Dr. Gerhardt has more than 30 years experience utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in support of individuals with autism spectrum disorders in educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. Dr. Gerhardt is the author or the coauthor of many articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and adults with ASDs and has presented nationally and internationally on this topic. Dr. Gerhardt is the founding chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and currently sits on numerous professional advisory boards including Behavior Analysis in Practice, the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and the Autism Society of America. He received his doctorate from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Gerhardt’s published works include:
Mason, B.K., Leaf, J.B., & Gerhardt, P.G., (2023). A research review of the Zones of Regulation
program. The Journal of Special Education, 56, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/
00224669231170202
Gerhardt, P.F., Bahry, S., Driscoll, N.M., Cauchi, J., Mason, B., & Deshpande, M., (2023).
Adulthood Begins in Preschool: Meaningful Curriculum in Support of Increased Independence for Individuals with Autism. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 15, 213-223.
Bahry, S., Gerhardt, P.F., Weiss, M.J. et al. The Ethics of Actually Helping People: Targeting
Skill Acquisition Goals That Promote Meaningful Outcomes for Individuals with Autism
Spectrum Disorder. Behav Analysis Practice (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-022-
00757-x
Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) (2022). Handbook of Quality of Life
for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series.
Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_26
Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (2022). Handbook of Quality of Life for
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Introduction. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H.,
Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism
Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_1
Bahry, S.N., Cauchi, J., Driscoll, N.M., Gerhardt, P.F. (2022). Meaningful Curriculum and
Functional Intervention for Adults with Autism. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L.,
Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_18
Gerhardt, P.F., Bahry, S.N., Mason, B., Solis, M.S. (2022). On Predicting the Future:
Recommendations for the Field of ABA in Supporting Adults with ASD. In: Leaf, J.B.,
Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals
with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_25
Gerhardt, P.F., Bahry, S.N. (2022). Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults
with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes?. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L.,
Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_7
Gerhardt, P.F., Cauchi, J., Gravino, A. (2022). Sexuality and Sexuality Education with
Individuals with Autism: What You Should Know But Probably Don’t. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon,
J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with
Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_23
Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (2022). Recommendations for Behavioral
Research in Supporting Adults Diagnosed with ASD. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson,
J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_26
Leaf, J., Leaf, R., McEachin, J. Bondy, A., Chion, J., Detrich, R., Eshleman, J., Ferguson, J.,
Foxx, R., Freeman, B.J., Gerhardt, P., Glenn, S., Miller, M., Mountjoy, T., Parker, T.,
Pritchard, J., Ross, R., Saunders, M., & Streff, T. (2020). The importance of professional discourse for the continual advancement of practice standards: The RBT as case in point. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04631-z
Gerhardt, P.F., Maguire, M., & Bloomer, H., (2016) Effective Intervention in Support of
Adolescents and Adults with ASD. In R. Simpson & B. Myles, (Eds). Educating Children
and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Strategies for Effective Practice, 3rd Ed. (pp. 283-303). Austin, TX: ProEd.
Gerhardt, P.F. & Rodriguez, A., (2016) Aging and Autism: Future Directions. In S. Wright (Ed).
The Challenge and Promise of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mid and Later Life. (pp. 370-
384). London: Jessica Kingsley Press.
Gerhardt, P.F., Garcia, M.F., & Foglia, A., (2014). Skill-building interventions for adolescents
and adults. In M. Tincani & A Bondy (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adolescents and
Adults. (pp. 164-181). New York: The Guilford Press.
Gerhardt, P.F. & Cicero, F., & Mayville, E., (2014). Employment and related services for
adults with ASD. In F. Volkmar, S.J. Rogers, R. Paul, & K.A. Pelphrey (Eds.) Handbook of
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, (4thrd Ed). Pp. 907-917. Wiley