Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
@olgatennisonautism.bsky.social
Australia's first autism research centre, located at La Trobe University, Melbourne/Naarm. Leading neuro-inclusive research.
📰 New commentary - Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood
"Professional and government bodies should support the development of neuroaffirming, client-centered practice guidelines that actively include input and co-design from autistic adults."
"Professional and government bodies should support the development of neuroaffirming, client-centered practice guidelines that actively include input and co-design from autistic adults."
Understanding Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood: Where Are We Now and How Do We Move Forward?
Assessment and diagnosis of autism in adulthood is a growing area of interest for both clinical and research practice. In this commentary, we present a thematic analysis following the first Internati....
doi.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 AM
📰 New commentary - Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood
"Professional and government bodies should support the development of neuroaffirming, client-centered practice guidelines that actively include input and co-design from autistic adults."
"Professional and government bodies should support the development of neuroaffirming, client-centered practice guidelines that actively include input and co-design from autistic adults."
📰 New #openaccess cross-cultural healthcare research
"Adopting the CTAQ [Checklist for Translating and Adapting Questionnaires] standardizes translation workflows and promotes the production of valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate questionnaires."
"Adopting the CTAQ [Checklist for Translating and Adapting Questionnaires] standardizes translation workflows and promotes the production of valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate questionnaires."
A checklist for translating and adapting questionnaires (CTAQ) in healthcare research: insights from a Delphi method approach - Tropical Medicine and Health
Purpose Accurate translation and adaptation of survey questionnaires are essential for ensuring validity and reliability in cross-cultural healthcare research. Despite the global expansion of healthca...
doi.org
November 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
📰 New #openaccess cross-cultural healthcare research
"Adopting the CTAQ [Checklist for Translating and Adapting Questionnaires] standardizes translation workflows and promotes the production of valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate questionnaires."
"Adopting the CTAQ [Checklist for Translating and Adapting Questionnaires] standardizes translation workflows and promotes the production of valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate questionnaires."
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
Today is the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Today is the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
Today is the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Today is the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
📰New young people with disability research
"A student-mentored community-gym-based physical activity intervention increased self-reported physical activities in the intermediate term but did not change health-related quality of life in young people with disability."
"A student-mentored community-gym-based physical activity intervention increased self-reported physical activities in the intermediate term but did not change health-related quality of life in young people with disability."
A community-based physical activity intervention (FitSkills) can improve participation attendance of young people with disability: a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial
Objectives To determine the effect on participation attendance (being there) and involvement (experience of participation) compared with usual activities of a community gym-based physical activity int...
bjsm.bmj.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:40 AM
📰New young people with disability research
"A student-mentored community-gym-based physical activity intervention increased self-reported physical activities in the intermediate term but did not change health-related quality of life in young people with disability."
"A student-mentored community-gym-based physical activity intervention increased self-reported physical activities in the intermediate term but did not change health-related quality of life in young people with disability."
World Access to Higher Education Day - 28th of October!
@lyndelkennedy.bsky.social, OTARC PhD schollar & research officer, will be talking about their work - Improving supervision for neurodivergent graduate researchers at a free online event.
Register now: events.humanitix.com/world-access...
@lyndelkennedy.bsky.social, OTARC PhD schollar & research officer, will be talking about their work - Improving supervision for neurodivergent graduate researchers at a free online event.
Register now: events.humanitix.com/world-access...
World Access to Higher Education Day – online event series
Join the WAHED online event series, where our speakers will explore student equity and highlight shared challenges and innovations.
events.humanitix.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
World Access to Higher Education Day - 28th of October!
@lyndelkennedy.bsky.social, OTARC PhD schollar & research officer, will be talking about their work - Improving supervision for neurodivergent graduate researchers at a free online event.
Register now: events.humanitix.com/world-access...
@lyndelkennedy.bsky.social, OTARC PhD schollar & research officer, will be talking about their work - Improving supervision for neurodivergent graduate researchers at a free online event.
