LAHORE: (Tuesday, September 03, 2013): Dr Afsheen Masood, Assistant Professor Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab has been awarded PhD in Applied Psychology on the topic “Parental Stress, Coping Strategies and Family Functioning of the Children with Autism” under the supervision of Prof. Dr. M. Hamid Sheikh. She is the daughter of renowned Lawyer Masood A. Malik Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan. She has presented her research work in International conferences on disability and child's health. Her innovative work in the field of unusual dimensions of autism is valuable contribution in the domain of disability and family studies. Her research findings suggest that counseling and timely management of autism can yield valuable contribution in the life of affected families with special needs.