Biografia

POSICION ACTUAL
July 2025 –
September 2025

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of California, Los Angeles

October 2025 – Postdoctoral Fellow

University of California, San Francisco

EDUCACION
2020 - 2025 Doctoral Student in Human Development and Psychology

School of Education and Information Studies
University of California, Los Angeles
Degree granted: June 13th, 2025

2020 - 2023 Master of Arts in Education, Human Development and Psychology

University of California, Los Angeles
2014 - 2018 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Minor in Disability Studies
University of California, Los Angeles

EXPERIENCIA DE INVESTIGACION
2023 - Present Study for The Use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition
(ADOS-2) with English-Spanish Bilingual Individuals in the United States
Co-Investigator and clinician on a research project that evaluated the use of the ADOS-2
with English-Spanish bilingual individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other
neurodevelopmental disabilities.

2022 - Present Early Diagnosis Cohort Longitudinal Study of ASD and Other

Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Clinical researcher conducting in-home assessments with adults who have ASD and
other neurodevelopmental disabilities and are between the ages of 27-30, who have been
followed for over 30 years as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. Additionally,
examined trajectories of caregiver burden, and respite support outcomes in the
caregivers of the individuals with ASD and neurodevelopmental disabilities who are
participating in the longitudinal study.

2021 - 2022 Evaluating BOSCC and ELSA as Outcome Measures in the Context of a JASPER

Intervention Trial (EBJ), UCLA
Implemented a clinician-mediated and parent-mediated naturalistic developmental
behavioral intervention with minimally verbal children with ASD as part of a multisite
clinical trial. Delivered intervention to children with ASD and trained parents to deliver
the intervention. Treatment duration was 10 weeks for each child or parent-child dyad.

Updated 09/24/25
2018 - 2022 Personalized, Responsive Intervention Sequences for Minimally Verbal Children

with Autism (PRISM), UCLA
Implemented both a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (JASPER) and
discrete trial training (DTT) with minimally verbal preschoolers with ASD as part of a
multisite clinical trial. Delivered intervention with each child twice a week for 20 weeks
with the goal of optimizing language outcomes.

2018 - 2022 Heterogeneity in ASD: Biological Mechanisms, Trajectories, and Treatment

Response, UCLA
Implemented a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention with infants at-risk for
ASD. Worked with parents over 8 weeks and taught them the Joint Attention, Symbolic
Play, Engagement, and Regulation (JASPER) intervention as part of the parent-mediated
component of the research study that used a SMART design. Updated communication
engagement goals for the children.
Winter 2021 Stop COVID-19 CA Project, UCR

Helped facilitate and take notes during focus groups for the UCR Stop COVID-19
Project that aimed to understand COVID-19 worries and beliefs among underserved
communities in the Coachella valley. The project also aimed to understand barriers that
community members experienced in relation to COVID-19.

2019 - 2023 Disparities Pilot SPARK Sub-study, UCLA

Conducted focus groups and qualitative analyses as part of a SPARK sub-study to
understand the disparities in participation amongst ethnically diverse populations.

2018 - 2020 Simon’s Foundation Powering Autism Research Knowledge

Coordinated a research team, research activities and recruited participants for a national
genetic study for individuals with ASD. Developed and maintained partnerships with
nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles and Bakersfield to engage families from
underserved communities.

2018 - 2019 UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture

Conducted qualitative research that examines how working class, Spanish speaking

parents of children with autism use mobile-technology to access diagnosis and autism-
related services.

EXPERIENCIA CLINICA
2024- Present UCLA Clinical Practicum in Behavioral Child Neurology

Shadow Behavioral Child Neurologist, Dr. Rujuta Wilson, during her neurological
exams with patients who have complex genetic and/or neurodevelopmental conditions.
2023 - 2024 UCLA Clinical Practicum in Autism Across the Lifespan: Research and Clinical

Practice in Measuring Change
Completed assessments to diagnose ASD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other behavioral interventions to
children and adults with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual
disabilities, with co-occurring diagnoses of anxiety and depression. Therapy was
delivered once a week with each patient.

2022 - 2024 UCLA Clinical Practicum in Partners in Caring for Anxious Youth (PCAY)
Delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to children with diagnoses of social
anxiety and general anxiety disorders, with co-morbidities of OCD and depression.

Updated 09/24/25
Therapy was delivered once a week per patient. Therapy was delivered to child directly
and caregivers are included in treatment as needed.

2022 - 2023 UCLA Clinical Practicum in the Achievement, Behavior, Cognition (ABC) Child

Partial Hospitalization Program
Provided group cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills therapy to pre-adolescents
with different psychological and developmental conditions, including ASD, through a
partial hospitalization program. Helped lead mindfulness groups for parents whose
children were enrolled in the program.

EXPERIENCIA DOCENTE
Winter 2023 Teaching Assistant

Education 132 Autism: Mind, Brain, and Education
University of California, Los Angeles

Fall 2022 Teaching Assistant

Education 138 Cognitive Development and Schooling
University of California, Los Angeles

PUBLICACIONES CIENTIFICAS
1. Feliciano, P., Zhou, X., Astrovskaya, I., Turner, T. N., Wang, T., Brueggeman, L., Barnard, R., Hsieh,
A., Snyder., L. G., Muzny, D. M., Sabo, A., Consortium, S., Gibbs, R. A., Eichler, E. E., O’Roak, B.
J., Michaelson, J.J.,Volfovsky, N., Shen, Y., & Chung, W. K., (2019). Exome sequencing of 457
autism families recruited online provides evidence for autism risk genes. NPJ Genomic
Medicine, 4(1), 1-14.
2. Fombonne, E., Snyder, L. G., Daniels, A., Feliciano, P., Chung, W., & Consortium, S. (2020).
Psychiatric and medical profiles of autistic adults in the SPARK cohort. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders. 50(10), 3679-3698.
3. Wang, T., Hoekzema, K., Vecchio, D., Wu, H., Sulovari, A., Coe, P., Gillentine, M. A., Wilfert, A. B.,
Perez-Jurado, L. A., Kvarnung, M., Sleyp, Y., Earl, R. K., Rosenfeld, J. A., Geisheker, M. R., Han, L.,
Du, B., Barnett, C., Thompson, E., Consortium, S., ...Eichler, E. E. (2020). Large-scale targeted
sequencing identifies risk genes for neurodevelopmental disorders. Nature Communications, 11(1),
4932.
4. White, L. C., Law, J. K., Daniels, A. M., Toroney, J., Vernoia, B., Xiao, S., Consortium, S.,
Feliciano, P., & Chung, W. K. (2020). Brief Report: impact of COVID-19 on individuals with ASD
and their caregivers: a perspective from the SPARK cohort. Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders, 51(10), 3766-3773.
5. Sterrett, K., Tafolla, M., Gulsrud, A., Kasari, C. (2022). Predictors of attrition in a randomized
controlled trial of a social communication intervention for infant-toddlers at risk for autism. Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(8), 3023-3033.
6. Tafolla, M., Christopher, K., Sterrett, K., Elias, R., & Lord, C. (2023). Perceived negative impact of
caregiving demands in parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders from 9 to 25 years of
age. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 106, 102203.
7. Tafolla, M., Amador, R., Oyeyemi, M. J., Algaze, Z., Pandey, J., Goin-Kochel, R. P., Sarver, D. E., &
Gulsrud, A. (2024). Barriers, motivators and strategies to increase participation in genetic research
among Asian and Black families of autistic individuals. Journal of Community Genetics, 1-14.
8. Tafolla, M., Lord C. (2024). Longitudinal analyses of mental health in autistic individuals: a
systematic review. Brain Sciences. 14(10), 1033.

Updated 09/24/25
9. Tafolla, M., Singer H., Lord C. (2025). Autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan. Annual Review
of Clinical Psychology. 21.
10. Tafolla, M., Schiltz H., Lord C. (2025, in press). Respite support from adolescence to adulthood in
families of people with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities.

11. Tafolla, M., Benrey, N., Rosen, N., Lerner, J., & Lord, C. (2025). Autism Assessment with English-
Spanish Bilingual Individuals in the United States. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,

1-9.
12. Tafolla, M., Sterrett K., Lord C. (Under Review). Mental health, well-being and affect of caregivers of
adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.
13. Tafolla, M., Lord C. (Under Review). Recruitment and retention of Latinx Spanish-English bilingual
families with autism from low-income households.

