Karla Ausderau

Karla Ausderau is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, affiliated with the College of Letters & Science. She joined the ERP (Environment, Resources & Public Health) Program in 2024. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing challenges faced by families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly in feeding behaviors, sensory processing, and daily participation. She employs non-human primate models to study Zika virus impacts and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

• Education: B.A. (1997), M.A. (2000) in Occupational Therapy from USC, Ph.D. (2009) in Occupational Science from USC, Postdoc (2012) at UNC-Chapel Hill.
• Key Research Areas: Feeding challenges in ASD, sensory features in children, neurodevelopmental effects of Zika virus, and community-based health interventions for individuals with disabilities.

Her work bridges clinical practice and translational research, aiming to improve assessment tools and interventions for children with ASD and their families. She collaborates with community stakeholders to enhance health equity for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.