Research
Close the Gap between Research and Practice
Web and curriculum based assessment Lab Projects and News Meet the IDEA Team
Web and curriculum based assessment
The Research has been helping to advance understanding of autism
by pursuing and funding research on its cause, diagnosis,
assessment, and treatment. The lab’s main goal is to promote the
equity of medical and educational resources through the use of
data-based technology. Specifically, it aims at providing and
equalizing high-quality resources for the diagnosis, assessment,
and intervention of ASD with the help of data-driven AI and 5G
technology.
Currently, its research is on the AI-assisted early screening and
diagnosis, the web-based curriculum-based assessment and
databases, and technology-assisted delivery of effective treatment
and teleconsultation services.
The research of the lab may propose large-scale solution to the
diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of ASD in China. It might
also facilitate further inter-disciplinary research on the causes
of ASD through the creation of a database for young children with
autism diagnosis.
Lab Projects and News
1. The Web-based VB-MAPP Assessment and Database
Project Title: Promoting the Use of Web-based VB-MAPP in China: Some Preliminary Findings
Currently, this objective of this project is to picture the use of
web-based VB-MAPP in China, the images of Chinese assessors and
caregivers, and the changing distribution of assessment resources.
With further data collection and analysis, it will explore the
correlations between (1) fertile age and ASD diagnosis in China
and (2) children’s performances in different skill milestones.
2. The Use of Teleconsultation for Professional Training
Project Title: The Use of Teleconsultation for Professional Training in China: The Need of Caregivers and Teachers
This is an investigation of the emotional and professional needs
of caregivers and special education teachers. Through the use of
survey and psychology scales, the project aims at depicting the
current level of social support for caregivers, the level of
stress of caregivers, and the quality of existing professional
trainings for teachers.
3. The Pace of Instruction in Treatment
Project Title: The Effects of Two Teacher Presentation Rates on Responding During Easy and Hard Tasks for Children at Risk for or with ASD.
The purpose of this project is to investigate the correlation between the pace of instruction and
(1) the accuracy of responding,
(2) the occurrence of disruptive behaviors. With the use of an alternating treatment embedded in ABAB without baseline design, this study is a partial replication and an extension of Roxburgh’s and Carbone’s research in 2012.
Meet the IDEA Team 
Ziwei Xu 
Xiaoyan Fang 
Lifang Li 
Peiling Li 
Youruo Ma 
Zijun Ren 
Lijin Su 
Xuegang Wang 
Zhen Wang 
Yi Wei 
Xi Yu 
Kaiwen Zhu
Ziwei Xu Ph.D., BCBA-D
Primary Investigator
Dr. Xu is the academic director of the Autism Initiative Program
at the Institute for Accessibility Development, Tsinghua
University. She has been dedicating to solving the training
deficits in the areas of applied behavior analysis and
evidence-based practices for individuals with autism.
Dr. Xu holds a Ph.D. in special education from the Ohio State
University and specializes in effective assessment and instruction
based upon Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior, development of
training curricula that utilize the application of applied
behavior analysis, and teleconsultation for professionals and
parents. Dr. Xu cherishes interdisciplinary scientific
cooperation.
Email address: xuziwei@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
Team members are listed in alphabetical order.
Xiaoyan Fang Clinical Director in North China
Xiaoyan Fang joined the lab in 2019. She is in charge of providing
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services to individuals with
special needs, supervising the work of teachers and overseeing the
treatment effects. Xiaoyan is also responsible for providing
consultation and training to professionals and parents.
Xiaoyan holds a Master’s degree of Applied Behavior Analysis from
University of Missouri.
Lifang Li Speech-Language Therapy Clinical Supervisor
Lifang Li joined the lab in 2018. She is in charge of the
assessment, curriculum design, and the treatment of children with
language disabilities. She is also responsible for the research of
the treatment or therapy for children with linguistic barriers.
Lifang holds a bachelor degree from the Wenzhou Medical
University.
Peiling Li Clinical Director in South China
Peiling Li joined the lab in 2020. She is in charge of providing
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services to individuals with
special needs, supervising the work of teachers and overseeing the
treatment effects. Peiling is also responsible for providing
consultation and training to professionals and parents.
Peiling holds a Master’s degree of Education from University of
Massachusetts Boston and a double Master’s degree of Applied
Psychology from Southwest University.
Youruo Ma ME
Research Associate
Youruo Ma joined the lab in 2019 to assist the team in its
research on the use of web-based VB-MAPP. She studies the
correlation between various types of data, including the
children’s performances across different milestones.
Ma holds a Master’s degree in early childhood education from the
Teachers College, Columbia University.
Zijun Ren MS
Research Assistant
Zijun Ren joined the lab in 2020 to assist the team in its
research on teleconsultation for teachers and caregivers. She
studies the emotional and professional impact of teleconsultation
on caregivers.
Ren holds a Master’s degree in psychological research from the
University of Edinburgh.
Lijin Su Research Assistant
Lijin Su joined the lab on 2020 to assist the team in its research
on teleconsultation of teachers and caregivers. She is mainly
responsible for collecting data on teachers and caregivers, as
well as assisting the development of data system.
Lijin holds a Master’s degree in Intervention in Childhood from
the Jönköping University.
Xuegang Wang BCaBA
Director of Training and Development
Director of Training and Development
Xuegang Wang joined the lab in 2017. He is mainly responsible for
the professional development of teachers and assessors.
Specifically, he is in charge of the training of the application
of VB-MAPP assessment for young children with ASD.
Xuegang holds a bachelor degree from the Liaoning Normal
University.
Zhen Wang BCaBA
Chief Clinical Officer
Zhen Wang joined the lab in 2018. He has been working in the field
for 17 years as an experienced teacher and supervisor. He is
mainly responsible for supervising the work of D-level teachers
and overseeing the treatment effects. He is also in charge of the
curriculum design of supervised cases.
Zhen holds a bachelor degree from the Central Conservatory of
Music.
Yi Wei MA
Research Associate
Wei Yi joined the lab in 2020. She is mainly responsible for the
research of VB-MAPP online teaching courses, as well as the design
of ABA techniques related training videos. Yi is also in charge of
supervising the work of D-level teachers and overseeing the
treatment effects.
Yi holds a Master’s degree in special education (childhood level)
from the Teachers College, Columbia University.
Xi Yu Inclusive Education Clinical Supervisor
Xi Yu joined the lab at the beginning of 2019. She mainly bears
the duties of constructing the inclusive curriculum system and
supervising the teaching quality of Integration Program.
Xi holds a Master’s degree in Childhood Studies from Swansea
University in the United Kingdom.
Kaiwen Zhu MS
Research Assistant
Kaiwen Zhu joined the lab in 2019 to assist the team in its
research on teleconsultation for teachers and caregivers. He
studies the effectiveness of teleconsultation in the professional
training for teachers.
Zhu holds a Master’s degree in development, disorders and clinical
practice from the University of York.
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