Sarah Curtiss

Dr. Sarah Curtiss is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, specializing in special education with a focus on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2017), an M.S. in Human and Community Development (2013), and a B.S. in Psychology (2004). Prior academic roles include a postdoctoral fellowship at Michigan State University and Trinity College Dublin, and a Graduate Research Assistantship at UIUC. Her professional background includes managing a vocational day program for adults with developmental disabilities from 2004–2010.

Research Interests: Dr. Curtiss examines programs and interventions for autistic youth, emphasizing resilience, contextual factors (families, communities, schools), and stakeholder-informed approaches. Key areas include human sexuality education, social skills development, family mealtimes, and transition to adulthood. Her work prioritizes applied research, participatory methods, and addressing systemic barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals.

Grants & Awards:

• Firpo-Triplett, R. (PI), Curtiss, S. (Expert Advisor). SkillTalk: Communication training around sexual health topics for parents of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development SBIR (2018, $224,957).
• Ebata, A. (PI), Curtiss, S. (co-PI). The birds and the bees: Building capacity to deliver sex education to individuals with autism. The Autism Program of Illinois (2013, $1,000).
• Recipient of the MSU-DOCTRID Hegarty Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2017–2019).

Lab & Collaborations: She leads the Autism in Context Lab, focusing on contextualized interventions and community engagement. Her work intersects with cultural humility, anti-racist/anti-ableist practices, and global autism care (e.g., Uganda-focused studies).