Kayla Malone, Ph.D., is an interdisciplinary researcher and educator broadly focused on autism, inclusive education, and affirming supports across school, clinical, and community settings. They earned their Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Science and Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, along with a graduate certificate in Participatory Research. Kayla also holds an M.Ed. in Special Education from North Carolina State University and a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Pennsylvania State University. As a first-generation college student from rural Southeastern North Carolina, they bring over a decade of experience supporting autistic individuals across diverse contexts. Their scholarship has been published in Autism in Adulthood, Exceptional Children, The Journal of Special Education, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and supported by funding from the Organization for Autism Research, the Southern Equality Research and Policy Center, and the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs.