Katie Brendli Brown

Katie Brendli Brown, Ph.D., is an Extension Associate for Cornell University’s Yang Tan Institute (YTI) on Employment and Disability in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Her research interests include promoting positive postsecondary transition and adult outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and self-determination/self-advocacy.

Currently at YTI, Dr. Brendli Brown supports a range of initiatives that tap into the breadth of her skill sets. This includes serving as researcher for Project ATTAIN (Autism Transition to Adulthood Initiative), which focuses on effective practices and predictors of post-school success for Autistic youth. Dr. Brendli Brown leads intervention and dissemination efforts for Project ATTAIN. Additionally, Dr. Brendli Brown serves as the co-PI for a National Science Foundation funded project, which focuses on the barriers and facilitators of successful pre-employment interview experiences for Autistic job candidates; this project uses a Participatory Action Research approach, in which the academic researchers collaborate and seek input from a group of community members (including Autistic adults, employers, and career counselors) throughout every phase of the mixed-methods research. On the EARN (Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion) research team, she supports their Rapid Cycle Research (RCR) approach to produce literature reviews and reports for the US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. The purpose of EARN is to increase the capacity of employers to recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities through the identification and dissemination of evidence-based polices and effective practices. In terms of program evaluation, Dr. Brendli Brown serves as an evaluator for a model demonstration project with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), called the Inclusive Career Advancement Program (ICAP).

Formerly for the YTI, she served as the lead qualitative researcher for a multi-year person-centered planning training intervention study and as a data associate for the New York Office of Special Education’s Partnership, in which she conducted project evaluation, professional development, and technical assistance to New York state regions in order to support greater data-based decisions within school districts to improve educational experiences and outcomes for youth with disabilities.

Lastly, Dr. Brendli Brown enjoys working with and supporting students, and thus, she serves as the academic advisor for Cornell University’s Best Buddies Chapter, which promotes one-to-one friendships for people with and without IDD.

*It is important to note that Dr. Brendli Brown’s profile uses both person-first and identity-first language. Dr. Brendli Brown strives to remain updated on the diverse preferences in disability-related terminology and strove to incorporate current (at date of publication) preferences accordingly into her profile.