Autism; Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education; Language, Literacy, and Social Communication; Families' Experiences, Beliefs, and Practices; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners; Positive and Naturalistic Behavioral Support Strategies

Dr. Kang's research focuses on (a) developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally adapted and family-led interventions that support early language/literacy, social communication, and daily living skills of young individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities or delays; (b) training families and professionals in underrepresented or under-resourced communities to use evidence-based practices across home, school, and community settings; and (c) understanding the perspectives and experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse families and professionals who collaborate with them to identify barriers and facilitators to inclusive, socially valid, and equitable practices in early intervention and early childhood special education. 

Dr. Kang is passionate about supporting pre- and in-service practitioners in early intervention and early childhood special education through teaching, mentoring, and community partnership. Dr. Kang currently serves as an Inclusive Education Working Group member of the , a co-chair of the , and a Member-At-Large of the .

Dr. Kang has completed a pre-doctoral fellowship at the of the Association of the University Centers on Disabilities and a doctoral internship at the of the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Kang previously worked as a behavior technician with young learners (birth to 8) with autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder at the University of Washington Autism Center and currently is a board-certified behavior analyst conducting research on culturally responsive behavioral strategies for students of diverse abilities and backgrounds. Dr. Kang is certified to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). 

Dr. Kang's ongoing projects can be found here. 

2022 - National Center for Special Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences. U.S. Department of Education. Summer Research Training Institute. Single-Case Intervention Research Design and Analysis.

2022 - National Center for Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences. U.S. Department of Education. Summer Research Training Institute. Cluster-Randomized Trials.

2022 - Spencer Foundation. Single Case Research Design Conference.

2020-2021 - Pre-doctoral Fellowship. Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities. Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

2023 - Emerging Special Educators of Color Leadership Travel Award for Career Professionals. Council for Exceptional Children. 

2022 - Chancellor鈥檚 Student Service Award. University of Illinois Chicago.

2022 - Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award. University of Illinois Chicago.

2021 - Award for Graduate Research. University of Illinois Chicago.

2021 - Dissertation and Thesis Award. University of Illinois Chicago.

Google Scholar:
ResearchGate:

2023-24 - Dean鈥檚 Research Initiative ($19,463), College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, 911爆料网 Park. Promoting Autistic Inclusion and Representation (PAIR) in STEM (Role: Co-I; PI: Jennifer Wessel; Co-Is: Elizabeth Redcay, Kathryn Dow-Burger,  Shevaun Lewis)

2023-24 - Faculty-Student Research Award ($10,000). Graduate School, 911爆料网 Park. Community-based program for Asian American children with developmental delays or disabilities and their caregivers (Role: PI; Co-Is: Kate Lu & Ariel La)

2022-23 - Support Program for Advancing Research and Collaboration ($15,000). College of Education, 911爆料网 Park. Culturally adapted interventions for Korean American children with a diagnosis or prognosis of autism. (Role: PI; Co-PIs: James Lee & Daniel Kwak)

2021-22 - Public Awareness Grant ($2,500). Society of the Advancement of Behavior Analysis. Online module for Korean parents of children with autism. (Role: Co-PI; PI: Sunyoung Kim; Co-PI: Emily Gregori)

2021-22 - Award for Graduate Research ($900). Graduate College, University of Illinois Chicago. Virtual literacy instruction for autistic preschoolers. (Role: PI; Co-PI: Sunyoung Kim)

2020-22 - Dissertation and Thesis Award ($500). College of Education, University of Illinois Chicago. Sibling-implemented Enhanced Milieu Teaching. (Role: PI)

2020-21 - Albin & Young Award ($1,000). College of Education, University of Illinois Chicago.  Effects of Enhanced Milieu Teaching and book reading on word approximations of young children with language delay. (Role: PI)

2019-20 - Dean鈥檚 Office Collaborative Community Grant Award ($5,000). College of Education, University of Illinois Chicago. Online literacy program for young Korean dual language learners. (Role: Co-PI; PI: Sunyoung Kim)

2018-19 - Dean鈥檚 Office Collaborative Community Grant Award ($5,000). College of Education, University of Illinois Chicago. Early literacy summer program for Korean immigrant pre-schoolers. (Role: PI; Co-PI: Sunyoung Kim)

EDSP 211 Introduction to Special Education

EDSP 416/616 Reading and Writing Instruction in Special Education I

EDSP 443 Language and Literacy Acquisition in Children with Disabilities

Autism, Family, Culture, and Communication Education Lab