---

Research Affiliations

Center for Innovative Research in Autism
Center for Youth Development and Intervention
Alabama Research Institute on Aging

---

Research Interests

Dr. Tomeny received his Ph.D. from The University of Southern Mississippi and completed a pre-doctoral internship at Indiana University School of Medicine in the autism emphasis.  His research and clinical interests are in intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Broadly, his research explores the functioning of individuals with ASD and their families across the lifespan. More recent/ongoing projects are focused on long-term care planning for aging families, including the involvement of siblings in this process. Other projects have focused on identifying risk- and protective-factors for typically-developing siblings and caregivers of those with ASD and exploring correlates of sibling relationship quality among adult siblings of those with a disability.  Dr. Tomeny and his lab are also interested in better understanding factors related to quality of life for those with ASD; cross-neurotype interactions; perceptions of ASD among various stakeholders (e.g., parents, teachers, peers, the general public); and the unique challenges faced by underserved families.  Dr. Tomeny’s lab also works closely with The University of Alabama ASD Clinic and the UA-ACTS program.

---

Recent Publications  (*indicates student author)

Tomeny, K. R., Tomeny, T. S., & McWilliam, R. A. (in press). Feasibility of remote coaching with early interventionists: NDBI strategies in Part C. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/02711214241245267

*Birnschein, A. M., *Ward, O. F., *McClain, A. B., *Harmon, R. L., Paisley, C. A., *Stevens, M., & Tomeny, T. S. (in press). Qualitative ascriptions of autistic behavior by non-autistic college students. Jounal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06248-y

Vonk, J., Jett, S., Tomeny, T. S., Mercer, S. H. & Cwikla, J. (2024). A cross-sequential study of theory or mind, IQ, and fair sharing framed socially and non-socially in young children. Cognitive Development, 71 , 101460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2024.101460

*Brennan, J., *Ward, O. F., Tomeny, T. S., Davis, T. E. (2024). A systematic review of parental self-efficacy in parents of autistic children. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 27, 878-905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-024-00495-2

Tomeny, T. S., Hudac, C. M., Malaia, E. A., Morett, L. M., Tomeny, K . R., Watkins, L., & Kana, R. K. (2023). Serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder in the age of COVID-19: Special considerations for rural families. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 42, 105-118. https://doi.org/10.1177/87568705231167440

*Paisley, C., *Eldred, S., Cawley, A. P., & Tomeny, T. S. (2023). Teachers’ reported classroom strategies and techniques for students with autism spectrum disorder. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 38, 158-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576221125485.

Orm, S., Vatne, T., Tomeny, T. S., & Fjermestad, K. (2022). Empathy and prosocial behavior in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s40489-021-00251-0

Barber, A., Yerby, L.., Tomeny, T. S., *Baker, L. K., & Morales-Aleman, M. (2022). Brief report: Exploring rural and urban caregiver descriptions of autism symptoms and etiology. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. doi: 10.1080/1034912X.2020.1767763

Watkins, L., Tomeny, T. S., O’Reilly, M., Sillis, K. H., & Zamora, C. (2021). A naturalistic behavioral intervention to increase interaction between siblings with and without autism. Behavior Modification, 45, 863-886. doi: 10.1177/0145445520920813

*Birnschein, A. M., *Paisley, C. A., & Tomeny, T. S. (2021) Enhancing social interaction for youth with autism spectrum disorder through training programs for typically developing peers: A systematic Review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 84, 101784. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101784

Kana, R. K., Hudac, C. M., Tomeny, T. S., O’Kelley, S., Barber, A. B., & White, S. W. (2020). Invited commentary: Impact of COVID-19 on autism research: Reflections from Alabama. Autism Research, 13, 856-857. doi: 10.1002/aur.2329

Tomeny, K. R., McWilliam, R. A., & Tomeny, T. S. (2020). Caregiver-implemented intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of coaching components. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 7, 168-181. doi: 10.1007/s40489-019-00186-7

Vonk, J., Jett, S. E., Tomeny, T. S., Mercer, S. H., & Cwikla, J. (2020). Young children’s theory of mind predicts more sharing with friends over time. Child Development, 91, 63-77. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13112

*Rankin, J. A., *Paisley, C., Tomeny, T. S., & *Eldred, S. W. (2019). Fathers of youth with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of the impact of fathers’ involvement on youth, families, and intervention. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 22, 458-477. doi: 10.1007/s10567-019-00294-0 

*Rankin, J. A. & Tomeny, T. S. (2019). Screening of broader autism phenotype symptoms in siblings: Support for a distinct model of symptomatology. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 4686-4690. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04157-z

*Simmons, G. L., Hinton, D., Jarrett, M., Tomeny, T. S., & White, S. W. (2019). Considering equifinality in treatment planning for social impairment: Divergent paths in neurodevelopmental disorders. The Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 83, 278-300. doi: 10.1521/bumc.2019.83.3.278

*Kassing, F., *Coffey, C. A., & Tomeny, T. S. (2019). Posttraumatic stress disorder in children 6 and under: A comprehensive review of the new diagnosis. The New School Psychology Bulletin, 16, 1-14.

