News – Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

Category: News

Video: From employment to suicide prevention: Reflecting on 5…

September 23, 2020September 23, 2020

This video recording (55 minutes) features Dr Darren Hedley.

Autistic people face experience low rates of labour force participation as well as high under- and unemployment. Autistic people also have high rates of cooccurring psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and depression, and suicide.
Recently, multi-national companies have started recognizing strengths of autistic people in areas such as pattern recognition and attention to detail, and are actively recruiting them into technology-related roles. This presentation examines the evidence behind this “autism advantage”, and overviews our research with one of the big tech companies that employs autistic people. Importantly, though, autistic people face difficulties sustaining employment, even with support. This is probably due to challenges associated with autism as well as co-occurring conditions. The remainder of the presentation examines our research in mental
health, and in particular suicide prevention, in autism.

View Video

Director’s Report Sept 2020

September 16, 2020September 16, 2020

What a relief that Spring is upon us! It is especially welcomed by us Victorians who have had to endure Stage 4 restrictions due to the second wave of COVID-19. At OTARC, as elsewhere, families have been hit particularly hard with juggling care and home schooling their children, including autistic children, and work. COVID has also claimed a pioneer of autism research, and inaugural Chair of our Advisory Committee, Professor Margot Prior, who is sorely missed. You can read our obituary about an amazing leader, mentor and friend, who leaves an impressive legacy for us to uphold.

Senate Inquiry Into Autism
The Senate Committee Inquiry into services, support and life outcomes for autistic people is now underway to which OTARC made a submission, which you can read about in more detail below. Our Vice Chancellor, Professor John Dewar, and I had the pleasure of meeting with the Senate Committee Chair, Senator Hollie Hughes. Being a mum of an autistic teen, it was clear that Senator Hughes felt the relevant issues keenly, and which are so in need of being addressed. Having also participated in the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Autism in 2016, I am hopeful that the learnings from the latter initiative will be leveraged to take us even further than the 101 recommendations put forward in the report (PDF of report here ). Sadly, as with most things, the Victorian Autism State Plan appears to have lost traction, another casualty of Covid-19. Hopefully this will be revived in the not-too-distant future.

INSAR News
As Vice President of the International Society for Autism Research, I have been attending the annual INSAR Strategic Planning meeting which was meant to be held in Washington DC. Instead, the meeting is being held virtually, just like every other meeting since March 2020! We spent a considerable amount of time discussing the Black Lives Matter initiative, and how best to increase the number of Black autism scientists around the world, and to also increase diversity more generally. We have, thankfully, seen an increase in global participation at INSAR, a necessary first step. In my role, I am Board Liaison for a number of Committees, including the Autistic Researchers Committee who had their first event (also online) with over 150 participants, another recent achievement of INSAR. Below you will read about the achievement of one of our own autistic researchers who made the finals for the La Trobe 3-minute thesis competition. Congratulations Beth!

ASfAR Virtual Conference in December
In light of the New Zealand-Australia travel bubble not progressing, the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR) biennial conference will now be held virtually in early December. There will be good representation from OTARC at this meeting. I have been Vice President of ASfAR (another initiative of OTARC facilitated by Professor Prior) since its establishment in 2011. I plan to step down from this position at the AGM which will be held during the conference. We will bring you another newsletter following this meeting, where I can hopefully share with you the success of our first virtual ASfAR Conference.

Vale Professor Margot Prior 1937-2020

September 9, 2020September 9, 2020

We are mourning the passing of Professor Margot Prior AO who served as inaugural Chair of the OTARC Advisory Committee (2008 – 2015). She was a true pioneer in the field of autism research, as well as a life-affirming humanist, musician, and environmentalist.

Margot published the very first Australian journal article on autism in 1973 and was recognised as a leading figure in the field of psychology, becoming the first female Professor of Clinical Psychology in Australia in 1989, and establishing the first Clinical Psychology Doctoral program in the country. Beyond her scholarly and academic work, Margot has been a prominent voice for child welfare, peace and social justice initiatives. She was one of the founding members of the Psychologists for the Prevention of War and co-established the La Trobe Institute for Peace Research. She also co-founded the Victorian Parenting Research Centre in 1997 (now the Parenting Research Centre) and contributed to the development of diagnostic standards for autism in Australia.

The Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care centre at La Trobe University was named after Margot in recognition of her long contribution to autism intervention science and service. She was also a Patron of Amaze, the peak autism body in Victoria. Moreover, Margot was deeply involved in the creation of the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR), where she was awarded a lifetime membership, and it is in recognition of her that ASfAR has the Margot Prior Oral Presentation Prize.

Beyond her enormous contribution to the autism field, Margot also personally inspired many, including OTARC’s Professor Amanda Richdale, who notes ‘Her lecture on autism inspired me to study autism for my PhD under her supervision.’

She leaves a valuable legacy, which those of us in the field are honoured to continue.

Mental Health, Wellbeing & Suicide Prevention in Autism

September 2, 2020September 8, 2020

Researchers at La Trobe University are seeking volunteer research participants to be involved in a study about mental health and wellbeing, and suicide prevention, concerning people on the autism spectrum, or who identify as being autistic. The study is funded through the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund, administered by Suicide Prevention Australia.

Would the research study be a good fit for me?

The study might be a good fit for you if:

You are aged 18 years or older
You identify as autistic or you have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum
You can read and speak in English
You have not been diagnosed with an intellectual disability
You have (or think you have) been a participant in the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) Study of Australian School Leavers with Autism (SASLA) or Australian Longitudinal Study of Adults with Autism (ALSAA) – if you are not sure if you have been in these studies or not, please contact us and we can check for you

What would happen if I took part in the research study?

If you decide to take part in the research study, you would:

Complete an online survey, lasting about 45-60 minutes
Complete a 60-90 minute interview (online, but can be in person if you prefer)
You may also be invited to participate in a second interview where we will ask you about your opinions and perspectives on mental health services in Australia.
You do not have to participate in the second interview if you prefer not to (if you are invited, you can just tell the researcher that you do not want to do this part of the study).

Will I be paid to take part in the research study?

You will be reimbursed $75 for your time to complete the online survey and first interview.
If you are invited to participate in the second interview, you will be reimbursed a further $45.

Who do I contact if I want more information or want to take part in the study?

If you would like more information or are interested in being part of the study, please contact:

Name:	Dr Darren Hedley
School/Department	Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology & Public Health
Email:	d.hedley@latrobe.edu.au
Phone:	(w) (03) 9479 3704; (m) 0406 756 546
Website:	https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/display/dhedley
Ethics Approval Number	HEC20235

Director’s Report June 2020

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020

How COVID-19 has changed our research
We are in our 15th week of working at home, and this has now become business as usual for many of us. We meet at a virtual watercooler (on MS Teams) each day, and regularly see each other on Zoom for meetings as we navigate COVID-19. There has been an uptick in cases in Victoria over the last week or so, so just as we thought we might resume research on campus, it looks like it may be a little while yet!

While there are significant challenges to continuing research under current pandemic restrictions, we have also seen some benefits. Our treatment study involving children has continued as therapists moved to delivering parent-mediated intervention remotely. The benefits of this shift include facilitating skill generalisation into the home and the reduced need to travel. Indeed, the move to telehealth and online research will be particularly beneficial for under-served communities and those living in rural and regional areas here and elsewhere, and some of our researchers are exploring this further.

Research is continuing when it can be executed safely. For example, studies with autistic adolescents and adults involving online questionnaires or interviews are progressing, albeit with fewer completions than usual. However, we are exercising caution with studies on mental health and wellbeing. Given the widespread impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of ordinary citizens, these studies are suspended until we reach ‘normalcy,’ whenever that will be!

It is quite amazing just how much work we all do online now, which has not only enabled us to work remotely, but also to undertake more international collaboration. Our autistic researchers also tell us how much this suits them, with requirements to navigate the social world lessened as a result. Importantly, remaining competitive in this COVID-19 environment requires scientists to be nimble, resilient, strategic and innovative, which will ultimately serve to expand future contributions to society.

We Care – Parent Support FREE Online workshops

May 18, 2020July 22, 2020

Run by Fun Lab Therapy, these online workshops are aimed at providing parents of children recently diagnosed with a disability with information and support to understand their child’s diagnosis.The sessions will include:

Opportunities for informal chats with parents and professionals
Assitance with navigating services to promote your child’s development and progress
Professionals from the field with tips on ways to support yourself and your child

Please attend all three sessions;
The August sessions are FREE.

