Host Leisa Reichelt speaks with autism researcher and clinical psychologist Professor Dawn Adams about what the latest school attendance research is showing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOLd8_RKBRk
In this podcast:
- 00:00 Welcome to the School Can’t Experience Podcast + Meet Dawn Adams (OTARC)
- 01:08 Dawn’s Journey: Clinical Psychologist to Autism Research Leader
- 04:05 Why Lived Experience Must Shape Research (and What Data Gets Missed)
- 06:11 Participatory Research & Co-Design: Catching Up in Autism Research
- 08:09 Conference Takeaways: Policy, Assessment Inequity & Systemic Drivers
- 13:26 Fluctuating Capacity: Autonomy, Trust, and the ‘Spoons’ Language
- 16:58 OTARC’s School Can’t Research: Longitudinal Findings & Anxiety Prevention
- 21:51 Practical Anxiety Supports: Intolerance of Uncertainty, Language & Modeling
- 27:49 Choice, Control & Advocacy: Building Safety and a Trusted Adult at School
- 32:33 Student Stress Investigation Cards: Top Stressors & What Kids Want Changed
- 39:04 Key Takeaways for Schools: Low-Cost Changes That Reduce Stress
- 40:47 How to Get Involved + Wrap-Up, Resources, and Support Lines
Professor Dawn Adams is the Endowed Chair of Autism Research at La Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre and the Director of the Australian Autism Knowledge Hub. Dawn is an international leader in autism research, with a particular focus on anxiety, mental health and wellbeing. She has a dedicated stream of research focusing on mental health and wellbeing for Autistic students in the school setting. Dawn enjoys collaborating with the community and Autistic researchers using participatory research practices that centres the voices of Autistic people.
