Alexandria E. Barkhimer

I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). I completed my master's degree within the same department in 2023 and am continuing my studies under the advisement of Dr. Marie Moore Channell.

Broadly, my research interests focus on better understanding and supporting adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities as they transition from school to adulthood. More specifically, I am interested in promoting autonomy and self-determination in adolescents and young adults to support postsecondary goal achievement and outcomes.

I am a 2024-2025 Illinois LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Trainee, where I am gaining specialized knowledge and skills to support people with disabilities and their families. In addition, I also serve as an educational surrogate parent, advocating for the educational rights of school-aged students with disabilities who do not have a legal guardian or active parental involvement in their educational decisions.