Tomeny, T. S., *Rankin, J. A., *Baker, L. K., *Eldred, S. W., & Barry, T. D. (2019). Discrepancy in perceived social support among typically developing siblings of youth with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 23, 594-606. doi: 10.1177/1362361318763973

*Rankin, J. A., *Paisley, C. A., *Mulla, M. M., & Tomeny, T. S. (2018). Unmet social support needs among college students: Relations between social support discrepancy and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65, 474-489. doi: 10.1037/cou0000269

Cox, J., *Kopkin, M. R., *Rankin, J. A., Tomeny, T. S., & *Coffey, C. A. (2018). The relationship between parental psychopathic traits and parenting style. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 2305-2314. doi: 10.1007/s10826-018-1057-9

Tomeny, T. S., Vargo, C., & El-Toukhy, S. (2017). Geographic and demographic correlates of autism-related anti-vaccine beliefs on Twitter, 2009-15. Social Science & Medicine, 191, 168-175. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.041

Tomeny, T. S. (2017). Parenting stress as an indirect pathway to mental health concerns among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 21, 907-911. doi: 10.1177/1362361316655322

*Rankin, J. A., Tomeny, T. S., & Barry, T. D. (2017). Multi-informant assessment of siblings of youth with autism spectrum disorder: Parent-child discrepancies in at-risk classification. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 68, 78-87. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.07.012

Tomeny, T. S., Barry, T. D., & Fair, E. C. (2017). Parentification of adult siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: Distress, sibling relationship attitudes, and the role of social support. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 42, 320-331. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2016.1248376

Tomeny, T. S., Ellis, B. M., *Rankin, J. A., & Barry, T. D. (2017). Sibling relationship quality and psychosocial outcomes among adult siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and individuals with intellectual disability without autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 62, 104-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.01.008

Tomeny, T. S., Barry, T. D., Fair, E. C., & Riley, R. (2017). Parentification of adult siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 1056-1067. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0627-y

Tomeny, T. S., *Baker, L. K., Barry, T. D., *Eldred, S. W., & *Rankin, J. A. (2016). Emotional and behavioral functioning of typically-developing sisters of children with autism spectrum disorder: The roles of ASD severity, parental stress, and marital status.  Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 32, 130-142. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2016.09.008

Barry, T. D., Sturner, R. A., Seymour, K., Howard, B. H., McGoron, L., Bergmann, P., Kent, R., Sullivan, C., Tomeny, T. S., Pierce, J. S., Coln, K. L., Goodlad, J. K., & Werle, N. (2016). School-based screening to identify children at risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Barriers and implications. Children’s Health Care, 245, 241-265. doi: 10.1080/02739615.2014.948160

Barry, T. D., Fisher, K., DiSabatino, K., & Tomeny, T. S. (2016). Distractibility. In V. Zeigler-Hill & D. K. Marcus (Eds.) The Dark Side of Personality. Washington D. C.: American Psychological Association.  

Barry, T.D., Goodlad, J. K., Tomeny, T. S., & Fair, E. C. (2015). Group social skills intervention for adolescents with asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: Curriculum, process, and outcomes. In M.F. Shaughnessy (Ed.). Asperger Syndrome: Risk Factors, Cognitive Behavioral Characteristics and Management Strategies. Nova Science Publishers.  

McGoron, K. L., Sturner, R. S., Howard, B. H., Barry, T. D., Seymour, K., Tomeny, T. S., Morrell, T., Ellis, B. M., & Marks, D. (2014). Parents’ goals for ADHD care in a clinical pediatric sample. Clinical Pediatrics, 53, 949-959. doi: 10.1177/0009922814543323

Tomeny, T. S., Barry, T. D., & Bader, S. H. (2014). Birth order rank as a moderator of the relation between behavior problems among children with an autism spectrum disorder and their siblings. Autism, 18, 199-202. doi: 10.1177/1362361312458185

Tomeny, T. S., Barry, T. D., & Bader, S. H. (2012). Are typically-developing siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder at risk for behavioral, emotional, and social maladjustment? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 508-518. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2011.07.012