Studies Related to Children with disabilities current as of Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Click on the study title below to receive contact information, brochures and more in-depth information.

Are you concerned about your child’s language or social development?

Looking For:
Typically developing children (6-24 months), autistic children (18-36 months), and children with expressive language delays (18-36 months) presenting with or without concerns for their language development and social communication.

Compensation:
$25-$50 in gift cards

Autism and Language Development in Toddlers

Looking For:
Children 18-36 months of age with autism or with concerns about their social interaction or language development or children 12-36 months without autism.

Compensation:
Yes

Child Language & Literacy Lab

Looking For:

Preschool and school-age children

Compensation:
Language evaluations at no cost to you.

Does your child like to play computer games?

Looking For:
Individuals 7 to 24 with autism or who are typically developing

Compensation:
$10 per half hour of study completed in the form of a gift card

EMT en Español: Early communication intervention to support school readiness skills for Spanish-speaking toddlers with language delays

Looking For:
Spanish-speaking toddlers 30 to 36 months old with language delays

Compensation:
Up to $325 in cash + about $100 worth of toys and books

Help us discover how Deaf and hard of hearing children learn to read

Looking For:
d/Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing children ages 10-17 years old who use sign language and/or oral language, or both. No cochlear implants due to use of the MRI.

Compensation:
Yes

Increasing Word Learning Efficiency in Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing through Retrieval Practice

Looking For:
5- to 8-year-old children who are deaf and hard of hearing and use spoken English (may also use sign language)

Compensation:
$25 for eligibility session; $200 for completing word learning sessions

Investigating Social Competence in Youth with Autism

Looking For:

• Have an Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Are between 10 and 16 years of age

Compensation:

Learning to Drum in Children with Down Syndrome

Looking For:
Children with Down syndrome aged 7-12

Compensation:
$40

Mental Health and Behavioral Health Needs Survey

Looking For:
Parents and caregivers in Tennessee who have a child with a disability (between the ages of 1.5-22) who also has a mental or behavioral health concern

Compensation:
25 respondents completing the survey will be randomly selected to receive a $25 target gift card

Movement and Imitation in Children and Adolescents with or without ASD

Looking For:
8-17 years of age with autism spectrum disorder OR typically developing. Some language ability is required.

Compensation:
Child will receive a $10 gift card and small toy.

Online Study of Listening Behavior of Children with Autism

Looking For:
We are looking for caregivers of children with autism who have normal hearing and are between the ages of 18 months – 18 years.

Compensation:
$25

Phonological Awareness

Looking For:
Rising first graders and second graders

Compensation:
Children's book; Travel compensation to VUMC

Pubertal Development in Youth With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Looking For:
We are looking for a large number of boys and girls who will be enrolled at ages 8-13 and followed annually over 4 years. These children would either have confirmed (or suspected) Autism Spectrum Disorder or be typically developing.

Compensation:
Up to $100 per year for 4 years, up to $400 total

Reading Study for Kindergarteners

Looking For:
Children currently in Kindergarten, with or without reading disabilities, English as first language.

Compensation:
Check for $50 after initial screening visit is completed.

Remote Microphone (RM) System Use in the Home

Looking For:
Families with a child between the ages of 3 to 6 years old diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Compensation:
Yes

Seeding Success Early Book Sharing Study

Looking For:
Spanish-speaking caregivers of children 15-30 months old

Compensation:

Sign up to learn more about the Child Studies Group’s play-based studies!

Looking For:
Children who are between 2 months and 16 years of age and their parent or guardian.

Compensation:
At the end of the visit, your child will take home a small prize of his or her choice. Parking is provided. Some studies may also compensate with cash!

Special Education Teachers' and Board Certified Behavior Analysts' Perceptions of Self-Determination of Students with Complex Communication Needs in Grades K-5

Looking For:
Special education teacher or board certified behavior analyst who works with individuals in grades K-5 with limited verbal speech

Compensation:
Chance to win one of five $50 gift cards

TALK ASD project

Looking For:

Children aged 5-7 years old who have autism spectrum disorder OR who are typically developing who:

• are likely to wear a stretchy cap on their head
• are comfortable sitting relatively still at a computer for 15-minutes at a time
• have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing.

Compensation:
$20 gift card at each visit & an outer space goodie bag upon completion

The Effects of Visual and Auditory Stimulation on Exploration in Infancy

Looking For:

12-24 month infants with hearing loss

Compensation:
A T-shirt, toy or book, as well as $25.

Transition Experiences of Black Youth with Autism

Looking For:
Parent/Caregiver for Autistic Black youth who are between the ages of 14-24

Compensation:
$50 gift card for Target or Amazon

Vanderbilt Autism Research Registry

Looking For:
Children and adults who have a diagnosis of autism

Compensation:

Vanderbilt Down Syndrome Research Registry

Looking For:
Individuals with Down syndrome

Compensation:

Voices of Tennessee Direct Support Professionals

Looking For:
18 years or older Direct Support Professional

Compensation:
Raffle for $25 gift card

Words for Thoughts and Feelings

Looking For:

Children ages 3-6

Compensation:
Yes

Would you like to help us learn more about younger siblings of children with autism?

Looking For:
You are the parent of a child with or without autism. Your child with or without autism has a younger sibling who is 12-18 months old.

Compensation:
Participants will be compensated $20 per hour.