARES Support Group Zoom
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