Laurie McLay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laurie McLay
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury, University of Canterbury
Theses
Doctoral advisorJohn Church, Dean Sutherland
Other advisorsJohn Church
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Canterbury, University of Canterbury

Laura-Lee Kathleen McLay is a New Zealand academic, and is a full professor at the University of Canterbury, specialising in research on sleep disorders, communication and behvaioural assessments in autistic children.

Academic career[edit]

McLay completed a master's degree titled Acquisition, generalisation and retention of object names in 4 year old children: a comparison of child-led and adult-led learning interactions at the University of Canterbury, followed by a PhD titled A study of teaching strategies that facilitate stimulus generalisation in children with autism in 2011.[1][2] McLay then joined the faculty of the University of Canterbury, where she was promoted to full professor in 2022.[3]

McLay leads the Waiora Tamariki Programme, which is a nationwide research and clinical delivery service that aims to "promote the health and wellbeing of children on the autism spectrum and their whānau".[4][5] In 2017, McLay was one of thirteen researchers to receive an emerging researcher first grant from the Health Research Council, to research effective treatments for sleep disorders in autistic children. According to McLay, up to 83% of autistic children experience some form of sleep disturbance, but there are few evidence-based treatments available.[6][7][8][9] McLay has since been part of a research team that received a one-year HRC grant to establish the research priorities of end-users in the autism community.[10] She also researches Functional Behavioural Assessments, toilet training and communication systems for autistic children.[11]

Selected works[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ McLay, Laura-Lee K. (2003). Acquisition, generalisation and retention of object names in 4 year old children: a comparison of child-led and adult-led learning interactions (Master's thesis). UC Research Repository, University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/9873. hdl:10092/2889.
  2. ^ McLay, Laura-Lee Kathleen (2011). A study of teaching strategies that facilitate stimulus generalisation in children with autism (PhD thesis). UC Research Repository, University of Canterbury. hdl:10092/6351.
  3. ^ "UC appoints 17 new professors | University of Canterbury". www.canterbury.ac.nz. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Waiora Tamariki". Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  5. ^ University of Canterbury. "Academic profile: Professor Laura-Lee McLay". profiles.canterbury.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Enter sandman: $160,000 for child autism and sleep disruption research". www.canterbury.ac.nz. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Functional behavioural sandman: treating sleep disturbance in children with ASD | Health Research Council of New Zealand". hrc.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Sleep problems focus of new study on Kiwi kids with autism | Health Research Council of New Zealand". hrc.govt.nz. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Progress in helping autism spectrum disorder children sleep". RNZ. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Establishing end-user driven autism research priorities in New Zealand | Health Research Council of New Zealand". hrc.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Associate Professor Laurie McLay • Cure Kids". www.curekids.org.nz. Retrieved 11 March 2024.

External links[edit]