Psychology Interest Network

Mission

AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As part of AAIDD, the Psychology Interest Network (PIN) promotes wellbeing and quality of life among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, research, and identifying and promoting effective behavioral health practices. PIN aims to connect psychologists, researchers, practitioners, educators, and self-advocates in the field to further the wellbeing and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Research Spotlight

Check out the research projects our 2026 AAIDD Psychology Interest Network Scholarship Recipients are working on!

Yfat Ben Refeal, PhD(c), OT M.Sc., ORCID

An Ecological Task for Assessing Executive Functions Skills at work in Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Name, current position, and current place of work:

Yfat Ben Refael, M.Sc., Teaching fellow & PhD student, Dept. of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Israel

What is your research area of interest?

My research focuses on the role of social-emotional functioning in everyday life and the use of technology in occupational therapy to enhance, simplify, and expand access to assessment and intervention.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on advancing vocational preparation for adults with cognitive disabilities through technology-based interventions, with a focus on supporting inclusion among minority populations in Israeli society. I also provide training and consultation to healthcare teams and lead the V-Job initiative, which develops free, accessible video modeling tools for individuals with disabilities.

When you are not engaging in research, what are some things you like to do for fun/relaxation?

I enjoy building community through organizing activities and hosting shared meals, creating connection, mutual support, and a sense of well-being for my family and neighbors.

If people are interested in contacting you to learn more about your research, how can they reach out?

I’ll be delighted to answer any question via this email: yfatb@ariel.ac.il

Rylee Duncan

Name, current position, and current place of work:

Rylee Duncan, Doctoral student at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center

What is your research area of interest?

My research interests focus on assessing health and well-being among individuals with intellectual disability, with particular emphasis on using self-report measures to capture and support their lived health and mental health experiences.

What are you currently working on?

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Psychology

When you are not engaging in research, what are some things you like to do for fun/relaxation?

When not engaging in research, I enjoy baking, crafting, and playing with my dog Ozzy

If people are interested in contacting you to learn more about your research, how can they reach out?

I can be reached at Duncan.1431@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Award

The Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Award is presented by the Psychology Interest Network (PIN) of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The award recognizes a mental health professional who is committed to empowering clinical practice or research that amplifies the inherent dignity of all people. This award may also be used to recognize mental health and/or psychology professionals that have faced significant adversity in their pursuit of justice for all people. Each year, the award will honor a demonstrated commitment against discriminatory and oppressive practices through research, clinical practice or political activism that advances social inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.

The award is named for Wolf Peregrin Joachim Wolfensberger, PhD (1934-2011), a leader in PIN and AAIDD whose research and practical skills influenced the discipline to focus on the fact that life has value. The award is meant to reflect the bravery of Wolfensberger who as a psychologist challenged the field with his innovative work and as a youth overcame a corrupt fascist system by immigrating to the United States.

Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Awardee 2026

Dr. Mark Salzer, PhD

Mark Salzer, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences in Temple University’s Barnett College of Public Health. He also serves as Principal Investigator and Director of the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities, a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research since 2003. Dr. Salzer earned his bachelor’s degree with distinction in sociology and psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical/community psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He completed his predoctoral clinical fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine.

His research has been shaped by the work of Wolf Wolfensberger and others who emphasize the importance of valued social roles—such as employment, education, relationships, leisure, faith, and volunteerism—for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other disabilities. Dr. Salzer’s work has expanded the understanding of individuals’ aspirations and engagement in these roles, the factors that impact participation, and the links between community participation and health outcomes, to the extent that he refers to it as a medical necessity. He has also developed and evaluated interventions designed to increase meaningful participation. More recently, Dr. Salzer has collaborated with colleagues at multiple universities to study the effectiveness of autistic-delivered peer support interventions, with a focus on enhancing community participation and mobility.

Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Awardees

Hall of Fame

2025 Joan B. Beasley, PHD

2024 Guy Caruso, PhD, FAAIDD

2023 Tim Barksdale, Psy.D., LMSW, NADD-CC

2022 Cameron Neece, Ph.D.

2020 Karyn Harvey, Ph.D.

2019 Carol Salas, Psy.D.

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