Meet a Civitan Scientist is a series that highlights the impactful research of Civitan scientists and their contributions to understanding and addressing neurodevelopmental challenges.
In this installment, Caroline G. Richter, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, explores her research in the Science of Child Development and Neurodiversity (STARS) Lab, focusing on practical ways to improve the well-being, learning, and daily functioning of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.
Improving everyday life for neurodiverse youth
The STARS Lab focuses on populations such as individuals with Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, and specific learning disabilities. The lab examines important aspects of health and development while aiming to develop and adapt practical, evidence-based interventions that families and educators can use in real-world settings.
“From early in my career, I’ve worked closely with neurodiverse children and their families in both clinical and research settings,” Richter said. “I saw that while medical care often addresses some needs, areas like sleep, emotional well-being, and adaptive skills are sometimes overlooked—even though they are key to overall quality of life.”
This inspired Richter to focus on developing and testing accessible, family centered approaches that improve these everyday but essential parts of life.
“Whether it’s a mindfulness-based program to improve sleep, classroom approaches to reduce stress, or assessments that help teachers better support learning, we want to help individuals with developmental disabilities reach their fullest potential and enjoy the best possible quality of life.”
As a Civitan Scientist, Richter’s work has been enhanced through events and networking opportunities organized by the center. These connections have built new collaborations across UAB and beyond.
The center also provides funding that allows labs like the STAR Lab to pilot innovative ideas. In 2024, Richter along with S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, received the FCIDD McNulty Scientist award for their project “Improving Sleep and Quality of Life in Individuals with Down Syndrome and their Caregivers.”
The study adapts and tests an online mindfulness-based program for young people with Down Syndrome who have trouble sleeping, with the goal of creating a tool that families can easily use at home.
Looking ahead, The STARS Lab is expanding work in three key areas: testing online mindfulness programs to improve sleep, launching a community-driven video game intervention to improve attention and reading skills, and preparing studies that combine augmented reality, EEG, and driver education to enhance driving readiness for youth with autism spectrum disorder.
Together, these projects aim to create accessible, effective tools that families, schools, and clinicians can use to improve daily life for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences.