Dr. Xu received her doctorate in disability studies from the University of Illinois Chicago and a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago. She also completed a multidisciplinary training fellowship at UIC through Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disability and Related Disabilities (LEND).
Dr. Xu’s research lies in the intersection of health disparity and disability. In the Chicago area, she worked on community-based research with underserved immigrant families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities to reduce barriers to healthcare. Globally, she works with youth with disabilities in China on issues related to disability identity development, community capacity building and health equity.
Recently, Dr. Xu was awarded a three-year grant from the Administration of Community Living, NIDILRR to adapt Parents Taking Action intervention for Black, Latinx, and Chinese families of children with autism into microlearning E-health modules and pilot test it.