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IHDD Researcher Spotlight: Daisy Hu, Ph.D.
Dr. Daisy Xiaotian Hu is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington (UW) and Seattle Children’s Autism Center. A bilingual provider (English and Mandarin), Dr. Hu specializes in autism and developmental disabilities. She is also an alumna of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at both the University of Missouri and UW.
Clinically, Dr. Hu provides care through Seattle Children’s Autism Center with Dr. Felice Orlich and the UW Adult Autism Clinic with Dr. Gary Stobbe. She is also a fellow in the Adult Neurodevelopmental Wellness (ANeW) program, a state-funded pilot initiative aimed at supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in reintegrating into their communities of choice after justice involvement.
Dr. Hu’s research focuses on promoting well-being, employment, and post-secondary education for neurodivergent individuals. Currently, she leads several research projects, including a study on housing needs for individuals with IDD, research on the psychological well-being of autistic college students (in partnership with Simons Powering Autism Research – SPARK), investigations into the employment of autistic individuals, and studies on the well-being of gender- and neuro-diverse individuals. She also partners closely with Seattle Children’s Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center (ABC) on initiatives that promote community involvement and well-being for adults with IDD.
Dr. Hu is deeply committed to addressing disparities in autism services and care access for under-resourced communities. She is key member of the Collaborative Autism School Assessment and Development Efforts (CASCADES) program which aims at improving access to timely autism evaluations for children and families from marginalized backgrounds. Through CASCADES, Dr. Hu provides clinical training/consultation for local school teams and conducts outreach to evaluate how school-clinic collaborations can improve outcomes for underserved youth and families.
Background:
Dr. Hu was born and raised in China, where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She later earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2024. She spent five years as a graduate clinician at the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Missouri before completing her residency at UW and deciding to stay on as a postdoctoral fellow.
Interests & Hobbies:
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Hu enjoys spending time with her cat, Mr. Burger, as well as running, cooking, and hiking. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Dr. Daisy Xiaotian Hu is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington (UW) and Seattle Children’s Autism Center. A bilingual provider (English and Mandarin), Dr. Hu specializes in autism and developmental disabilities. She is also an alumna of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at both the University of Missouri and UW.
Clinically, Dr. Hu provides care through Seattle Children’s Autism Center with Dr. Felice Orlich and the UW Adult Autism Clinic with Dr. Gary Stobbe. She is also a fellow in the Adult Neurodevelopmental Wellness (ANeW) program, a state-funded pilot initiative aimed at supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in reintegrating into their communities of choice after justice involvement.
Dr. Hu’s research focuses on promoting well-being, employment, and post-secondary education for neurodivergent individuals. Currently, she leads several research projects, including a study on housing needs for individuals with IDD, research on the psychological well-being of autistic college students (in partnership with Simons Powering Autism Research – SPARK), investigations into the employment of autistic individuals, and studies on the well-being of gender- and neuro-diverse individuals. She also partners closely with Seattle Children’s Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center (ABC) on initiatives that promote community involvement and well-being for adults with IDD.
Dr. Hu is deeply committed to addressing disparities in autism services and care access for under-resourced communities. She is key member of the Collaborative Autism School Assessment and Development Efforts (CASCADES) program which aims at improving access to timely autism evaluations for children and families from marginalized backgrounds. Through CASCADES, Dr. Hu provides clinical training/consultation for local school teams and conducts outreach to evaluate how school-clinic collaborations can improve outcomes for underserved youth and families.
Background:
Dr. Hu was born and raised in China, where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She later earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2024. She spent five years as a graduate clinician at the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Missouri before completing her residency at UW and deciding to stay on as a postdoctoral fellow.
Interests & Hobbies:
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Hu enjoys spending time with her cat, Mr. Burger, as well as running, cooking, and hiking. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
