Infant Communication Lab at Boston University

Do you wonder how your child’s movement can influence their language learning and
planning ability? Help us answer these questions!

WHAT: We are looking to better understand how children’s cognitive skills (such as, the
ability to wait for a toy and remember a routine), language ability, and manual skills (such as, building Legos) develop together during the toddler years.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: This opportunity is for children between the ages of 24–30 months who have no history of language concerns and no close relatives with neurodevelopmental disorders. Eligible babies must hear mostly English at home.

Participation consists of one visit to Boston University which will take no longer than two
hours. During this visit, your child will be videorecorded playing with you and interacting with a researcher. Play-based assessments of manual skills, language, and cognitive development will be administered, and you will complete questionnaires regarding your
child’s development. Your child will wear fun glasses that will track their eye-gaze during
play!

As a thank-you for participation, you will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. You will receive this gift even if your child does not complete all the tasks.

For more information, email or call us at [email protected] or (774) 275-3321.
Fill out the following link if you are interested in participating: https://redcap.bumc.bu.edu/surveys/?s=AMWHMK3ERANNEXF9

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2026 !

Our lab’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Jana Iverson, and ICL PhD Student and Speech-Language Pathologist Deirdre Galvin-McLaughlin had a wonderful time presenting alongside itinerant teachers Betsy Connolly and Kim Sullivan.

Together, they shared their session, Facilitating Increased Participation for Infants and Toddlers with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Using the On-Time Communication and Mobility Frameworks, highlighting evidence-based approaches that support communication and mobility development in young children.

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with families, educators, clinicians, and researchers who are dedicated to supporting children who are blind, deafblind, low vision, and/or have neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Thank you to Perkins School for the Blind for hosting such an inspiring event and creating space for collaboration, learning, and community.

We loved being part of this year’s conference and look forward to continuing these important conversations!

On Saturday, May 2, our lab's Principal Investigator, Dr. Jana Iverson, and Speech-Language Pathologist and ICL PhD Student Deirdre Galvin-McLaughlin will be presenting at the Perkins School for the Blind – a unique event that brings together families, educators, and medical professionals to build community, make connections, and access resources for young kids who are , , or .

Jana and Deirdre will be presenting alongside itinerant teachers Betsy Connolly and Kim Sullivan. Their session, Facilitating Increased Participation for Infants and Toddlers with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Using the On-Time Communication and Mobility Frameworks, will focus on the timeliness of intervention for infants and toddlers with neurodevelopmental disabilities by introducing evidence-based On-time Communication and Mobility Frameworks. They are excited for the opportunity to not only share their experiences, but also to connect with parents, educators, and research colleagues to learn what’s new and what’s next.

Will you join them? In-person and virtual registration are available. Learn more at https://www.perkins.org/event/early-connections-conference/. Registration closes April 17.

Join us this spring for the Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium Annual Conference!

Connect, learn, and grow with professionals dedicated to early intervention. Don't miss inspiring sessions like On-Time Communication Framework and more!

Perfect for providers, educators, and students passionate about supporting young children and families.