The Sylvia Walton Scholarship for autistic Honours students (established in 2019) has now enabled 3 dedicated students to begin their research careers. We interviewed Kate Gore, Helen Andrews and Lauren Sargeant to find out their connections to autism, their personal philosophy, and how the pandemic has affected their year.

Kate Gore

What is your connection to autism?
My interest was first sparked when my eldest son was diagnosed with autism in 2010. I read a lot of material about autism at the time and was also very well supported by the psychologist who diagnosed my son. As time went on, I became curious about myself and sought my own diagnosis. I then felt a strong pull to contribute to help other autistic people and being able to conduct research with OTARC alongside my study of psychology seemed like a great way to do this.  

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to begin your research?

I tend to get very focused on moving forward in linear fashion and making regular progress towards my end goal, whereas my experience with research to date is that you need to engage in dialogue with your supervisors and other experts. This dialogue can then lead to you changing your approach or going down a different path. Initially I found this lack of certainty difficult and a little discouraging but I am learning to appreciate that it is part of the process and leads to a better outcome.

Do you have a personal philosophy that you bring to research?

I try to remain really curious in my research. I think that autistic people are really remarkable and I try to let that anchor me in my approach so that my research will try to uncover strengths and achievements as well as opportunities for better support.

How has the pandemic affected your year?

It has been hard at times, I have studied Masters of Clinical Psychology which has included my new Master research project with OTARC. I had expected a year where I could deep dive into my topics of interest, instead I have had to share my study space with home schooling three children and my husband. At first the noise and lack of alone time was tough for me, but I worked through some different strategies to recharge myself. I am really proud that I have got through my first year of Masters and look forward to next year.

Helen Andrews

What is your connection to autism?
My nephew and son were diagnosed with autism at the age of three and watching them overcome challenges throughout the years (my son is about to turn 19 and his cousin is 21) has opened my eyes to the daily experience of autistic people and their families. Having become familiar with the diverse symptoms of autism through support groups and research, I realised that I am probably also autistic, although I have not been diagnosed.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to begin your research?
The biggest challenge for me has been financial. I spent five years caring for my mother who was chronically ill and trying to return to the workforce in my late 40’s after such a long break has proved challenging. Then along came coronavirus, and the job market became even tighter. Receiving my scholarship was like a miracle.

Do you have a personal philosophy that you bring to research?
I’m not sure that I have a personal philosophy, but I do believe in trusting my instincts. My non-conscious brain seems capable of organising information and making intuitive links much better than my conscious brain, so I don’t push too hard to rush that process.

How has the pandemic affected your year?

I was looking forward to being on campus, as I completed my undergraduate years online due to caring responsibilities for my mother. Unfortunately, I got to attend only two days on campus before everything was shut down.  So that was a bit of a disappointment.

Lauren Sargeant

What is your connection to autism?
I am autistic. I was diagnosed when I was 26 years old, but I suspected I was autistic for about 10 years prior to this. One of my autistic special interests is autism and I love reading autism research in my spare time. When Professor Cheryl Dissanayake invited me to do my thesis research within OTARC, I was very excited and enrolled at La Trobe university straight away. I look forward to contributing to the field of autism research as an autistic researcher.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to begin your research?

I am prone to autistic burnout and co-morbid mental health issues. As such I have had to defer my studies a couple of times to take care of my mental health. Keeping up with my studies while practicing self-care has been a challenging learning curve. I made the decision to study my Honours part-time over two years and I think it was a very wise decision as my mental health has been the best it has ever been this year, despite the pandemic. Studying part-time has enabled me to dedicate extra time to self-care activities and still achieve the grades I was aiming for.

Do you have a personal philosophy that you bring to research?

I subscribe to the strengths-based model of psychology and the social model of disability. This informs my research practices in that I see autism as a neurodiversity rather than a pathological deficit. I believe this approach is more respectful to the autistic community and provides hope for the possibility of inclusion and social change.

How has the pandemic affected your year?

My wife lost her job, so this scholarship brought us some much-needed financial relief. It could not have come at a better time. Besides the financial implications, the pandemic has not impacted my year as severely as it affected others. I was looking forward to studying on campus for the first time (I did my first three years online) so it was disappointing to not be able to network in the way I had intended but I am thankful for my physical and mental health this year.

Published November 2020

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