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The Clinical Center for the Study of Development & Learning UNC Center For Development & Learning

Faculty & Staff Bio

Faculty
Speech-Language Pathology

Debra Reinhartsen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Section Head
Director of Dissemination and Community Outreach
Assistant Professor, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, UNC Chapel Hill

 

EDUCATION
  • Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2003, Education
  • M.Ed. University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1981, Speech-Language Pathology
  • B.A. Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan 1978, Psychology

RESEARCH AND CLINICAL INTERESTS

InteDevelopment of social and communication skills in young children with autism, visual impairment, severe physical impairment, rare diseases, and sensory impairment; augmentative and alternative communication, interdisciplinary team assessment and intervention

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I was born in upstate New York; however North Carolina has been my home since 1963.  Since beginning work at CDL in 1989 as an interdisciplinary team member, I have provided assessments and intervention services to individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities and have headed the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Program.  I also have managed several training grants focused on providing training, consultation, and technical assistance to service providers and families of children with severe communication and physical impairments, and have authored several publications related to children with disabilities.  Currently, I am involved in a number of different projects that include an epidemiological study of children with autism, assessing access to services in NC for adults with intellectual disabilities, providing AAC consultation to individuals with severe communication deficits, providing best practice interdisciplinary AAC assessments, and training interdisciplinary autism and AAC assessment teams across the state.  Outside of work, I love to spend time outdoors biking, hiking, skiing and playing with my dog.  I love to read, go to the beach, collect Native American pottery and take pictures of lighthouses. 


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2003 – present      Director of Dissemination, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
2003 – present           Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
2001 - 2003           Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Department of Human Services, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
1988 –present Speech-Language Pathology Section Head, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
1993-2003        

Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
1991-1998 Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
1989-1991             Visiting Clinical Scientist, Speech-Language Pathology, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
1984-1989             Speech-Language Pathologist, Alamance Developmental Center /PACT/ Outreach, Burlington, NC
1981-1984             Speech-Language Pathologist, Randolph Mental Health, Early Childhood Intervention Program, Frannie Lemmons Developmental Center, Asheboro, NC

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Reinhartsen, D.B. (2003) Young children with autism: How do child choice and teacher selection of toys affect engagement in
              toy play?  Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Reinhartsen, D.B., Garfinkle, A.N., & Wolery, M. (2002).  Engagement with toys in two-year-old children with autism: Teacher
             selection versus child choice. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 27, 175-187.

Baranek, G.T., Reinhartsen, D.B., & Wannamaker, S.W. (2001).  Play:  Engaging children with autism.  In T. Huebner (Ed).
              Autism: A sensorimotor approach to management. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Reinhartsen, D.B. (2000).  Preverbal communicative competence: An essential step in the lives of infants with severe physical
             impairment.  Infants and Young Children, 13, 49-59.

Edmondson, R, & Reinhartsen, D.B.  (1998). The young child with cleft lip and palate:  Intervention needs in the first three
             years.  Infants and Young Children, 11, 12-20.

Reinhartsen, D.B., Edmondson, R. & Crais, E. (1997).  Developing assistive technology strategies for infants and toddlers with
             communication difficulties.  Seminars in Speech and Language, 18, 283-301.