What Challenges Do Family Caregivers of Adult Children With Autism Face?

Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, MSW, LMSW

Dr. Christina Marsack-Topolewski is an associate professor of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University. She received a bachelor of science in Special Education from Wayne State University, specializing in Cognitive Impairments. She trained under a specialized fellowship at the University of Michigan, receiving her master’s in Social Work and specializing in aging from the University of Michigan. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski received her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has worked with individuals with various intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 20 years. Her research focuses on individuals with IDDs, their caregivers, advance care planning, service delivery, and service utilization. She has over 50 publications in national and international journals, mainly focusing on individuals with IDDs, advance care planning, caregiving, and aging. In addition, she has presented her work locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has led multiple grant-funded programs tailoring services to individuals with IDDs, older adults, and chronic illnesses. In 2019, she was appointed to the National Task Group on Intellectual Disability and Dementia Practices. She serves as both a board member and co-chair of Membership Affairs. Over the past three years, she has provided testimony at the state level (Michigan) to advocate for two house bills that would provide protections against exploitation for vulnerable adults, such as individuals with IDDs.