She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in developmental disabilities, most specifically autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She received her PhD in clinical psychology in 2005 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with a focus on ASD. Clinical and research interests include the co-occurrence of anxiety symptoms and other mental health conditions in children and adolescents with ASD. Dr. Blakeley-Smith is also a principal investigator on an Organization of Autism Research study on peer based interventions for school aged children. She is collaborating with local school districts on strategies to reduce rejection and facilitate social interaction between students with ASD and their peers.