Sarah Mallory
Assistant Professor University of Delaware
Media
Social
Biography
Before joining the University of Delaware, Dr. Mallory was the Director of Special Education Teacher Preparation Programs at the University of Maryland. She received her Ph.D from Teachers College, Columbia University where she was an instructor in the Intellectual Disability/Autism teacher preparation program and an Advanced Doctoral Fellow at the Center for Opportunities and Outcomes for People with Disabilities.
At the Center, she focused on projects that supported adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities in making self-protective decisions in situations of peer pressure or abuse, and helped develop trainings that prepared educators and other professionals to support individuals with developmental disabilities across multiple clinical, hospital, and school settings.
Prior to entering academia, Dr. Mallory was a special education teacher and has experience working with children with autism and their families in public school and home-based settings.
Areas of Expertise
Media Appearances
New Blue Envelope Program assists Delaware drivers with disabilities
Daily State News online
2025-08-28
DOVER — Delaware has launched the Blue Envelope Program, a new statewide community initiative designed to help drivers with autism and other disabilities navigate interactions with law.
How one Blue Envelope can aid understanding between Delaware police and disabled drivers
Delaware News Journal online
2025-10-16
“It would be a way of communicating to the officer, for example, if a person is nonspeaking and uses a communication device or if somebody has mobility limitations and cannot get out of their car without a wheelchair,” said Sarah Mallory, associate director at the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies.
For neurodiverse people, holidays can present difficult challenges
Delaware Public Media radio
2024-12-21
Many neurodiverse people are sensitive to light and sound. Curtiss’s fellow UD assistant professor, Sarah Mallory, is associate director of the Center for Disabilities Studies. She says those individuals or parents of neurodiverse kids should plan ahead for those situations.
“Acknowledging that if you feel uncomfortable or if the loud noise or the bright lights are bothering you, let's come up with a plan for what you can do," Mallory said. "That could be talking to the host in advance about, where is there maybe a little quiet space that we can take a little break.”
Supporting neurodivergent loved ones
UDaily online
2024-12-17
University of Delaware experts in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and its Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) are here to help families support their neurodivergent loved ones. Sarah Curtiss, CEHD assistant professor, Alisha Fletcher, director of CDS’ Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA) and Sarah Mallory, CEHD assistant professor and associate director of CDS, share guidance for parents, caregivers and community members.
Exceptional trauma-informed care
UDaily online
2024-10-02
“The largest part of our work is working closely with professionals across all disciplines, which includes everyone from childcare providers to mental health professionals to doctors and first responders,” said Sarah Mallory, CEHD assistant professor, director of the CDS Health and Wellness Unit and DNEA principal investigator. “We’ve even worked with museum staff, who wanted to make their spaces more inclusive for autistic individuals. We like to say that if you’re likely to interact with a person with autism in your professional career, we will support you in using evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming practices.”
Delaware State Police and Partnering Agencies Launch Blue Envelope Program to Support Drivers with Disabilities
Delaware State Police online
2024-08-26
“This program is a valuable addition to other statewide initiatives promoting the inclusion of Delawareans with disabilities,” explained Dr. Sarah Mallory, Associate Director of the University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies. Dr. Alisha Fletcher, Director of the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism, added, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to support the state in learning about this valuable resource.”
Articles
Factors associated with peer aggression and peer victimization among children with autism spectrum disorders, children with other disabilities, and children without a disability
Columbia University Doctoral Thesis2014-02-18
Peer aggression can take the form of physical hostility, adverse peer pressure, teasing, shunning, and social rejection (Little, 2002). Repeated acts of peer aggression are considered peer victimization and affect children with disabilities more often than children with no reported disabilities or psychiatric disorders (Baumeister, Storch, & Geffken, 2008; Pittet, Berchtold, Akre, Michaud & Suris, 2011). Personal characteristics and contextual factors have been linked to higher rates of peer aggression and the presence of peer victimization (Baumeister, et al., 2008; Bejerot & Morthberg, 2009; Boivin, Vitaro, & Bukowski, 1999; Hodges, Boivin, Vitaro, & Bukowski, 1999; Mishna, 2003)
Evaluation of a decision-making curriculum for teaching adolescents with disabilities to resist negative peer pressure
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders2016-03-18
This study was designed to assess the impact of a decision-making curriculum (PEER-DM) on the social peer relationship knowledge and self-protective decision-making skills of adolescents with disabilities in hypothetical situations involving negative peer pressure. A randomized design was used to assign students with disabilities from self-contained special education classes to an intervention group (n = 22) or a wait-list control group (n = 20).
Research Grants
Supported decision-making and transition-aged youth
Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
2024 - 2025
Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA)
Health Fund Advisory Committee, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
2020 - 2024
Learn the Signs. Act Early. Delaware State Ambassador
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)/American Academy of Pediatrics
2022 - 2024
LTSAE family engagement in developmental monitoring and screening
Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Pediatrics
2023 - 2024
Intellectual and developmental disabilities mental health crisis response
Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
2023 - 2024
Accomplishments
Compassionate Champion Award (Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism), Governor Carney’s Office
2024
Provost’s Excellence Award in Service, University of Maryland
2019
One Voice Conference Poster & Presentation – First Prize, American Association of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry
2023
Education
George Washington University
B.A.
Psychology
2002
George Mason University,
M.Ed.
Special Education
2006
Columbia University Teachers College
Ph.D.
Special Education
2014
Affiliations
- Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
- American Academy of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Event Appearances
Supported decision-making: From policy to practice
(2024) Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children Honolulu, HI
An interdisciplinary focus on accessibility: Applying Universal design and health promotion best practices across health initiatives for people with disabilities
(2024) Association of University Sarah B. Mallory, Ph.D. 5 Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), Stronger Together: Creating a More Inclusive World Washington, DC
A collaborative approach to effective training for first responders
(2024) Association of University Sarah B. Mallory, Ph.D. 5 Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), Stronger Together: Creating a More Inclusive World Washington, DC
Understanding IDD and co-occurring mental health challenges
(2025) Charting Successful Outcomes for Individuals with IDD, Including Autism, During a Mental Health Crisis Newark, DE
IDD and crisis intervention services: Best practices from the call center to the community
(2025) Charting Successful Outcomes for Individuals with IDD, Including Autism, During a Mental Health Crisis Newark, DE
Crisis interventions: Supporting a person with IDD in crisis
(2025) NAMI Crisis Intervention Planning (CIP) Training, Dover, DE
Practical tips and tools for promoting health literacy, healthseeking behaviors, and self-determination during transition
(2026) Family SHADE Healthcare Transitions Symposium Dover, DE
Expanding decision-making options for individuals with disabilities
(2026) LIFE Conference Dover, DE
