About

The goal of the NPDC was to promote the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for autistic children and youth, birth to 22 years of age. This was accomplished through a comprehensive professional development process at state and local levels.

The  National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on Autism was funded by the Office of  Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education from 2007-2014. The work of the NPDC was a collaboration among three universities—the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the MIND Institute, University of California-Davis. 

During the seven-year funding cycle, the NPDC created a number of resources that were used and revised in our work with 12 states and with individual programs, practitioners, students, and families in those states.

Project Staff

Samuel L. Odom

Samuel L. Odom, Ph.D.
P.I.
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill

Ann Sam

Ann Sam, Ph.D.
Co-PI
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill

Victoria Waters

Victoria Waters, M.Ed.
Technical Assistance Specialist
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill

Becky Dees

Becky Dees, M.Ed.
Evaluator
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill

NPDC