Lisa Ruble
Earl F. Smith Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Autism
Curriculum Vitae
About Lisa Ruble
Dr. Lisa Ruble is a clinician–researcher whose work focuses on developing and evaluating interventions designed for successful implementation in real-world settings. Her research aims to improve quality of life and educational and treatment outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as for their caregivers and educators. Dr. Ruble has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters. She serves on the editorial board of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders and regularly reviews grants for federal funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Professional Experience
Dr. Ruble is the developer of COMPASS (Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success), an evidence-based parent–teacher consultation intervention designed to improve special education outcomes for students with ASD. COMPASS has been evaluated in four NIH-funded studies and replicated by an independent group of researchers. It is currently being examined in an
Institute of Education Sciences funded study to improve outcomes across home, school, and community settings by strengthening collaboration and support for better transition outcomes. More information about COMPASS and access for schools and families is available through the Autism Services Research Group website.
Dr. Ruble also lead research funded by the Institute of
Education Sciences to evaluate BREATHE-EASE, a burnout prevention and wellness intervention for special education teachers. This work focuses on supporting educator well-being while improving the sustainability of evidence-based practices in schools.
Education
- B.S. Indiana University (Biology)
- M.S. Purdue University (Rehabilitation Psychology)
- Ph.D. Indiana University (Educational Psychology / School Psychology)
Select Publications and Research
Rubenstein, L. D., Nsiah, E., Xiong, Q., Love, A. M. A., Morehouse, N., & Ruble, L. (2025). Transition Planning for Students With Autism: Building Effective Teams Through Role Recognition, Communication, and Trust. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349491.2025.2576443
Ruble, L., McGrew, J. H., Dueber, D., & Salyers, M. P. (2024). BREATHE-EASE Goals for Reducing Special Education Teacher Burnout. Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, 48(1), 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/08884064241288262 (Original work published 2025)
Ruble, L., McGrew, J., Dale, B. et al. Goal Attainment Scaling: An Idiographic Measure Sensitive to Parent and Teacher Report of IEP Goal Outcome Assessment for Students with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 52, 3344–3352 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05213-3
Ruble, L.A., McGrew, J.H., Toland, M. et al. Randomized Control Trial of COMPASS for Improving Transition Outcomes of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 3586–3595 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3623-9
Ruble, L. A., McGrew, J. H., Toland, M. D., Dalrymple, N. J., & Jung, L. A. (2013). A randomized controlled trial of COMPASS web-based and face-to-face teacher coaching in autism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81(3), 566–572. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032003
McGrew, J., Ruble, L., Cormier, C., and Dueber, D. (2023). Special educators’ mental health and burnout: A comparison of general and teacher specific risk factors. Teaching and Teacher Education.
Ruble, L., McGrew, J., Fischer, M., Findley, J., & Stayton, R. (2023). School and intrapersonal predictors and stability of rural special education teacher burnout. Rural Special Education Quarterly.
McGrew, J., Yu, Y., Ruble, L., & Murray, D., (2023) Predictive analysis of parent activation and ASD: Predictors and sensitivity to change. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder.
Ruble, L., Love, A., McGrew, J., Yue, Y., Fischer, M., & Salyers, M.. (2023). Stakeholder perspectives of adaptations of a burnout intervention for special education teachers. Psychology in the Schools.
Parsley, M., Pewitt, A., King., H., & Ruble, L. (2023). Benefits of a weeklong summer academy to prepare Students with intellectual disabilities for college. Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education.
Davis, S., Annis, I., Hughes, P., DeJong,N., Chrisian, R., Ruble, L., & Thomas, K. (2023). Patterns of mental health service use during the transition to adulthood among autistic adolescents and young adults. Autism in Adulthood.
Ogle, L., Ruble, L., Toland, M., McGrew, J., 2023). Impact of type and dosage of performance feedback following COMPASS consultation on teacher adherence and student goal attainment outcomes. Remedial and Special Education. Manuscript in press.