Anna Laakman, MEd

Anna Laakman

Undergraduate School
Wake Forest University

Graduate School
University of Missouri (MEd); University of Houston (PhD)

 

 

Interests & Career Goals

My interests include the female phenotype of autism, autistic camouflaging, and improving mental health outcomes for autistic individuals. 

Favorite Pastimes

Live music, documentaries, cooking, exploring new places, spending time outdoors.

Why I Chose Duke

I chose Duke because it is an outstanding institution that I felt would best meet my training goals! 

Research interests

Autistic camouflaging during adolescence and neurodiversity identity development.

Publications/Abstracts

  • Perkovich, E., Sun, L., Mire, S., Laakman, A., Sakhuja, U., & Yoshida, H. (2022). What children with and without ASD see: Similar visual experiences with different pathways through parental attention strategies. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, https://doi.org/10.1177/23969415221137293.
  • Miller, L.E., Laakman, A., Berry, L.N. (2022). Overview of diagnostic criteria, prevalence, and common symptom presentations. In K. Banneyer & R. H. Fein (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Types of Treatment. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers. 
  • Mire, S. S., Tan, S. X., Laakman, A., Selders, K., Stevens, M., & Nowell, K. P. (2022). School-based interventions and modifications for students with autism. In K. Banneyer & R. H. Fein (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Types of Treatment. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers. 
  • Nowell, K. P., Selders, K., & Stevens, M., Tan, S. X., Laakman, A., & Mire, S. S. (2022). School-based evaluations for autism. In K. Banneyer & R. H. Fein (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Types of Treatment. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
  • Goin-Kochel, R. P., Scaglia, F., Schaaf, C. P., Berry, L. N., Dang, D., Nowel, K. P., Laakman, A. L., Dowell, L. R., Minard, C. G., Loh, A., & Beaudet, A. L. (2019). Side effects and behavioral outcomes following high-dose carnitine supplementation among young males with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. Global Pediatric Health. doi: 10.1177/2333794X19830696
  • Martin-Brevet, S., Rodríguez-Herreros, B., Nielsen, J. A., Moreau, C., Modenato, C., Maillard, A. M., ... & Murray, R. (2018). Quantifying the effects of 16p11. 2 copy number variants on brain structure: a multisite genetic-first study. Biological psychiatry, 84(4), 253-264.

Poster Presentations

  • Laakman, A. L., Mire, S.S., Keller-Margulis, M., Kanne, S.M., Fan, W. & Llorens, A. (2024, May 15-18). Identity language preferences: Autistic adolescents and parents. Poster accepted for the International Society of Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
  • Perkovich, E.S., Mire, S.S., Sun, L., Laakman, A.L., Sakyi, G.S., Sakhuja, U., Lagbenro, S., Yoshida, H. (2022, May, 11-14). Gaze behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder and the impact of parental gaze behaviors on joint attention. Virtual poster accepted for the International Society of Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Conference, Austin, TX.
  • Vazquez, M., Laakman, A.L., Loria E.S., Tan, S.X, & Keller-Margulis, M. (2022, August 4-6). Curriculum-based measurement in Spanish: A systematic review [Conference poster presentation]. American Psychological Association (APA) 2022 Convention, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Goin-Kochel, R, Kanne, S, & Laakman, A. (2012, March). The early onset+regression ASD phenotype in the Simons simplex collection. Poster session presented at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Annapolis, Maryland.
  • Laakman, A. (2009, April). Pivotal response training. Poster session presented at the Thompson Center Poster Symposium, Columbia, Missouri.

