Purnima Gorrepati
Papers
1
Total Citations
8
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Purnima Gorrepati is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of special education and STEM pedagogy, with a primary focus on improving social communication outcomes for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her most cited study, "Using a STEM activity to improve social communication interactions in autism spectrum disorder" (2020, 8 citations), demonstrates a novel, group-based intervention that leverages collaborative science, technology, engineering, and math tasks to foster natural social engagement. This work addresses a critical gap: while social communication deficits are pronounced during adolescence, many interventions fail to engage this age group. By embedding social skill practice within a structured, interest-driven STEM activity, Gorrepati offers a replicable, ecologically valid approach that bridges academic learning and therapeutic goals. Her research highlights how hands-on, problem-solving contexts can serve as powerful scaffolds for peer interaction, moving beyond traditional didactic methods. Though early in her career, Gorrepati’s contributions are already shaping inclusive educational practices, providing educators and clinicians with evidence-based strategies to support neurodiverse learners in both academic and social domains.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1