Dates

Saturdays 1 August; 15 August; 29 August – from 1-3pm

How to Register

Please email or call Dr Anoo Bhopti at a.bhopti@latrobe.edu.au or 9479 5667 or 0438 090 299.

Opportunity to Participate in Research

The workshops will be evaluated as part of a research study. If you are interested in participating, please let Dr Bhopti know. Participation is entirely voluntary.

The Baby AICES Study

April 8, 2020April 8, 2020

Pregnant women are invited to join this study about early infant communication

For pregnant women (in Melbourne and Perth) who:

Have a family history of Autism, ADHD or intellectual disability
Live in the Melbourne area and are willing to visit La Trobe University (Bundoora) 4 times in 2 years, with possible additional in-home visits if randomised into the treatment group
Speak English as the main language at home
Are pregnant with a single baby (eg. not pregnant with twins or triplets)

Supporting communication between parents and babies from birth

Early intervention can play an important part in reducing disability that is associated with autism spectrum disorder (autism). Early intervention typically starts after a child receives a diagnosis, most often between the ages of 2 and 6 years of age. At present, we don’t know whether commencing early intervention before this age, particularly during the first year of life, may also provide developmental benefits to the child. One way to investigate this idea is to study family members of individuals with developmental disorders such as Autism, ADHD or intellectual disability. Autism is known to be heritable (to ‘run in families’), and relatives of individuals with a developmental disorder have a higher chance of being diagnosed with autism compared to the general population. This research will test a new program that runs from the third antenatal trimester to when the baby is 8 months of age. We want to test whether this program may help parents understand more about their baby’s early social and communication skills, and in the process assist their baby’s development. This research is important because it will help us to understand how we can best support parents of newborn children, and whether a program provided very early in development may deliver benefits to the family and child.

Who is carrying out the study?

The study leaders are Professor Andrew Whitehouse (Telethon Kids Institute, Perth) and Dr Kristelle Hudry (La Trobe University).

If I do decide to take part, what will happen?

The study is trialling a new program. We are conducting what is called a ‘randomised controlled trial’, which means that we are investigating whether this new program may provide benefit when we compare it to current healthcare practice. Once contact has been made with the research team, we will inform you of what the study involves and provide you with an opportunity to ask any questions.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

The program that we are researching may enhance your daily interactions with your baby. All children will receive developmental monitoring by expert researchers over the course of the child’s first two years of life. If we identify any developmental concerns for your baby, we will promptly offer to refer you to the appropriate services.

Who is eligible to take part?

We are looking for pregnant women who:

Have a family history of Autism, ADHD or intellectual disability
Live in the Melbourne area* and are willing to visit La Trobe University (Bundoora) 4 times in 2 years, with possible additional in-home visits if randomised into the treatment group
Speak English as the main language at home
Are pregnant with a single baby (eg. not pregnant with twins or triplets)
* (This study is also running in Perth, so if you or someone you know are interested we encourage you to still get in touch with the contact information below)

Contact – further information/questions

Alex Aulich, Study Coordinator

Email: BabyAICES@latrobe.edu.au

Phone: 03 9479 2891

Director’s Report April 2020

April 8, 2020April 8, 2020

Our collective worlds have changed in response to COVID-19, with our staff and students at OTARC now working from home, as I am sure are most of you, our readers. It has been an extraordinarily busy few weeks as we rush to re-prioritise our work so that we can be as efficient as possible during our changed circumstances. Our studies involve testing of very young children have been put on hold given the difficulty in maintaining interpersonal distance with these little ones. However, participant recruitment into our studies continues in preparation for when we return to work on campus to resume testing, whenever that will be…

New Staff

Despite the rocky start to the year, we welcomed two new staff this year. Dr Katy Unwin commenced with us as a Postdoctoral Research Officer in February, working within our Early Identification and Diagnosis Research Program. She undertook her PhD at the Wales Autism Research Centre, with a key research focus on sensory issues in autism. Perrin Date has also joined us as our Research and Operations Co-ordinator from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Perrin was known to us as she volunteered at OTARC a few years ago, revealing her strong work ethic and dedication to the field.