CAPITULOS
Tafolla, M., Rosen, N., Lord C. (Under Review). Autism Screening and Assessment Across the Lifespan. In
M. Belmonte & E. Anagnostou (Eds.), Handbook of Clinical Neurology.
CHARLAS, SIMPOSIOS Y TALLERES
Tafolla, M, (January, 2025) Keynote Lecture: Autism 2 to 30 and Beyond: Universidad Autonoma de Baja
California, Mexicali, Mexico.
Tafolla, M, Nurit Benrey, and Catherine Lord, (September, 2024) Autism Diagnostic Process with a Bilingual,
Low-Income Latinx Community in Los Angeles: Barriers Families Experience and What We as Providers Can
Do to Help: Spanish Speaking Psychosocial Clinic, Los Angeles.
Tafolla, M, Nurit Benrey, Nicole Rosen, and Catherine Lord, (April, 2024) Autism Diagnostic Process with a
Bilingual, Low-Income Latinx Community in Los Angeles: Barriers Families Experience and What We as
Providers Can Do to Help: Tarjan Center, Los Angeles
Tafolla, M., Clarke, E.B., Schiltz, H., Magee, K., Taylor, J.L., Lord, C. (August, 2023). Perceived Negative
Impact of Caregiving Demands in Parents of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders from 9 to 25 Years
of Age. American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
Tafolla, M., (March, 2023). Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Staff Training on Valuing
Diversity and Disability Culture. Presented to over 600 North Los Angeles County Regional Center staff.
Tafolla, M., (October, 2018). Presentation on the importance of having ethnically diverse families participate
in research to increase representation at Fuerza Inc. Annual Conference, Los Angeles
PRESENTACIONES DE PÓSTERS SELECCIONADOS
Tafolla, M., Cohenour, T., Seese, S., Shih, W., Gulsrud, A., Kasari, C. (2022). The Relationship between
Child-Initiated and Caregiver-Initiated Joint Engagement and Joint Attention Following Jasper Treatment in
Toddlers At-Risk for ASD. Poster accepted to the International Society for Autism Research Conference.
Tafolla, M., Sterrett, K., Yang, J., Toolan, C., Kasari, C. (2021). The Relationship Between Child’s Play Level
and Use of Parent Strategies in Preschoolers with Limited Language. Poster accepted to the International
Society for Autism Research Conference.

Updated 09/24/25
Tafolla, M., Sterrett, K., Gulsrud, A., Kasari, C. (2020). The Relationship Between Joint Engagement, Joint
Attention, and Cognition in Infant-Toddlers at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Poster accepted at
International Society for Autism Research Conference.
Murillo, K., Tafolla, M., Palmer, S., Ranganathan, V., Pandey, J., Daniels, A., Schultz, RT., Gulsrud, A.
(2020) Participation in Genetic Research Amongst Underrepresented Communities of Color. Poster accepted at
International Society for Autism Research Conference.
Tafolla, M., Becerra Arriaga, I., Espinoza, N., De los Santos, T., Gulsrud, A., Hayes-Bautista, D. (2018).
Latino Parents of Children with Autism: Understanding How Innovative Mobile Technology Can Increase
Access to Care. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Science Poster Day at UCLA.
CONFERENCIAS
Tafolla, M, (June, 2025). The Use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)
with Bilingual Individuals. Invited guest lecture for the course Language, Literacy, and Academic
Development at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Tafolla, M, (September, 2023). Autism Diagnostic Measures. Invited guest lecture for the course Autism and
Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the California State University, Northridge.
Tafolla, M, (October, 2022). Intersectionality with a focus on Disability. Invited guest lecture for the course
Risk and Resilience at the California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Tafolla, M, (October, 2022). Quantitative Research Methods. Invited guest lecture for the course Methods of
Child & Adolescent Study at the California State University, Northridge.
Tafolla, M, (February, 2022). Bilingualism and its Cognitive Benefits. Invited guest lecture for the course
General Psychology at Loyola Marymount University.
Tafolla, M, (March, 2021). Disparities in Service Acquisition in Autism. Invited guest lecture for the course
Autism and Other Developmental Disorders at the California State University, Northridge.
SERVICIO
2021 - 2023 Doctoral Student Advisory Council (DSAC)

Council member of DSAC. Helped coordinate the University of California Center for
Research on Special Education, Disabilities, and Developmental Risk (SPEDDR)
Annual Conference. Read abstracts for the conference and collaborated with students
across the UC system.
2021- 2023 HDP Graduate Student Mentor

Mentored graduate students in the Human Development and Psychology department at
UCLA. Coordinated monthly meetings to provide guidance about navigating graduate
school as a student of color with the goal of retaining underserved students in the
program.

Winter 2022 UCLA Latino Alumni Association Network Graduate Student Mentor
Mentored a first generation Latinx undergraduate student at UCLA. Coordinated
monthly meetings to provide guidance about navigating undergraduate school and

providing guidance in finding employment or pursuing higher education post-
graduation.

Updated 09/24/25

SUBVENCIONES, HONORES Y PREMIOS
UCLA Graduate Diversity Council Fellowship 2021-2022
Elwood H. Zillgitt & Mildred B. Finney Award 2021-2022
Gordon and Olga Smith Scholarship Winter 2021
Santa Barbara Foundation Scholarship 2014-2018, 2020-2025
Dean’s Honors List Spring 2016, Winter 2018, Spring 2018
UCLA Undergraduate Research Travel Grant Spring 2018
AFILIACIONES
2020 - Present International Society for Autism Research Member
2022 - Present Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Member (APA, Division 53)
HABILIDADES
ADOS-2 Trainer in Spanish and English
Research reliable on the ADOS-2 in Spanish and English
Research reliable on the ADI-R in English
Proficient in R software
Native Spanish speaker, fluent in speaking, writing and reading
REFERENCIA
Catherine Lord, Ph.D
George Tarjan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Education
UCLA Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior
CLord@mednet.ucla.edu

Cursos