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Dr. Russell Lang is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio and a member of the university’s Brain Health Consortium. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Koegel Autism Center. Dr. Lang’s research centers on behavioral interventions and supports for autistic individuals as well as those with rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders involving intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the goal of enhancing quality of life by advancing evidence-based practices in communication, play and leisure, and adaptive behavior. He serves the field as Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and as a Co-Editor of Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention. Dr. Lang is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral Level (BCBA-D) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA).
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Professor in Educational Psychology
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Research Fellow of the Brain Health Consortium
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Dr. Lang's Research Foci
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Evidence-based Practices for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Dr. Lang’s work involves the identification, refinement, and dissemination of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autistic individuals and those with rare genetic syndromes involving intellectual and developmental disabilities. This line of research includes systematic and meta-analytic reviews to clarify effective practices, as well as studies that highlight barriers to the adoption of EBPs in clinical and educational settings. In addition, he has been an outspoken critic of pseudoscientific approaches, documenting the risks of harm, wasted resources, and missed opportunities associated with their use. This line of research advances the field’s commitment to safe, effective, and equitable supports for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Read more about evidence-based practices across the lifespan in Dr. Lang’s new book Lifespan treatment for autistic Individuals: A guide to evidence-based practices |
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Play and Leisure Interventions Across the Lifespan
Dr. Lang’s intervention research involves teaching play skills to children and leisure skills to adults, with a particular interest in the relationship between play/leisure skills and the occurrence of repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. His research suggests that increasing variety and complexity of developmentally appropriate play skills can occasion collateral benefits in other domains, including reductions in stereotypy and challenging behavior as well as gains in communication and social interaction. Overall, the purpose of this line of research is to highlight the role of play and leisure in fostering resilience, independence, and overall quality of life, this work expands the scope of typical skill domains targeted in behavioral interventions to include meaningful and sustaining life activities. Read more about play skills in ASD in Dr. Lang’s book Play and social skills for children with autism spectrum disorder |
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Editorial Leadership to Advance Evidence-Based Practices
Dr. Lang’s editorial work emphasizes the promotion and dissemination of evidence-based practices in neurodevelopmental disorders and communication sciences. As Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Co-Editor of Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention, he commissions special issues on understudied topics, upholds rigorous methodological standards, and fosters dialogue between researchers from a range of fields related to individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Through these editorships, he supports multidisciplinary research that facilitates scientific advances and helps bridge the evidence-to-practice gap in an effort to improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Read for more information on Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Read for more information on Evidence-based Communication Assessment and Intervention |
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