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…
In-Person Training Boosts Autism Support in Darling Downs
Darling Downs Health (DDH) has taken an important step in strengthening early autism-screening supports for young children across the region by hosting in-person training for their staff in the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool, developed by the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University.
Posted inAcademic Events Impact stories
Empowering Parents: Autism Detection App Launches in Poland
In a step toward improving access to early autism identification, A/Prof Josephine Barbaro has led the Polish launch of ASDetect, a free mobile app designed to help parents and caregivers track their child’s development and identify early signs of autism.
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…