Staff Success

I am delighted to share that Dr Darren Hedley has been awarded a Fellowship by Suicide Prevention Australia to research suicidal ideation and behaviour in autistic adolescents and adults. Darren has been working in the area of employment and mental health. His focus will now be extended to the risk and protective factors regarding suicide in autistic people with the hope of identifying targets for prevention and early intervention. In addition to this success, it was recently announced that one of our post doctoral fellows, Dr Ifrah Abdullahi, is one of ten young scientists chosen to represent Australia at the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting in Germany; unfortunately, like much else in these times of crisis, the meeting has now been postponed to 2021.

Conducting a Clinical Trial during COVID-19

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Our team were excited to launch a new study this year, a clinical trial exploring whether combining an established social learning therapy–the parent delivered Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)–would be enhanced by pairing it with a nasal spray. In this randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study, all participants receive one-on-one coaching with an Early Start Denver Model therapist for 12 weeks. While all participants receive a nasal spray, for 50%, this is a placebo, enabling us to compare the group results. This study is for children aged 3-5 years and their parent/caregiver.

Introducing social-distancing due to COVID-19 part-way through the study has been a challenge requiring flexibility from our team (particularly our wonderful parent coaches and participants). Under the guidance of Dr Sally Rogers and with support from our partners at the Brain and Mind Institute, University of Sydney, our p-ESDM therapy is going online! Using video technology, our therapists have been able to “meet” participants in their own home. This has involved using the live video to watch parents working with their children, and coaching them in their familiar environment. Although not the original plan, there might be benefits to this approach. Parents and children can feel comfortable in their home environment, skills might generalise more easily when taught in a familiar setting, and it saves travel time onto campus.

A number of challenges remain for us while continuing this study. While we have succeeded in taking the intervention online, the stringent eligibility assessments are currently paused until it is safe to see new participants face to face again. Understandably, we are unable to take participants for a medical check with the study doctor until the pressure is taken off our health system. So, during COVID-19, our team will continue taking expressions of interest from new families interested in hearing more about the trial, staying in touch with families who have already expressed interest and are waiting for their assessments, and learning all we can from this new and unique time. This is another example of how COVID-19 has challenged us, yet brought us together to enhance our cooperation and collaboration, creativity, and flexibility.

If you have a child on the spectrum aged 3-5 years and are interested in this study, please ontact Dr Rachel Jellett

OTstudy@latrobe.edu.au Ph: 9479 5421

Calling all sensory detectives and creators…

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Katy Unwin, researches sensory processing in autism and offers the following advice for those at home

We know that most people with autism, and some people without autism, have sensory issues. For those on the spectrum, noises that go unnoticed by many can sound like a booming drum. Equally, lights that seem unobtrusive to most can be glaring and extremely bright. And yet, those on the spectrum may also be under-stimulated across the senses, needing more sensory input. During this time when we are all stuck in our homes, I would like to call attention to these sensory issues in the hope that with a little thought, we can help meet our own sensory needs, or the needs of those on the spectrum whom we live with.

Being sensory detectives

Your starting point is to consider what the sensory needs are and to do this, you need to become a sensory detective. If your child on the spectrum likes a particular toy or activity, consider what sensory input they may be seeking from it. For example, if they love running their hands along the walls and floors, they may be enjoying the different textures they feel. Alternatively, if you are noticing that they are becoming withdrawn or agitated, consider if there is some sensory input that may be causing them discomfort. If they become upset when the dishwasher comes on, perhaps they are feeling over-stimulated by the whirling noise.

Create more stimulation

Once you’ve pinpointed a need for more stimulation, it’s time to get creative. Everything we use in every-day life has a sensory quality. Here are some ideas:

Putting pasta or rice in a plastic or metal bottle will give a great crunching sound when shaken.
Scrunching up some aluminium foil and sticking it to some card will create a bumpy texture.
Putting different colour scarves over a torch or a phone flashlight could create a light show!

Go around your house smelling, touching, looking and listening and see what sensory experiences you could create!

Create less stimulation

Your sensory detective mode might have revealed too much sensory input, rather than too little. In this case, why not create a sensory calming space? This can be in a small room or even a tent or cubby house made out of a sheet. The aim in this space is to reduce all the stimulation possible across the senses. Fill the space with comfy cushions and make the light level low. Sit in the space and ask yourself, what can I see, hear, smell and feel? Is there a small buzzing sound from a plug or a smell coming from the garden? Try to reduce these as much as possible so that the space feels quiet on all the senses.

There’s no one-size-fits-all guide to meeting sensory needs, so just try things out and see how it goes.