Jessica Simacek, Ph.D.

Dr. Jessica Simacek is a Research Associate at the University of Minnesota, in the Institute on Community Integration. Simacek developed and directs the current ICI Telehealth laboratory. Simacek is an expert in the areas of early intervention for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly focused on communication intervention for children with complex communication needs, and in the use of telehealth as an intervention delivery mechanism. She has expertise in the use of early intervention, augmentative and alternative communication, behavioral principles, and functional communication training to identify and treat challenging behavior. Simacek has an extensive background in early intervention programs, across home, clinical, and educational settings and she holds a PhD in Educational Psychology, Special Education from the University of Minnesota. Simacek serves as faculty in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (MNLEND) in the area of telehealth and early intervention, and is a former MNLEND Fellow.