Separating Evidence from Fear: What Paracetamol Claims Really Mean for Autism
The suggestion of something ‘causing’ autism can reinforce stigma, even when the evidence ultimately shows no causal link.
Posted inAutism and gender Autism and the senses News
How realistic is Mattel’s new autistic Barbie?
Autistic people are so rarely depicted in media and entertainment, it’s no wonder most people don’t really understand much about the neurotype. This article is republished from The Conversation.
What is autistic burnout? And what can you do about it?
Many autistic people face challenges in their daily life while navigating a world made for neurotypical people.
Sensory Series: Finding Cool, Calm Anchors in the Australian Summer
In summer, familiar sensory experiences need to work with the heat, not against it. Your anchors might look different from traditional imagery — and that’s perfectly okay.
Sensory Series: Heat, Sensory Comforts, and the Holiday Season
The Australian summer can come with its own set of sensory trials that can shape the way Christmas unfolds. Heat regulation issues, sun and brightness, outdoor sensory bombardment, etc.
Sensory Series: Which sensory elements of school environments influence Autistic students’ learning and wellbeing?
Words by Professor Dawn Adams // 3 min read time. Are sensory aspects of school environments linked to Autistic students’ learning and wellbeing? Our new systematic review says yes! We…
Sensory Series: Sensory Joy and Overload at Christmas
Christmas in Australia arrives with the buzz of cicadas, the smell of sunscreen mixing with barbecue smoke, the harsh brightness of summer sun bouncing off tinsel, and the peculiar disconnect of winter imagery in forty-degree heat.
Posted inAcademic Autism perspectives Autistic Adults
OTARC at APAC 2025: Connections, Insights and Regional Collaboration
A small group from the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) attended the Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC) 2025 in Perth/Boorloo. Several of our researchers and affiliates presented across the…
Autistic people aren’t looking for treatments or cures. They want a world that accepts and values them for who they are.
By Professor Dawn Adams - 2 min read. The Trump administration’s claim to have found both the cause and a treatment for autism, blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy…
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
Monotropism, an autistic-led theory of attention, may explain both the intense joys and challenges of autism by showing how narrow focus shapes experience.