Understanding Autism with Megan Taylor

Hello! My name is Megan Taylor (she/her), and I am a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. I’m originally from Minneapolis, MN, and this semester, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve as a Gil Intern at the TEACCH Autism Program.

My interest in the human brain and neuroscience originated from early personal experiences that highlighted how severe neurological conditions and behavioral health crises fundamentally influence daily function. These observations sparked my curiosity regarding the neural underpinnings of behavior, inspiring me to understand how the brain shapes our interactions with the world. I began exploring this in high school through volunteer work with senior citizens affected by dementia and classmates with developmental disabilities. Since coming to UNC, I’ve continued to cultivate these passions through research with the PRIME lab, where I assisted in the investigation of biomarkers involved in psychosis, volunteering with UNC Hospitals, and now through my clinical internship with TEACCH.

The TEACCH Autism Program is a statewide system of regional centers offering diagnostic, educational, and intervention services for individuals on the autism spectrum. At the Chapel Hill TEACCH Center, I work under the guidance of my mentor, Carmen Caruthers, Ph.D., providing clinical support during sessions and assisting with both research and clinical initiatives.

My daily tasks involve supporting our registered behavioral technician (RBT) during TEACCH for Toddlers sessions, an intervention therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) under the age of four. I create activities and materials tailored to each child, following the Early Start Denver Model, which uses structured play and joint activities to promote communication and social skills. I also had the opportunity to observe pediatric feeding sessions, helping devise strategies to introduce new food items for children with ASD who struggle with dietary variety. One particularly memorable success involved helping a young client introduce new foods through a stepwise approach: first facilitating taste contact, then placing the item between his teeth, and finally taking a bite. This approach allowed him to gradually incorporate new foods into his diet.

In addition to my role in clinical support, I assisted during a five-day training for professionals who work with children and adolescents with ASD. This training involved the participants (teachers, principals, speech therapists, occupational therapists, etc.), experienced TEACCH trainers, and four students with ASD aged 6-18 whom the participants and trainers worked with. I helped the trainers by crafting instructional materials for the week and spent time supporting the students during periods when participants were engaged elsewhere. This experience allowed me to observe how professionals from diverse backgrounds can learn and apply TEACCH strategies in real-time. I also attended the TEACCH fall conference, where I had the opportunity to hear from professionals across the state on innovative strategies and approaches in autism care.

This internship has been profoundly rewarding. I’ve gained insight into the incredible heterogeneity of autism, recognizing the wide range of personalities and the many different forms ASD can take. It has been incredibly fulfilling to witness the developmental highs and lows of the individuals I worked with, but overall, to see so much growth because of consistent, tailored intervention. Beyond skill development, this experience has strengthened my confidence in a clinical setting, particularly when interacting with toddlers.

I am deeply grateful to the TEACCH team for welcoming me so warmly, to my mentor Dr. Carmen Caruthers, to the RBT Chloe Breedlove, and to Dr. Steve Buzinski and Richie Gray for supporting me through the Gil Internship. TEACCH has shown me the importance of patience, creativity, and connection in clinical work, and I will carry these lessons with me as I continue exploring the intersection of neuroscience, behavior, and clinical care.