Research & Publications

Dr. Ko’s research has focused on improving social and communication outcomes for ASD throughout the pediatric lifespan (from toddlers at risk for ASD to autistic young adults) through the development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based interventions. Her research has placed emphasis on early interventions that support social, language, and play development, as well as programs that address social skills during adolescence. Her work has also bridged clinical research and community practice, aiming to translate effective interventions to home and community settings to enhance the real-world impact.

Selected Publications & Presentations

  • Rieth, S. R., Dickson, K. S., Ko, J., Haine-Schlagel, R., Gaines, K., Brookman-Frazee, L., & Stahmer, A. C. (2022). Provider perspectives and reach of an evidence-based intervention in community services for toddlers. Autism, 26(3), 628-639.

  • Ko, J. A., Schuck, R. K., Jimenez-Muñoz, M., Penner-Baiden, K. M., & Vernon, T. W. (2021). Brief Report: Sex/Gender Differences in Adolescents with Autism: Socialization Profiles and Response to Social Skills Intervention. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-7.

  • Ko, J. A., Rieth, S. R., Dickson, K. S., Haine-Schlagel, R., Stahmer, A. C., & Brookman-Frazee, L. (2020, May). Community Provider Perspectives on Project ImPACT for Toddlers: Training and Implementation in Early Intervention Settings. Poster presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 2020 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.

  • Rieth, S. R. & Ko, J. A. (February, 2020). Examining the Efficacy of Project ImPACT for Toddlers: A Community-Based Trial. Oral Presentation at the UC San Diego/Rady Children’s Autism Research and Practice Monthly CME Seminar, San Diego, CA.

  • Barrett, A. C., Vernon, T. W., McGarry, E., Holden, A. N., Bradshaw, J., Ko, J. A., Horowitz, E. J., & German, T. C. (2020). Social responsiveness and language use associated with an enhanced PRT approach for young children with ASD: Results from a pilot RCT of the PRISM model. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

  • Vernon, T. W., Miller, A. R., Ko, J. A., Barrett, A., & McGarry, E. (2019). Social Tools And Rules for Teens (START) Program. In F. Volkmar (Ed), The Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders.  New York: Springer.

  • Vernon, T. W., Holden, A., Barrett, A. C., Bradshaw, J., Ko, J. A., McGarry, E., Horowitz, E., Tagavi, D., & German, T. (2019). A pilot randomized clinical trial of an enhanced pivotal response treatment approach for young children with autism: The PRISM Model. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

  • Ko, J. A., Miller, A. R., Vernon, T. W. (2018). Social conversation skill improvements associated with the Social Tools and Rules for Teens program for adolescents with ASD: Result of a randomized controlled trial. Autism.

  • Ko, J. A., Miller, A. R., Vernon, T. W., Chiu, A., Allison, M., Graef, R., Prado, E., Barrett, A., & McGarry, E. (2018, May). Gender differences in social competence improvements: Data from the START program for adolescents with ASD. Panel presentation presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 2018 Annual Meeting, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

  • Vernon, T. W., Miller, A. R., Ko, J. A., Barrett, A. C., & McGarry, E. S. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of the social tools and rules for teens (START) program: An immersive socialization intervention for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(3), 892-904.

  • Ko, J. A., Miller, A. R., Barrett, A. C., McGarry, E., Vernon, T. W. (2017, May). Evaluating changes in dynamic social interaction skills following a randomized controlled trial of the START socialization intervention for adolescents with ASD. Oral presentation presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), San Francisco, CA.

  • Vernon, T. W., Miller, A. R., Ko, J. A., & Wu, V. L. (2016). Social tools and rules for teens (the START program): Program description and preliminary outcomes of an experiential socialization intervention for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(5), 1806-1823.

  • Varcin, K. J., Nelson, C. A., Ko, J., Sahin, M., Wu, J. Y. & Jeste, S. S. (2016). Visual evoked potentials as a readout of cortical function in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex. Journal of Child Neurology, 31(2), 195-202.

  • Jeste, S. S., Wu, J. Y., Senturk, D., Varcin, K., Ko, J., McCarthy, B., Shimizu, C., Dies, K., Vogel-Farley, V., Sahin, M., & Nelson, C. A. (2014). Early developmental trajectories associated with ASD in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex. Neurology, 83(2), 160-168.