Laura DeThorne

Dr. Laura DeThorne is an associated professor of Speech & Hearing Science at the University of Illinois and an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. Her work over the last 20 years has focused on understanding individual and group differences in language development and the potential implications for education and intervention practices. With the intent of bridging biomedical and social models of disability, Dr. DeThorne's clinical research has centered on children diagnosed with autism, users of augmentative and alternative technology (AAC), and developmental apraxia of speech. She also collaborates with Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton to raise awareness regarding how race and culture intersect with our understanding of disability. Dr. DeThorne has presented her work internationally, has published more than 40 papers, and has been funded by multiple agencies, including the National Institutes of Health.