Neuroaffirming care values the strengths and differences of autistic people, those with ADHD or other profiles. Here’s how
Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro explores how neuroaffirming care values strengths and difference.
Posted inAutism perspectives Student
Erin Salmon, honours student
Students can take the elective subject - Understanding and Support for Autism - We sat down to speak with Erin Salmon, who undertook the subject last year and has gone on to do her Honours thesis with OTARC.
Could supporting self-determination help Autistic adults improve their quality of life?
Does self-determination explain why people with higher Autistic traits report lower quality of life than people with lower Autistic traits?
Posted inAutism perspectives Masking Neurodiversity
What are ‘masking’ and ‘camouflaging’ in the context of autism and ADHD?
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.
Suicide Prevention in Autism report and policy brief
Following a 2021 conference, a select group of lived experience experts and researchers met to draw together content from the conference into a final report and policy brief.
Posted inAutism and the senses Neurodiversity
Event planning for inclusion of neurodiverse students
These factsheets are suitable for university and other higher education staff planning events with an inclusive focus. Each of the factsheets contains tips and guidance for ensuring that higher education activities accommodate neurodiverse students.
Calling all sensory detectives and creators…
We know that most Autistic people, and some non-autistic, have sensory issues. For those on the Autism spectrum, noises that go unnoticed by many can sound like a booming drum.
Posted inAutism perspectives Student
‘Being part of the final product’ – a student’s perspective on research
Josh is an Autistic undergraduate placement student and has offered valuable insights and perspectives to our research team resulting in a co-authored paper.
Posted inAutism perspectives Camouflaging Masking
Masking, Camouflaging & Compensating in Autism
Camouflaging, masking, blending in, compensating, impression management; we all do this to an extent. Imagine you’re invited to a work dinner with your colleagues. You get ready, thinking about what’s appropriate to wear, what to bring, and some topics to bring up (and avoid) if there are lulls in conversation. In Autism, the stakes are higher, and the task is more difficult. When social skills do not come intuitively, getting through this event requires cognitive effort, concentration and learning, a bit like doing complex algebra on the fly.
Posted inAutism and gender News
Autism in Girls and Women
Autism in girls and women often presents differently than in males, with many girls masking their symptoms, leading to underdiagnosis and a need for more nuanced assessment approaches to uncover their unique experiences and support needs.