Kiley J. McLean, PhD, MSW, MSEd

Dr. Kiley McLean (she/her) is an assistant professor in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and faculty with the Wisconsin Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program. Her research focuses on systems-level inequities affecting autistic adults and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including disparities in healthcare, education, employment, criminal justice, and community living.

Dr. McLean's research uses large-scale administrative data (e.g. Medicaid, Medicare, and national survey data) and inclusive qualitative and participatory methods to identify mechanisms driving health and service disparities, evaluate policy implementation, and co-create inclusive solutions with disabled communities. Her work is grounded in partnership with autistic and disabled communities and in collaboration with state and national disability organizations to translate research into policy and practice that advances equity, accessibility, and community inclusion. Her teaching emphasizes macro social work practice, social policy, and disability justice. She is deeply committed to inclusive pedagogy and has received multiple mentoring and teaching excellence awards recognizing her leadership in designing accessible and equity-focused learning environments. Dr. McLean’s commitment to inclusive research has likewise been recognized nationally through numerous awards, including the 2024 Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Annual Spark Award, which highlights an early-career leader in STEM who is a visible and vocal advocate for diversity and inclusive scientific practices.

Dr. McLean was recently elected to the Board of Directors for Disability Rights Wisconsin (beginning January 2026), where she contributes to advancing disability rights and inclusion across the state. In addition to her academic and policy work, she manages and coaches a year-round Special Olympics team. She values the opportunity to build relationships with athletes, families, and volunteers each week and to create spaces grounded in inclusive joy, belonging, and community connection — reminders of why local engagement is vital to meaningful systems change.

Students interested in disability research or in applying for the Wisconsin LEND Program are encouraged to reach out to Dr. McLean to learn more about opportunities for involvement.

Education and Training:

• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University
• PhD, Social Welfare, Minor: Clinical Investigation, UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work
• MSW, Columbia University School of Social Work
• MSEd, Special Education, Bank Street College of Education

Research and Teaching Interests:

• Systems-level inequities affecting autistic adults and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including healthcare, education, employment, criminal justice, and community living
• Systems-level and policy approaches to reducing physical and mental health disparities across the lifespan
• Medicaid, Medicare, and Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) policy and implementation
• Community-engaged and participatory research to advance inclusive, equitable systems of care and support
• Qualitative and quantitative data-driven approaches to understanding service utilization, chronic health conditions, and social determinants of health
• Addressing academic ableism and promoting inclusion and accessibility within higher education and research environments

Professional Affiliations:

• Wisconsin Poverty Research Network, Institute for Research on Poverty, UW-Madison
• Waisman Center, UW-Madison
• The Institute for Diversity Science, UW-Madison
• TEMPO Milwaukee Emerging Women Leaders (EWL)
• Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
• Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
• International Society for Autism Research (INSAR)
• American Public Health Association (APHA)

Curriculum Vitae and Google Scholar Profile

Recent Publications:

• McLean, K.J. Koenig, J., Wolpe, S., Song, W., & Bishop, L. (2025). Health Disparities Persist for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: NHIS Insights, 1999-2018. Health Affairs Scholar, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2025, qxae158, https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxae158 
• McLean, K. J., Sadowsky, M., Chesnokova, A., Chvasta, K., Lee, W. L., Ventimiglia, J., & Shea, L. (2025). Assessing STI and HIV risks among autistic individuals: Implications for healthcare access and intervention. Disability and health journal, 18(3), 101780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101780
• Wolpe, S. M., Lee, M. N., Koenig, J., Tien, I., & McLean, K. (2025). Acceptance, Social Preparation, and Psychoeducation: Autistic Young Adults' Recommendations for Transition to Adulthood. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 10.1007/s10803-025-07041-1. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-07041-1
• Anderson, K. A., Ne’eman, A., Song,W., Ventimiglia, J., McLean, K., & Shea, L. (2025). National Profile of Adult SSI Recipients with Autism or Intellectual Disability in Medicaid. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
• Koenig, J., McLean, K.J., Haas, M., Horvath, M., Vigil, M., Aguirre Mtanous, N.G., Effertz, S., & Bishop, L. (2025). Challenging Neurotypical Norms: Autistic Adults’ Understandings of Health. Autism, https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251362336/
• Carey, M. E., McLean, K. J., Chvasta, K., de Marchena, A., & Roux, A. M. (2025). Methods to reduce fraudulent participation and highlight autistic voices in research. Autism: the international journal of research and practice, 29(4), 859–867. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241298037
• McLean, K. J., Haas, M., Koenig, J., Horvath, M., Vigil, M., Werner, N. E., & Bishop, L. (2024). "I'm dealing with a health care system that doesn't get it": Barriers and facilitators to inclusive healthcare for autistic adults. Autism: the international journal of research and practice, 28(6), 1382–1393. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241236380
• McLean, K. J., Muentner, L., & Bishop, L. (2024). The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Receipt of Needed Medical Care and At-Home Support among U.S. Households Receiving Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance on the Basis of Disability. Health & social work, 49(1), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlad034
• McLean, K.J. & Bishop, L. (2024). Chronic Health Conditions among Adults with I/DD in a State Medicaid System. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 10.1352/1944-7558-129.5.331.
• Song, W., McLean, K. J., Gifford, J., Kissner, H., & Sipe, R. (2025). Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Outcomes Among Transition-Age Autistic Youth. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 55(8), 2844–2857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06401-7
• Roux, A., Chvasta, K., McLean, K.J., Carey, M., Liz Perez, G., Tomczuk, L., Lopez, K., Assing-Murray, E., Shattuck, P., & Shea, L. (2024). Challenges and Opportunities in Transitioning Autistic Individuals into Adulthood. Pediatrics 2024; e2024067195. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-067195
• Benevides, T. W., Cook, B., Klinger, L. G., McLean, K. J., Wallace, G. L., Carey, M. E., Lee, W. L., Ventimiglia, J., Schiff, L. D., & Shea, L. (2024). Brief Report: Under-Identification of Symptomatic Menopause in Publicly-Insured Autistic People. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x
• Koenig, J., McLean, K. J., & Bishop, L. (2024). Psychological distress and mental health diagnoses in adults by disability and functional difficulty status: Findings from the 2021 national health interview survey. Disability and health journal, 17(4), 101641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101641