Gary B. Mesibov

Gary B. Mesibov is a licensed psychologist, psychology professor, editor and an author.

Education Mesibov received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and his Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He received his doctorate from Brandeis University and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina.

Career

Professor and researcher Mesibov was a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill for 35 years. All but 4 of those 35 years Mesibov was on the UNC Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) faculty. From 1992 to 2012 he was the TEACCH director. TEACCH, founded by UNC psychiatry and psychology professor Eric Schopler, is a "pioneering" program for assisting with autism spectrum disorder education, research and service delivery for children and adults. As a result of his work, he is an "internationally recognized leader in autism research and practice."

By 1984, Mesibov noted pediatric psychologists worked frequently with developmental disorders in children. Specifically, children with "mental retardation, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, and related developmental problems. When not working directly with children, pediatric psychologists role included had a few other components. The demand and importance of parent training for children with developmental problems made it the subject of the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP) programming at the American Psychological Association (APA) convention for 1983. The collaboration with other professionals on site (e.g., speech and language therapists) provided education in outside domains and in working as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Furthermore, pediatric psychologists helped to create programs in the community addressing children's needs.

In a brief article following his reception of the 1990 Distinguished Service Award from the SPP, Mesibov reflected on three unique, or "special" characteristics he identified within the field of pediatric psychology. Specifically, he applauded the field's practical application to tackle difficult human needs, multidisciplinary approach, and character of pediatric psychologists he has worked with throughout his career.

Editor By 1976, Mesibov was serving as Associate Editor and Don Routh began serving as Editor on the Journal of Pediatric Psychology (JPP). Common topics of the JPP included chronic pain and hyperactivity. He was an editorial board member for the Journal of Pediatric Psychology and the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology.

Publications In the field of developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders, Mesibov has published articles, books, editorials, research papers and contributed to published books. Gary B. Mesibov. Attributions of Responsibility: A Cognitive Interpretation. Brandeis University; 1974 Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Psychoeducational Profile – Revised (PEP-R). Pro-Ed; January 1, 1979 Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Autism in Adolescents and Adults]. Springer; February 28, 1983. Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. (editors) Communication Problems in Autism. Springer; May 31, 1985 Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Social Behavior in Autism. Springer; February 28, 1986. Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Neurobiological Issues in Autism. Springer; April 30, 1987 Gary Mesibov; Eric Schopler. Adolescent and Adult Psychoeducational Profile (AAPEP). Pro-Ed; September 1, 1988. Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Diagnosis and Assessment in Autism. Springer; September 30, 1988. Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Behavioral Issues in Autism. Springer; March 31, 1994 Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. Learning and cognition in autism. Plenum Press; 1995. Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov. (editors). Parent Survival Manual: A Guide to Crisis Resolution in Autism and Related Developmental Disorders. Springer; June 30, 1995 Rhoda I. Landrus; Gary B. Mesibov. Structured Teaching. Division TEACCH; 1996 Gary B. Mesibov; Lynn W. Adams; Laura G. Klinger. Autism: Understanding the Disorder. Springer; January 31, 1998. Eric Schopler; Gary B. Mesibov; Linda J. Kunce. Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism?. Springer; April 30, 1998 Gary B. Mesibov; Victoria Shea; Lynn W. Adams. Understanding Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. Springer; August 31, 2001. Gary Mesibov. Accessing the Curriculum for Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Using the TEACCH Programme to Help Inclusion. Taylor & Francis; June 20, 2003 Gary B. Mesibov; Victoria Shea; Eric Schopler. The TEACCH Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer; December 7, 2004. Gary Mesibov. AAPEP. PRO-ED; 2007 Gary Mesibov; John B. Thomas; Michael Chapman. Teacch Transition Assessment Profile (TTAP). Pro Ed; December 31, 2007 Ruth Aspy; Barry G. Grossman; Gary B. Mesibov, PhD (FRW). Designing Comprehensive Interventions for High-Functioning Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Ziggurat Model. Autism Asperger Publishing Company; August 31, 2011 Gary Mesibov; John B. Thomas; Michael Chapman. Teacch Transition Assessment Profile, Computer Version (Ttap-cv): Computer Version. Pro Ed; March 30, 2012

Awards For his work, Mesibov has received numerous awards within the United States and internationally, including: Autism Society of America's Founders Award 2013 Schopler Lifetime Achievement Award (UNC)