Other Presentations & Invited Talks

  • Laakman, A.L., Messerli, M., Mire, S.S., Lozano, I. (2024, February 14). Updates in autism research: What school psychologists need to know. Presentation submitted for the National Association of School Psychologists 2024 Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.
  • Mire, S. S., Laakman, A., & Davis, B. (2023, March). Preparing preschoolers with autism for school: Social scaffolding as a means to increasing school readiness. Paper session presented in E. Perkovich (Chair) symposium (The Role of Early Social Scaffolding in Atypical Development) at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Ayala-Brittain, M. L., Laakman, A., Luu M. N., Duran, B., Mire, S. S., Goin-Kochel, R. P., Keller-Margulis, M. A., Fan, W. (2023, February). Cross-system collaboration: Considerations for children with autism. Paper presentation submitted for the National Association of School Psychologists 2023 Annual Convention, Denver, CO.
  • Ayala, M. L., Luu M. N., Laakman, A., Mire, S. S., Goin-Kochel, R. P., Keller-Margulis, M. A., Fan, W.  (2022, February, 16-18). Special education discussions in primary care for children with autism. Paper session accepted for the National Association of School Psychologists 2022 Annual Convention, Boston, MA.  
  • Ayala, M. L., Luu M. N., Laakman, A., Mire, S. S., Goin-Kochel, R. P., Keller-Margulis, M. A., Fan, W.  (2022, April 7-9). Enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration between pediatric primary care and schools: Primary care providers’ special education discussions with families of children with autism. Paper session submitted to the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ. 
  • Vazquez, M., Loria, E. S., Tan, S., Laakman, A. L., Keller-Margulis, M. (2021, February 23 - 26) CBM in Other Languages: A Systematic Review [Conference oral presentation]. National Association of School Psychology (NASP) 2021 Virtual Conference.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2023, 11). Collaborating with Providers: Building Partnerships to Support Children and Families. Presentation at the Louisiana School Psychology Association Conference, Lafayette, LA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2022, 11). Cultural considerations and autism spectrum disorders. Presentation at the Louisiana School Psychology Association Conference, Lafayette, LA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2022, 10). Autism evaluation in schools. Presentation for Clear Creek Independent School District, Houston, TX.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2022, 5). ASD and girls: What we know, what we don’t know, and where we go from here. Presentation for Texas Children’s Hospital Autism Center, Houston, TX.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2022, 2). Autism spectrum disorders & genetic syndromes: Helpful information for school professionals. Presentation for Katy Independent School District, Katy, TX.  
  • Laakman, A.L. (2021, 11). Autism spectrum disorder and girls. Presentation at the Louisiana School Psychology Association Conference, Lafayette, LA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2021, 11) Intervention considerations for autism spectrum disorders. Presentation for the Westview School, Houston, TX.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2021, 8) Incorporating ADOS-2 into school evaluations. Presentation at Region 17 Education Service Center, Lubbock, TX.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2021, 7) Girls and autism spectrum disorders. Presentation at the Autism Society of North Louisiana Summer Institute, Monroe, LA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2018, 11). Autism spectrum disorder and girls. Presentation at the Louisiana School Psychology Association Conference, Lafayette, LA.
  • Laakman, A.L., & Carriere, J. (2018, 2) Autism spectrum disorder: Coming to a classroom near you. Presentation for Garden Grove Unified School’s Professional Development, Garden Grove, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2017, 11). Autism research and schools: Panel discussion. Panel discussion at the Louisiana School Psychology Association Conference, Lafayette, LA.
  • Kanne, S., & Laakman, A.L. (2017, 11). ADOS-2 booster training. Workshop at the Louisiana School Psychology Association Conference, Lafayette, LA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2017, 11). Emergency preparedness. Presentation for the Irvine Community Emergency Response Team, Irvine, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2017, 10). Autism spectrum disorders. Presentation for the Orange County School Readiness Nurses, Irvine, CA.
  • Kanne, S., & Laakman, A.L. (2017, 9). ADOS-2 booster training. Workshop for the Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Annual Autism Conference: Strengthening Assessment and Supporting Intervention, Orange, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2017, 4). Understanding autism. Presentation for the South Coast Children’s Society, Anaheim, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2016, 10). What is autism? Presentation for the St. Mark Community Preschool, Newport Beach, CA.
  • Carriere, J., & Laakman, A.L. (2016, 8). Supporting behavior management for para-professionals. Presentation for the Orange County Department of Education Professional Development Days, Costa Mesa, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L., & Carriere, J. (2016, 4). An introduction to autism spectrum disorders. Presentation for The Orange County Superior Court Family Law Judges, Santa Ana, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2016, 4). An overview of autism spectrum disorders. Presentation for the Irvine Valley College Faculty, Irvine, CA.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2015, 7). Safety considerations and autism spectrum disorder. Presentation for the Boone County Fire District, Columbia, MO.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2015, 3). Screening and referral for children with ASD. Presentation for the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2015, 3; 2015, 1; 2014, 8; 2014, 5). Next steps for parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Presentation for the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Columbia, MO
  • Laakman, A.L. (2014, 10). Keeping our kids safe: Safety considerations and ASD. Keynote Presentation for the Easter Seals Midwest Annual Conference, Columbia, MO.
  • Laakman, A.L. (2014, 11; 2013, 10). Autism and crisis situations: Considerations for first responders. Presentation for the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia, MO.