Meet Our Team

Iva Obrusnikova, Ph.D., CAPE

Lab Director

Dr. Obrusnikova has worked at the University of Delaware since 2006. She is the director of the HBS Health and Disability concentration and the Health and Disability Laboratory. Her most recent research studies examine how different technology-based behavioral strategies promote functional performance, physical activity, health-related fitness, and independence in adults with developmental disabilities. She is currently developing an innovative tool to measure exercise self-efficacy in adults with intellectual disability.

Cora Firkin, Ph.D. Candidate

Graduate Supervisor

cjfirkin@udel.edu

Cora earned her Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Delaware in 2019, with minors in Health, Physical Activity, and Disabilities; Health and Wellness; and Nutrition. Her dissertation research aims to address a critical need for improved physical activity and sedentary behavior assessment methodology for adults with an intellectual disability by developing behavioral strategies to help teach and reinforce the use of the assessment tools in the unsupervised free-living setting.

Al Cavalier, Ph.D.

cavalier@udel.edu

Dr. Al Cavalier is a professor emeritus in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. At UD, Dr. Cavalier assisted in the design and implementation of the Delaware statewide Positive Behavior Support Initiative. He is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizen, with a special focus on the adequacy of adapted physical education services. His research interests are in the areas of school discipline practices within positive behavior support systems, instructional supports for children with autism spectrum disorders, and assistive technology for behavioral and instructional support.