Autism Light: Marian DeMyer

February 9, 2013January 17, 2021 Alan Stokes

Marian K. DeMyer was born on October 30, 1922, in Greensburg, Indiana. She died on July 15, 2012. She was a pioneer autism researcher and professor emeritus at Indiana University. Marian K. DeMyer is an Autism Light because of the impact her efforts had on autism research and therapy. She is being named an Autism Light posthumously and will be added to the Autism Light Memorial Roll.

Marian DeMyer’s obituary at Legacy.com shares this about her contribution to autism research:

Dr. DeMyer was a research pioneer in Childhood Schizophrenia, later known as Autism. Her research at LaRue Carter Hospital and the Institute of Psychiatric Research at Indiana University provided the groundwork for later research by others that identified and defined the spectrum of Autism (Source). Marian DeMyer is regarded as a pioneer in the use of Applied Behavioral Analysis to work with individuals with autism. The Autism Research Institute tweeted this message about Marian DeMyer’s influence on ABA therapy on their Twitter Account in November 2, 2011.

Did you know? Marian DeMyer and Charles Ferster pioneered the use of behavioral strategies with individuals on the spectrum.
— Autism Research Inst (@TreatingASD) Autism Light Spotlight #1 on ABA.

Literature: Marian K. DeMyer was a prolific writer of her autism research. The following are some important publications of hers.

A Comparison of Five Diagnostic Systems: In 1971, Dr. Marian K. DeMyer published an article called A Comparison of Five Systems for Childhood Schizophrenia and Infantile Autism.
Parents and Children with Autism: In 1979, Dr. Marian K. DeMyer wrote the book Parents and Children with Autism. This was one of the first books for families facing autism.
Infantile Autism Reviewed: A Decade of Research: In 1981, Dr. Marian K. DeMeyer published an article on A Decade of Research on Autism. The article has been referenced by many other subsequent researchers.

Conversation with Autism Pioneer: Marian DeMyer is mentioned on page 155 in the chapter on the 1970s in Adam Feinstein’s important work called A History of Autism: Conversations with the Pioneers. Her 1974 study is mentioned where her research found, “a profound language dysfunction in every autistic child. This language dysfunction was manifest in symbolic aspects, even if the mechanics of speech were present (Source).”

An obituary of Dr. Marian K. DeMyer is available at Legacy.com. Our thoughts are extended to the family of Marian DeMyer. It is hoped that this tribute to her work will encourage other people to dedicate their life to autism research.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

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