Siva priya Santhanam, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Educational Experience
2014 - Ph.D. Communication Sciences and Disorders. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA
2008 - Masters in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
2006 - Bachelors in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
Awards
2025 - Women of Distinction, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
2024 - Clyde R. Willis Faculty Development Award, College of Health and Human Services, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
2022 - Outstanding Scholarship Award, College of Health and Applied Sciences, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
2020 - Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
Grants
2025 - Optimal Aging Institute Small Grant
2024 - Steve's Way Foundation
2023 - BGSU Building Strength: Small Grants for Research and Creative Activities (SGA-CA)
2021 - Provost Mini-Grant, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
2020 - Advancing Academic and Research Careers Award (AARC), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2018 – College of Letters Arts & Sciences Professional Development Grant, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
2013 - Graduate Research Grant, Organization for Autism Research
2013 - Katzner Graduate Student Research Award, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
Peer-Reviewed Publications
VanUitert, V. J., Brown, B., & Santhanam, S. (2025). Exploring the efficacy of disability coursework on preservice teachers’ beliefs about disability. Teacher Education and Special Education, 48(4). Advance online publication, https://doi.org/10.1177/08884064251386800
Santhanam, S. & Kevelder, A. (2025). Cultivating a Global Understanding of Neurodiversity: Challenges and Opportunities for Speech-Language Pathologists. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups SIG 17. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_PERSP-25-00006
Santhanam, S., Harn, M., Wilson, K., Kashinath, S., VanUitert, V., Barnett, A. (2025). The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Role in Supporting Autistic Students in Post-Secondary Education Settings. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00467
Harn, M., Saar, K., Santhanam, S. & Heydari, S. (2025). The Diagnostic Journey of Autistic Women as Shared on TikTok. Research in Autism, 120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202529
Santhanam, S. & Wilson, K. (2024). Autistic and Non-autistic College Students’ Perceived Challenges and Engagement in Self-advocacy. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. 33(3), 1471-1484. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-22-00381
Santhanam, S. (2023). An Interactive and Neurodiversity Affirming Approach to Communication Supports for Autistic Students through Videogaming. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. 54(1),120 - 139. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_LSHSS-22-00027
Waisman, TC., Williams, Z.J., Cage, E., Santhanam, S., Magiati, I., Dwyer, P., Stockwell, K.M., Brown, H., Kofner, B., Davidson, D., Herrell, J., Shore, S., Caudel, D., Gurbuz, E., & Gillespie-Lynch, K. (2022). Learning from the Experts: Evaluating a Participatory Autism and Universal Design Training for University Teaching Staff. Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221097207
Santhanam, S. & Bellon-Harn, M. (2022). Speech-Language Pathologist’s Role in Understanding and Promoting Self-Advocacy in Autistic Adults. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00223
Parveen, S. & Santhanam, S. (2020). Personal Self-Efficacy of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologists Working with Linguistically Diverse Clients: A Nationwide Survey Study. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 1 – 11,https://doi.org/10.1177/1525740120915205
Santhanam, S. & Hewitt, L. (2020). Perspectives of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders on Social Communication Intervention. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 1 – 10. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525740120905501
Santhanam, S. & Parveen, S. (2018). Serving Culturally and Linguistically Different Clients: Changing trends in Speech-language pathologists’ Self-efficacy and Implications for Stakeholders, Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders, 3(3), 165 – 177. http://dx.doi.org/10.21849/cacd.2018.00395
Santhanam, S., Gilbert, C., & Parveen, S. (2018). Speech-Language Pathologists’ Use of Language Interpreters: A Nationwide Survey Study, Communication Disorders Quarterly, 40(3), 131 – 141, https://doi.org/10.1177/1525740118779975
Santhanam, S. & Hewitt, L. (2015). Evidence-based assessment and autism spectrum disorders: A scoping review, Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention, 9(4), 140-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/17489539.2016.1153814
Santhanam, S. (2014). Social communication intervention for an adult with Asperger syndrome: Experiences, Perspectives, and Challenges, ASHA SIG 1 Perspectives on Language Learning and Education, 21, 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1044/lle21.1.29
Teaching Certifications
2023 - Effective College Instruction
Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)
2025 - Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Higher Education CAST's Postsecondary and Workforce Development
Book Chapters
- Santhanam, S., Gurbuz, E., & VanUitert, V. (2025). Inclusive Group Work for Neurodivergent Students. In Rogers-Shaw, C., Sheward, K., Mohney, K., & Park, T.W., (Eds.), Collaborative Strategies for Designing Neuroinclusive College Campuses, 237-268, IGI Global.
- Gurbuz, E., & Santhanam, S. (2025). Autistic Self-Advocacy: Understanding the Complexities. In Milton, D. (Ed.), The Double Empathy Reader: Exploring Theory, Neurodivergent Lived Experience, and Implications for Practice, 359-376, Pavilion Publishing & Media.
- Daniels, D., & Santhanam, S. (2024). Planning for Accessible Learning and Belonging: Inclusive Ideas and Practices for Supporting and Empowering Students in College and University Settings. In Ginsberg, S., Visconti, C., & Frieberg, J. (Eds.), Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Past, Present, and Future (pp. 347-366). https://commons.emich.edu/sped_books/1/
Audiovisual and Media Contributions
2025, ASHA Voices Podcast, What a CSD Professor learned about Masking while Creating Neuro-affirming Spaces https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2025-0206-podcast-blog-slp-podcast-autistic-masking-affirming/full/
2021, ASHA Voices Podcast, A University Autism Program Navigates COVID. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2021-0401-podcast-autism-higher-ed/full/
2021, Lecture Breakers podcast series. Creating successful learning experiences for students who identify as neurodivergent. https://barbihoneycutt.com/blogs/podcast/episode-76-creating-successful-learning-experiences-for-students-who-identify-as-neurodiverse-with-dr-siva-priya-santhanam
Starting Fall 2025, I will be mentoring PhD students. I am looking for an enthusiastic student with an eagerness to learn and contribute through meaningful engagement in research. I care deeply about issues that matter to autistic people and their families. If you are someone who cares too, please consider applying to the doctoral program at BGSU and do connect with me via email (sivaps@bgsu.edu).
For more information about our doctoral program, please use this link.
Updated: 12/01/2025 02:28PM