Qualifications & Memberships
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the health and wellbeing of neurodiverse children and those with lifelong physical health conditions. I have a specific interest in digital-delivery of supports for autistic tamariki and their caregivers, with particular expertise and interest in sleep assessment and support.
I lead the Waiora Tamariki Programme at the University of Canterbury. This programme of research focuses on investigating the effectiveness and acceptability of digitally-delivered supports across sleep, eating/feeding, toileting, and communication of autistic tamariki and caregiver mental health.
Recent Publications
- Emerson LM., Pellicano E., Monk R., Lim M., Heaton J. and McLay L. (2023) A portfolio analysis of autism research funding in Aotearoa New Zealand 2007–2021. Autism http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613231155954.
- McLay L., Emerson LM., Waddington H., van Deurs J., Hunter J., Blampied N., Hapuku A., Macfarlane S., Bowden N. and van Noorden L. (2023) Telehealth-delivered naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention with and without caregiver acceptance and commitment therapy for autistic children and their caregivers: protocol for a multi-arm parallel group randomised clinical trial.. BMJ Open 13(5): e071235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071235.
- McLay L., Tautolo ES., Iusitini L., Richards R., Galland B. and Schluter PJ. (2023) The relationship between sleep duration and health among Pacific adolescents within New Zealand: Findings from the Pacific Islands families study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 47(2) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100021.
- Ford KAM., McLay LK., France KG., Blampied NM. and Gibbs RM. (2022) Correction to: Systematic Review of the Effect of Modification of Antecedents in the Treatment of Sleep Problems Among Children on the Autism Spectrum (Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, (2022), 6, 3, (253-269), 10.1007/s41252-021-00224-8). Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders 6(3): 366. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41252-021-00229-3.
- Ford KAM., McLay LK., France KG., Blampied NM. and Gibbs RM. (2022) Systematic Review of the Effect of Modification of Antecedents in the Treatment of Sleep Problems Among Children on the Autism Spectrum. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders 6(3): 253-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41252-021-00224-8.