Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre – Evidence-based autism research

Resilience Experiences and Perspectives in Autistic Adults

August 28, 2023September 7, 2023

What does the term ‘resilience’ mean to autistic adults?
What are factors that have helped or hindered experiences of resilience?
How can we better support autistic adults experiencing stress and challenges?

Through hearing the perspectives and lived experiences of autistic adults, we hope to have a better understanding of resilience in the context of autistic adults and how to better support the autistic community.

Studies Recruiting

Work strengths

August 7, 2023August 8, 2023

We want to know the ways people feel they are, and can be best supported as assets to organisations.

If you are aged 18 years or over, have been or are in the workforce, and especially if you identify as being on the autism-spectrum, we would like to hear from you!

Everyone is welcome to complete the 30-minute survey to help inform policies and practices to enhance workplace inclusion of everyone.

https://tinyurl.com/strengthsatwork

Access the survey

If you have any questions about this study, please contact us at:

susan.hayward@latrobe.edu.au or shennekam@audencia.com

Studies Recruiting

What do Australian Autistic adults experience when they see…

August 7, 2023August 8, 2023

What do Australian Autistic adults experience when they see a neurodiversity affirming psychologist?

If you live in Australia, are 18+, have either been diagnosed or identify as Autistic, and have had at least 1 appointment with a neurodiversity affirming psychologist in the past 2 years, we are keen to hear from you!

La Trobe University researchers invite you to complete a 45-minute online survey.

Please visit https://redcap.link/22azu39d for more details.

This is a photograph of Dr Melissa Gilbert

Contact Dr Melissa Gilbert m.gilbert@latrobe.edu.au with any questions.

Ethics approval HEC23182

Learning with OTARC

Facing Stress: Coping Strategies, Resilience and Mental Health Outcomes…

August 7, 2023August 8, 2023

Coping Strategies, Resilience and Mental Health Outcomes in Autistic Adults

There is consensus surrounding the poor mental health outcomes experienced by many in the Autistic adult population. While the non-autistic literature suggests that high stress represents a key contributor to poor mental health and well-being, individual resources such as coping and resilience have the potential to mitigate the negative effects of stress, accounting for individual differences across mental health outcomes. Despite emerging research showing high stress in Autistic adults, investigations of coping and resilience in this population remain limited.

Neurodiversity

What are ‘masking’ and ‘camouflaging’ in the context of…

August 1, 2023August 2, 2023

Many autistic people and ADHD-ers report using “masking” and “camouflaging” in their lives. This is where people conceal certain traits and replace them with neurotypical ones to avoid being recognised as neurominorities.

Director's Report

OTARC Director’s Report July 2023

July 28, 2023September 19, 2023

It has been a busy three months since our last newsletter. Our re-imagining agenda continues at pace as we hire new staff and settle further into our new structures. Several new professional staff have been appointed to new research support roles including: Wade Burton (Grants & Finance), Asher Mills (Data Officer), Laura Dhondy (Communications) and Susan Conduit (Administration). We have also appointed two new international Early Career Fellows – Dr Daryll Archibald (University of Dundee) and Patrick Dwyer (University of California, Davis). Both are in the process of relocation to Melbourne and will commence with us in September.

News

The story of Autism research in Australia: A conversation…

July 28, 2023August 2, 2023

Cheryl Dissanayake is a professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, and the Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Center. She has been researching autism since 1984. Spectrum spoke with her about her path to autism science, the history of the field in Australia, and the importance of Melbourne hosting the 2024 INSAR annual conference, which Dissanayake will chair. In this conversation, Dissanayake mentions Margot Prior, Bruce Tonge, Lawrence Bartak, Ross Day, Stella Crosley, Marian Sigman, Beryl McKenzie and Olga Tennison — all notable names from Australia’s autism research community.

Identification and diagnosis

How to talk to your child about their autism…

July 25, 2023August 2, 2023

With better awareness and acceptance, approximately one out of every 50 children is receiving an autism diagnosis. More and more families are deciding when to share this information with their child. Some parents worry that doing so will “label” their child, or make others treat them differently.

Studies Recruiting

Research Opportunity: When is picky too picky in toddler…

June 6, 2023August 2, 2023

Seeking health and childcare workers perspectives

Research at La Trobe University by Asmita Mudholkar has revealed that picky eating in children emerges early in life and can be associated with developmental concerns. We do not yet understand, however, how health and childcare practitioners working with young children and their families decide when picky eating is ‘too picky’ requiring specialised follow up. Please join us in a short focus group discussion with other health practitioners to discuss this issue and contribute to better understanding of early feeding difficulties to guide practice.

Studies Recruiting

Research Study: How do Autistic people manage their emotions?

May 18, 2023September 21, 2023

Many Autistic people seek help for managing emotions. While there has been some research on what works, we don’t know what autistic people think about the help they receive for their emotions. If you are an Autistic person (or you are a carer of an Autistic person) who has received help for managing emotion (e.g., meltdowns, feeling overwhelmed), we’d love to hear your thoughts on this important area.