Adapted Cognitive Assessment Lab (ACAL) Team Members
Core Faculty
Seth Warschausky, Ph.D.
Dr. Warschausky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, founder of the ACAL and Principal Investigator of a number of NIH, NIDRR and private foundation funded studies. Dr. Warschausky's research focuses on the psychometrics of adapted neuropsychological assessment, neuropsychology of neurodevelopmental conditions, and the social development of children with disabilities. He co-founded Section 1:Pediatric Rehabilitation Psychology of APA’s Division 22, Rehabilitation Psychology and is an APA Fellow.
Marie Van Tubbergen, Ph.D.
Dr. Van Tubbergen is a Clinical Lecturer in PM&R. Her research interests include development of adapted techniques and accessible measures for use in neuropsychological assessment. Currently she is refining assessment processes to examine phonological processing abilities and ADHD symptoms among children with speech and motor impairments. In addition to her academic interests, Dr. Van Tubbergen is also the pediatric psychologist at MedRehab NeuroRehabilitation Program, an outpatient, multi-disciplinary rehabilitation program.
Jacqueline Kaufman, Ph.D.
Dr. Jacqueline Kaufman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She completed a predoctoral internship at the Columbus Children's Hospital and has published in the area of executive functioning and neuroimaging. She joined the faculty in 2005 after a T-32 Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Michigan. Dr. Kaufman's general research interests include the study of neuropsychological functioning in chronically ill pediatric populations. Specific research interests involve the use of basic cognitive neuroscience protocols during adapted neuropsychological testing of children with motoric and language impairments. She is currently funded through both the NIH and the NIDRR to examine visual inspection time in children with Cerebral Palsy.
Research Administrators
Lynn Driver, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ms. Driver is the senior clinician in the Department of Speech Pathology and supervisor of the Pediatric Speech Pathology division. Ms. Driver has 23 years of clinical experience in speech pathology, and has been at Mott for 20 years. In addition to her supervisory responsibilities, Ms. Driver directs the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Clinic at Mott, and staffs a multidisciplinary evaluation clinic specializing in differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. She also works closely with pediatric neurology and otolaryngology in assessment and treatment of pediatric neurogenic and voice disorders. She has published numerous chapters on communication and swallowing in the ventilator assisted population. Ms. Driver has also presented at the state and national levels on a wide variety of speech and language topics. Ms. Driver has also volunteered for the past 18 years at the University of Michigan Trail’s Edge Camp for Ventilator Assisted Children, where she has assisted with a variety of adapted activities for children, including the tree climbing program.
Donna Riccio Omichinski, B.A., C.C.R.P.
Ms. Omichinski is the Study Coordinator of the Adapted Cognitive Assessment Lab in the Department of PM&R at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include successful collaboration strategies in curriculum planning and constructive advocacy methods for parents of children with disabilities. She has developed a model that demonstrates a systematic and positive intervention strategy for parents of children with special needs to implement when collaborating with schools and service providers which was presented at the 2005 National TASH Conference. She has authored parent-directed publications that address the use of adapted assessment and their incorporation into educational planning and has also authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications focusing on the use of adapted technology and choice-making. She has served as a parent representative to her home school district’s Special Education Steering Committee. She currently serves as a member to the Ministry of Persons with disAbilities in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lansing (Michigan), is the co-organizer of a support group for parents of children with special needs at her home parish, and has developed adapted religious education curriculum (in publication). Donna is the parent of a child with a disability.
Nicole Miller, B.A.
Mrs. Miller is a Research Associate for the Adapted Cognitive Assessment Lab in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan. She has several years of clinical and research administration experience working with children and their families in rehabilitation psychology. Also, Mrs. Miller has been a member of the Ghana Medical Rehabilitation Group (GMRG), a nonprofit organization working toward building a sustainable rehabilitation model for the country of Ghana and its people. Mrs. Miller is completing her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Michigan. She has expierence as an intern with several homeless family service programs at the SOS Community Services Center. Her research interests include refugee and newly immigrated minority populations as well as the impact of poverty on the education and development of children. Mrs. Miller is also a successful entrepreneur and owner of a small business that she established in 2005.
Danielle Sandella, B.S.
Ms. Sandella is a Research Associate in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Movement Science from Michigan's Division of Kinesiology in 2008. She has previously assisted in research projects involving children with Down Syndrome and adults with spinal cord injuries. She also has experience working with children with disabilities in adapted physical education in the Ann Arbor public school system. Danielle plans to pursue a Master's degree in pediatric rehabilitation.
Post Doctoral Fellows
Laura Shank, PsyD.
University of Michigan
Dr. Shank is a post doctoral fellow in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan. She completed her predoctoral training at LaRabida Children’s Hospital and graduated from Pacific University with an emphasis in pediatric psychology. Her general research interests include the use of adapted measures in neuropsychological assessments and factors which influence successful coping/adjustment to chronic illness and disabilities.
Stacie Leffard, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Dr. Leffard is a post doctoral fellow in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan. She earned her doctorate in School Psychology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She completed her predoctoral internship at Allegheny Intermediate Unit and The Watson Institute. Her general research interests include psychometrics of traditional and adapted neuropsychological assessments and neuropsychological functioning following acquired brain injury.
Shana Asbell, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
In addition to working as a clinical speech-language pathologist for more than ten years, Dr. Asbell earned a doctor of philosophy degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in pediatric neuropsychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Asbell’s clinical experiences include working in a variety of organizations, including not-for-profit clinics, private practice, schools, and hospitals with children who present with a variety of neurodevelopmental, neurobehavioral, and neurocognitive disorders. She has provided assessment and therapeutic treatment for children ranging in age from preschool to young adulthood, as well as consultation to their families and other professionals regarding the speech/language and cognitive rehabilitation needs of neurologically-impaired children. Dr. Asbell is a post-doctoral resident in Mary Free Bed’s Neuropsychology Department. She is the co-author of two books: The Source for PDD: Assessment and Intervention and The Source for TBI in Children and Adolescents.
Collaborators
Jacobus Donders, PhD
Chief Psychologist
Mary Free Bed Hospital
Dr. Donders is the Chief Psychologist at Mary Free Bed Hospital & Rehabilitation Center in Grand Rapids, MI. He is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in both Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology. He has authored or co-authored more than 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology and of the American Psychological Association. His main research interests include construct and criterion validity of neuropsychological test instruments and prediction of outcome in congenital disorders and acquired brain injury.
Judith Greenbaum, PhD
Educational Consultant
Dr. Greenbaum is an Educational Consultant to Intermediate School Districts and a member of the Michigan Council on Transition Services in the Department of Mental Health/Michigan Jobs Commission, Special Needs Advisory Council of Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw Intermediate School District Long Range Planning Coordinating Committee, Advisory Board to the Student Advocacy Center at the University of Michigan and a Family Advocate. Dr. Greenbaum is the author of 30 consumer and professional publications. She has given over 50 workshops and presentations in local and national meetings. Dr. Greenbaum is the parent of young adult with severe cognitive impairments.
Edward Hurvitz, M.D.
Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Michigan
Dr. Hurvitz’s research interests include Treatment of spasticity, characteristics and treatments of traumatic injuries in the pediatric population.
Rita Ayyangar, M.D.
University of Michigan
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Ayyangar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation who is board certified in both Pediatrics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Ayyangar's research interests are in spasticity management and traumatic brain injury.
