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.
Read more “What are ‘masking’ and ‘camouflaging’ in the context of autism and ADHD?”
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.
Read more “OTARC Director’s Report July 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.
Read more “The story of Autism research in Australia: A conversation with Cheryl Dissanayake”
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.
Read more “How to talk to your child about their autism diagnosis – the earlier the better”
Dr. Brittany St. John is seeking caregivers of autistic children who have feeding challenges to compete an online survey. You may qualify for the online survey research study about your child’s feeding challenges and the impact of these challenges on your child and family. We are particularly interested in further developing a comprehensive feeding assessment for children with autism. The survey should take approximately 60 minutes.
Read more “Research Opportunities: Autism and Feeding Challenges”
Senator Hollie Hughes (NSW) delivered a speech in Federal Parliament on 7 October 2020, paying tribute to OTARC’s benefactor Mrs Olga Tennison AO.
Read more “Senator Pays Tribute to Mrs Olga Tennison in Parliament”
On 9 December 2021, over 600 people attended the Australasian Society for Autism Research online conference Mental Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention in Autism. Following the conference, a select group of lived experience experts and researchers met to draw together content from the conference into the documents below.
Read more “Suicide Prevention in Autism report and policy brief”
Updated 28 June 2022
Professor Alison Lane (formerly of the University of Newcastle) has recently joined the staff of OTARC as Deputy Director. In this position she will be responsible for research leadership, early career mentoring, as well as progressing her own research program on sensory profiles with a focus on the infant and toddler years.
Read more “‘Autism research chose me’: OTARC’s Deputy Director Prof. Alison Lane”
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.
Read more “Autism Honours Scholarship Recipients”