Philip Strain

Phil Strain, Ph.D. is the author of the original grant that funded the development of the inclusive LEAP Preschool Model for young children with autism in 1980, has authored over 300 professional papers in the early intervention field and conducted the largest randomized, controlled trial of an autism intervention (LEAP) to date (Strain & Bovey, 2011).  Dr. Strain also co-authored the original grant to fund the development of The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) and he has recently led the efforts to eliminate suspension and expulsion using the Pyramid Model and, in adapting the Pyramid Model for implementation in inclusive early childhood programs.  He is the recipient of multiple professional awards and the only special educator to have received career achievement awards from the International Council for Exceptional Children in Teaching and Research.