National Autism Center Promotes Dr. Hanna C. Rue to Executive Director

Randolph, Mass. – The National Autism Center (NAC) has announced the promotion of Hanna C. Rue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, to Executive Director.

The National Autism Center is May Institute’s Center for the Promotion of Evidence-based Practice. In addition to now serving as its Executive Director, Dr. Rue holds a joint appointment as Vice President of Autism Services at May Institute. Prior to assuming her new position, she served as a Director of Evidence-based Practice for NAC.

“Dr. Rue is highly respected for her work by clinicians and parents across the national autism community and abroad,” says Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, CEO of May Institute and President of the National Autism Center. “Under her leadership, I am confident that the National Autism Center will continue to break new ground in providing parents, caregivers, educators, and service professionals with the information they need to make informed treatment decisions.”

Dr. Rue’s responsibilities include overseeing the second phase of the National Standards Project (NSP), a multi-year initiative resulting in a groundbreaking 2009 report that identified best practices in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). She is currently leading a national team of expert panelists, article reviewers, and consultants in evaluating data from over 400 treatment articles for adults (i.e., 22 years of age and older) with ASD, as well as for individuals identified as “at risk” for developing an ASD. The NSP-II will also update the findings for individuals under the age of 22.

“The National Standards Project II, due out in 2013, focuses on identifying evidence-based treatments for individuals with ASD ages 22 and older,” explains Dr. Rue. “At this point, all of the data have been collected, and the analysis is actively underway.”

Dr. Rue obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of North Dakota and completed her pre-doctoral training at May Institute. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts, and a board certified behavior analyst.

Dr. Rue’s peer-reviewed publications span topics in basic operant research and applied research. Her current research interests include identification of evidenced-based practice for the treatment of ASD, investigation of behavior reduction procedures, and skill acquisition procedures. She has traveled throughout the country and abroad delivering lectures and presentations in her areas of expertise.

About the National Autism Center
The National Autism Center is May Institute’s Center for the Promotion of Evidence-based Practice. It is dedicated to serving children and adolescents ASD by providing reliable information, promoting best practices, and offering comprehensive resources for families, practitioners, and communities.

An advocate for evidence-based treatment approaches, the National Autism Center identifies effective programming and shares practical information with families about how to respond to the challenges they face. The Center also conducts applied research and develops training and service models for practitioners. Finally, the Center works to shape public policy concerning ASD and its treatment through the development and dissemination of national standards of practice. For more information, please call 877.313.3833 or visit nationalautismcenter.org.