Institute for Autism Research (IAR)
Advancing evidence-based programs to strengthen social and communication skills in autistic children.
The Institute for Autism Research (IAR) at UB, co-directed by Dr Christopher Lopata and Dr Marcus Thomeer, is an interdisciplinary collaborative research center dedicated to understanding autism and enhancing the lives of autistic children and their families.
Our researchers collaborate to address critical questions related to the causes, development, assessment, interventions, and education of autistic children. This work has led to the development of several evidence-based programs for autistic children without intellectual disabilities, including summerMAX, MAXout, and schoolMAX.
The MAX programs focus on building social and communication skills through structured instruction and repeated practice. Core areas include social interaction, facial and emotional recognition, expanding interests, and understanding non-literal language. The programs utilize modeling, role play, feedback, and guided recreational activities to reinforce these skills.
summerMAX, established in 2003, is an intensive five-week summer program (7.5 hours/day) for children ages 7–12, designed as a camp-like experience to teach and promote social skills and engagement. Its feasibility and effectiveness have been demonstrated through multiple studies, including randomized clinical trials.
To expand access, the program has been adapted into MAXout (90-minute outpatient sessions twice weekly for 18 weeks) and schoolMAX (implemented during the academic year without disrupting classroom instruction). Both programs have demonstrated efficacy through randomized trials.
Current efforts include evaluating after-school peer socialization programs, adapting summerMAX for younger children (ages 4–6) as well as other programs. In parallel, researchers continue to study autism characteristics and advance methods for measuring outcomes and impact.