I am currently the Assistant Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA) at Indiana University, Bloomington (IUB), an Assistant Professor with the IUB School Psychology program, and the Director of the Social Skills Research Center (SSRC). The SSRC is a collaborative effort between the IRCA and the IUB School Psychology program. The clinic provides an opportunity for 3rd and 4th year school psychology students to gain experience conducting diagnostic evaluations, implementing social skills programming for children, and conducting applied research for children with ASD.
I am also the author of the book “Building Social Relationships” which was recognized as the 2007 Literary Work of the Year by the Autism Society of America. I have had the great fortune to speak nationally on the topic of social emotional functioning for children with ASD. I am currently conducting research on the development of anxiety disorders, professional development outcomes for school personnel, social skills programming, and video self-modeling for children and adolescents with ASD. Students play a critical role in the development and implementation of my research, and have served as co-authors on a vast majority of my research publications. I am currently serving on the editorial board for the journals, Focus on Autism, Remedial and Special Education, and Exceptional Children.
I am a 2002 graduate of the IUB School Psychology Program and am currently a licensed psychologist and a health service provider in psychology (HSPP). I have worked in a variety of settings, including schools, psychiatric hospitals, university clinics, and private practices. I teach courses on classroom behavior management and consultation (fall), and social skills training (summer).
PEER REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS
Bellini, S. & McConnell, L. (in press). Strength based educational programming for students with autism spectrum disorders: A case for video self-modeling. Preventing School Failure.
Bellini, S, & Ehlers, E. J. (in press). Video modeling interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorders: Practical suggestions for clinicians and educators. Journal of Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits.
Bellini, S., & Peters, J. (2008). Social skills training. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 17, 857-873.
Bellini, S. & Hopf, A. (2007). Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Autism Social Skills Profile. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22, 80-87.
Bellini, S., Peters, J., Benner, L., & Hopf, A. (2007). A meta-analysis of school-based social skill interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Remedial and Special Education, 28, 153- 162.
Bellini, S., Akullian, J., & Hopf, A. (2007). Increasing social engagement in young children with autism spectrum disorders using video self-modeling. School Psychology Review, 36, 80-90.
Bellini, S. & Akullian, J. (2007). A meta-analysis of video modeling and video self-modeling interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Exceptional Children, 73, 261-284.
Bellini, S. (2006). The development of social anxiety in high functioning adolescents with autism spectrum Disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 2 (3), 138-145.
Hume, K., Bellini, S. & Pratt, C. (2005). The usage and perceived outcomes of early intervention and early childhood programs for young children with autism spectrum disorder. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 25 (4), 195-207.
Bellini, S. (2004). Social Skills and Anxiety in Higher Functioning Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19 (3), 78-86.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Bellini, S. The ingredients of effective social skill interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorders: A synthesis of meta-analytical research. Manuscript in preparation.
Bellini, S., & Peters, J. Social skill interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis of interventions delivered in clinical settings. Manuscript in preparation.
Bellini, S., Henry, D., & Pratt. C. Evaluating the outcomes of professional development: A model evaluation program. Manuscript in preparation.
BOOKS
Bellini, S. (2006). Building Social Relationships: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Social Difficulties. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing.
Bellini, S. (2008). Building Social Relationships: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Social Difficulties (Textbook Version). Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing.
BOOK CHAPTERS AND ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRIES
Bellini, S. (in press). Social skills training. In A. Boutot and B. S. Myles (Eds.), Autism Education and Practice. Allyn and Bacon.
Bellini, S., Peters, J. & Hopf, A. (2007). Social skills training. In B. S. Myles, T. C. Swanson, & J. Holverstott (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing.
Bellini, S., & Akullian, J. (2007). Video modeling and video self-modeling. In B. S. Myles, T. C. Swanson, & J. Holverstott (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing.
Bellini, S. (2005). Social impairment; obsessive-compulsive disorder. In J. Neisworth & P. Wolfe (Eds.), The Autism Encyclopedia. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.