Sarah O'Kelley

Sarah O'Kelley is a Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving as Director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Clinic at UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics and UAB LEND training director. Her clinical work focuses on cognitive/diagnostic assessment and therapy for individuals with ASD and neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Her research centers on cognitive/behavioral phenotypes in ASD across age groups, treatment outcomes, family functioning in developmental disabilities, and interdisciplinary diagnosis in at-risk populations. She implements evidence-based approaches including PEERS^® for social skills development in teens/young adults with ASD.

Dr. O'Kelley has 20 years of clinical and research experience with ASD populations. She completed her predoctoral internship at UAB Psychology Internship Training Consortium and served as a LEND postdoctoral fellow. She co-developed the University of Alabama Autism Spectrum Disorders College Transition and Support program (UA-ACTS) during her postdoctoral fellowship.

She is an active member of the International Society for Autism Research, American Psychological Association, and Alabama Autism Providers Network.

Her educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Clinical Child Psychology, and Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology – all from the University of Alabama.