Dr Liezl Schlebusch was recently chosen as a recipient of an Emerging Researcher Award from the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) and Autism Speaks. She received this award at the Regional International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) Conference in Stellenbosch in September 2017. 

Dr Schlebusch presented two papers based on her PhD thesis, entitled 'Families raising a child with autism spectrum disorder: determining the relationship between family routines and family quality of life', which was supervised by Dr Alecia Samuels and Prof Shakila Dada from the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC)) at the University of Pretoria. She also attended a day-long development workshop for emerging researchers hosted by international researchers in the field. Dr Schlebusch is currently a postdoctoral fellow with Prof Dada at the CAAC and is an alumna of the Centre, having completed her PhD, master's in early childhood intervention and honours in AAC there. 

The Centre is exceptionally proud of Dr Schlebusch and would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to her.