Naima Bhana

Naima BhanaNaima Bhana is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at Penn State University. Her scholarship is focused on investigating methods to increase social-communication opportunities for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities with complex communication needs by training natural communication partners such as family members, teachers, and paraprofessionals to integrate augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports in everyday routines. She is also interested in issues of social validity and improving quality of life outcomes as well as helping non-English-speaking, ethnically, and racially diverse families. Naima received a master’s degrees in Exceptional Student Education from The Florida State University. She has experience as a research assistant at the Florida Center for Reading Research and an elementary school Autism support teacher.

Dissertation Co-ChairsDr. David McNaughtonDr. Tracy Raulston

Publications

Raulston, T. J., Hieneman, M., Caraway, N., Pennefather, J., & Bhana, N. (2019). Enablers of Behavioral Parent Training for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Child and Family Studies28, 693-703.

Presentations

Deger, G.,Frank, J., & Bhana, N. (2019, November). ¡Escúchame!: Using simulations to prepare special educators to communicate positively with families with LEP. Presentation at the Teacher Educator Division Convention, New Orleans, LA.

Raulston, T. J., Hansen, S. G., Frantz, R., Machalicek, W., & Bhana, N. (2019) Coaching parents of children with autism spectrum disorder to embed social skills instruction during playdates. Presentation at Gatlinburg Conference,(pdf)

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