Ashleigh Hillier, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Massachusetts Lowell


Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Aspirations:

Social and Vocational
Skills Support Program
for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

The Network:

A Monthly Social and Vocational
Skills Support Program
for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Chapters Book Club:

A Book Club
for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Connections:

A support group for UMass Lowell students with Asperger's syndrome.

Horizons:

A mentoring program for university bound adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Fit and Fun:

Physical Exercise and Relaxation Program for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Cafe Career Chat:

A discussion based group focusing on employment skills and careers for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

SoundScape:

 Music Program for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Movie Club:

Movie Club for high functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.


Research Opportunities for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their Families.

Employment Outcomes for Young Adults on the autism spectrum.

Experiences and Challenges Faced by Parents / Guardians of adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.


Dr. Hillier's
Course Pages

General Psychology

Psychology of Developmental Disabilities

Seminar in Clinical Psychology 47.475

Community Service 47.486

Interdisciplinary Minor in Disability Studies

Specialization in Developmental Disabilities


Useful Links

UML Department of Psychology 

UML Library 

American Psychological Association

Association for Psychological Science

APA style

 

Contact

Office: 1 Mahoney

Phone: (978) 934-2930

Email Dr. Hillier

Office Hours

Wednesdays 1.00 - 2.00 PM; Thursdays 11.00am-1.00pm
and by appointment


Education
 

Psychology University of Lincoln, U.K.

Post-doctoral fellow, The Ohio State University
Department of Neurology.


Professional Interests

Dr. Hillier’s main research interests include neuropsychology, psychophysiology, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The focus of her research is the processing and understanding of affective material among those on the autism spectrum.

Dr. Hillier’s research includes investigations of emotional memory, physiological responsiveness and subsequent memory for emotion eliciting stimuli, and the effects of psychosocial stress on cognition among those with ASD.

Dr. Hillier is also interested in pharmacological modulation of cognition among various patient populations including those with Broca’s aphasia, mild cognitive impairment, and drug abusers. Dr. Hillier’s interests in neuroimaging have included collaborating on projects using fMRI to identify critical functional areas prior to brain tumor resection, examining functional connectivity associated with semantic and phonological processing, and evaluating pharmacological interventions using fMRI.

Dr. Hillier’s applied research program focuses on her social and vocational skills support group, “Aspirations,” for adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum. Dr. Hillier also runs other programs for adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum including "The Network" Program, "Fit and Fun" Physical Exercise and Relaxation Program, the "Chapters" Book Club, a Movie Club, a college preparation mentoring program "Horizons", a support group for UML students with Asperger's Syndrome "Connections", an employment preparation program "Cafe Career Chat", and the "SoundScape" music program.
 

Dr. Hillier's Curriculum Vitae.