Register now: events.humanitix.com/world-access...
A new initiative will see the co-design of a physical activity navigator program to help adults with intellectual disability lead more active and healthier lifestyles.
$2m grant for adults with intellectual disability
Grant to improve health equity for adults with intellectual disability.
www.latrobe.edu.au
October 20, 2025 at 2:25 AM
A new initiative will see the co-design of a physical activity navigator program to help adults with intellectual disability lead more active and healthier lifestyles.
📰New #openaccess autism education research
".. autistic students placing high value on having friends, being near friends or being accepted by peers. This was a priority for students, but it did not seem to be well understood or supported by the practices at school."
doi.org/10.1017/jsi....
".. autistic students placing high value on having friends, being near friends or being accepted by peers. This was a priority for students, but it did not seem to be well understood or supported by the practices at school."
doi.org/10.1017/jsi....
What Listening to Autistic Secondary Students Tells Us About Their Experience of School and the Change They Want to See | Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education | Cambridge Core
What Listening to Autistic Secondary Students Tells Us About Their Experience of School and the Change They Want to See
doi.org
October 19, 2025 at 8:51 PM
📰New #openaccess autism education research
".. autistic students placing high value on having friends, being near friends or being accepted by peers. This was a priority for students, but it did not seem to be well understood or supported by the practices at school."
doi.org/10.1017/jsi....
".. autistic students placing high value on having friends, being near friends or being accepted by peers. This was a priority for students, but it did not seem to be well understood or supported by the practices at school."
doi.org/10.1017/jsi....
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
🚨🚨🚨 New resource alert 🚨🚨🚨
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life is live 💪
A free, online resource designed by and for young adults with cerebral palsy to support getting active at home or in the community. 🌟
👉 Explore it here: cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
#WorldCerebralPalsyDay #CerebralPalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life is live 💪
A free, online resource designed by and for young adults with cerebral palsy to support getting active at home or in the community. 🌟
👉 Explore it here: cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
#WorldCerebralPalsyDay #CerebralPalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life
A free resource dedicated to empowering young adults with cerebral palsy to plan and participate in physical activities of their choosing. Practical advice, real stories, and step-by-step support for...
cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
October 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
🚨🚨🚨 New resource alert 🚨🚨🚨
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life is live 💪
A free, online resource designed by and for young adults with cerebral palsy to support getting active at home or in the community. 🌟
👉 Explore it here: cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
#WorldCerebralPalsyDay #CerebralPalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life is live 💪
A free, online resource designed by and for young adults with cerebral palsy to support getting active at home or in the community. 🌟
👉 Explore it here: cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
#WorldCerebralPalsyDay #CerebralPalsy
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
📢 New evidence-based resources!
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life
A free resource dedicated to empowering young adults with cerebral palsy to plan and participate in physical activities of their choosing. Practical advice, real stories, and step-by-step support for...
www.cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
October 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
📢 New evidence-based resources!
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
📢 New evidence-based resources!
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life
A free resource dedicated to empowering young adults with cerebral palsy to plan and participate in physical activities of their choosing. Practical advice, real stories, and step-by-step support for...
www.cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
October 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
📢 New evidence-based resources!
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.
A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.
#cerebralpalsy
📌 New impact story!
CW: mentions of suicide
Read about how #co-designed suicide prevention tools are transforming clinical care for Autistic people, leading to more inclusive, effective, and life-saving supports.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/neurodiversi...
#suicideprevention #autism
CW: mentions of suicide
Read about how #co-designed suicide prevention tools are transforming clinical care for Autistic people, leading to more inclusive, effective, and life-saving supports.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/neurodiversi...
#suicideprevention #autism
October 1, 2025 at 9:58 PM
📌 New impact story!
CW: mentions of suicide
Read about how #co-designed suicide prevention tools are transforming clinical care for Autistic people, leading to more inclusive, effective, and life-saving supports.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/neurodiversi...
#suicideprevention #autism
CW: mentions of suicide
Read about how #co-designed suicide prevention tools are transforming clinical care for Autistic people, leading to more inclusive, effective, and life-saving supports.
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/neurodiversi...
#suicideprevention #autism
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
📢 Feeding difficulties affect up to 89% of Autistic children and nearly half of all children.
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
September 29, 2025 at 9:47 PM
📢 Feeding difficulties affect up to 89% of Autistic children and nearly half of all children.
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
📢 Feeding difficulties affect up to 89% of Autistic children and nearly half of all children.
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
September 29, 2025 at 9:47 PM
📢 Feeding difficulties affect up to 89% of Autistic children and nearly half of all children.
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.
Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
📢 In the news
OTARC Director, Professor Alison Lane responds to the Trump administrations announcement on autism and medication use in pregnancy on ABC's 7:30 report.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJR0...
OTARC Director, Professor Alison Lane responds to the Trump administrations announcement on autism and medication use in pregnancy on ABC's 7:30 report.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJR0...
TGA rejects Trump’s statements linking paracetamol use to autism | 7.30
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
www.youtube.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:25 AM
📢 In the news
OTARC Director, Professor Alison Lane responds to the Trump administrations announcement on autism and medication use in pregnancy on ABC's 7:30 report.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJR0...
OTARC Director, Professor Alison Lane responds to the Trump administrations announcement on autism and medication use in pregnancy on ABC's 7:30 report.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJR0...
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
I'm helping to set up a community of practice to end the bullying of autistic students in Australian schools. If you'd like to participate, please get in touch using the form below. Further details in the thread following.
forms.gle/RFPJag4wffdq...
forms.gle/RFPJag4wffdq...
Expression of Interest: Community of Practice to Prevent Bullying of Autistic Students
Please use this form to express your interest in joining a community of practice to help end the bullying of Autistic students in Australia.
There are 11 questions on this form. 10 are compulsory a...
forms.gle
September 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I'm helping to set up a community of practice to end the bullying of autistic students in Australian schools. If you'd like to participate, please get in touch using the form below. Further details in the thread following.
forms.gle/RFPJag4wffdq...
forms.gle/RFPJag4wffdq...
📢 In the news - Dr Jac den Houting, Senior Research Fellow at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre and Autistic activist responds to the Trump statements about Autistic people.
Listen now: 6 min 30 seconds in
Listen now: 6 min 30 seconds in
Unproven autism claims cause global ripple effects - ABC listen
The US President Donald Trump has linked autism to vaccines ... even pointing the finger at paracetamol. He urged parents to delay childhood vaccinations and announced the FDA would soon warn about po...
www.abc.net.au
September 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
📢 In the news - Dr Jac den Houting, Senior Research Fellow at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre and Autistic activist responds to the Trump statements about Autistic people.
Listen now: 6 min 30 seconds in
Listen now: 6 min 30 seconds in
From our new Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research, Professor Dawn Adams.
"...blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning moment for science and public health."
Read more on LinkedIn
"...blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning moment for science and public health."
Read more on LinkedIn
Autistic people aren't looking for treatments or cures. They want a world that accepts and values them for who they are.
The Trump administration’s claim to have found both the cause and a treatment for autism, blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning momen...
www.linkedin.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:00 AM
From our new Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research, Professor Dawn Adams.
"...blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning moment for science and public health."
Read more on LinkedIn
"...blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning moment for science and public health."
Read more on LinkedIn
📰 New #openaccess autistic hyperfocus and #monotropism research
"Participants and their caregivers overall viewed hyperfocus’ impact as modestly positive, with individual opinions differing. Self-reported hyperfocus was related to self-reported misophonia and sensory hyperreactivity."
"Participants and their caregivers overall viewed hyperfocus’ impact as modestly positive, with individual opinions differing. Self-reported hyperfocus was related to self-reported misophonia and sensory hyperreactivity."
Investigating autistic hyperfocus and monotropism: Limited convergence of event-related potentials, laboratory tasks, and questionnaire responses
The autistic-developed monotropism account suggests autism is characterised by hyperfocus towards interests, although hyperfocus research has not expl…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
📰 New #openaccess autistic hyperfocus and #monotropism research
"Participants and their caregivers overall viewed hyperfocus’ impact as modestly positive, with individual opinions differing. Self-reported hyperfocus was related to self-reported misophonia and sensory hyperreactivity."
"Participants and their caregivers overall viewed hyperfocus’ impact as modestly positive, with individual opinions differing. Self-reported hyperfocus was related to self-reported misophonia and sensory hyperreactivity."
📰 New #openaccess autism and ADHD research
"Path analysis suggested hyper-vigilance, hyper-focus, and inattention were related to auditory hyper-reactivity, which was related to anxiety, which was related to hyper-vigilance, potentially reflecting a cyclic relationship."
"Path analysis suggested hyper-vigilance, hyper-focus, and inattention were related to auditory hyper-reactivity, which was related to anxiety, which was related to hyper-vigilance, potentially reflecting a cyclic relationship."
A Trans-Diagnostic Investigation of Attention and Diverse Phenotypes of “Auditory Hyperreactivity” in Autism, ADHD, and the General Population - Patrick Dwyer, Zachary J. Williams, Wenn Lawson, Susan ...
Objective: Experiences of “auditory hyper-reactivity” and decreased sound tolerance, which can be separated into phenotypes such as hyperacusis and misophonia, ...
doi.org
September 22, 2025 at 11:05 PM
📰 New #openaccess autism and ADHD research
"Path analysis suggested hyper-vigilance, hyper-focus, and inattention were related to auditory hyper-reactivity, which was related to anxiety, which was related to hyper-vigilance, potentially reflecting a cyclic relationship."
"Path analysis suggested hyper-vigilance, hyper-focus, and inattention were related to auditory hyper-reactivity, which was related to anxiety, which was related to hyper-vigilance, potentially reflecting a cyclic relationship."
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
New on the Blog!
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
September 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
New on the Blog!
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
New on the Blog!
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
September 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
New on the Blog!
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm
By Dr Patrick Dwyer
otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...
New on the Blog!
Autistic scholars like Bek Carter are transforming higher education through authentic leadership, inclusive teaching, and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
Read more: otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/authenticity...
Autistic scholars like Bek Carter are transforming higher education through authentic leadership, inclusive teaching, and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
Read more: otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/authenticity...
September 18, 2025 at 10:27 PM
New on the Blog!
Autistic scholars like Bek Carter are transforming higher education through authentic leadership, inclusive teaching, and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
Read more: otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/authenticity...
Autistic scholars like Bek Carter are transforming higher education through authentic leadership, inclusive teaching, and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
Read more: otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/authenticity...
📰 New #qualitative autism research
Autistic participants "...supported the use of services that taught caregivers to better respond to infant communication and that aimed to improve infant quality of life and wellbeing. "
Autistic participants "...supported the use of services that taught caregivers to better respond to infant communication and that aimed to improve infant quality of life and wellbeing. "
“The Wrong Supports Are Worse than no Support”: Autistic Perspectives on Early-in-Life Infant Autism Supports | Autism in Adulthood
Background: Evidence suggests that the earlier supports are provided to young Autistic children, the better the overall outcomes. Supports have typically only been available after an autism diagnosis ...
www.liebertpub.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:16 AM
📰 New #qualitative autism research
Autistic participants "...supported the use of services that taught caregivers to better respond to infant communication and that aimed to improve infant quality of life and wellbeing. "
Autistic participants "...supported the use of services that taught caregivers to better respond to infant communication and that aimed to improve infant quality of life and wellbeing. "
📰 New #openaccess autism research
Autistic People's Experiences With Mental Health Services: Intersectionality Matters
"The most frequently reported problems were a lack of skilled therapists and therapists who understood autism."
doi.org/10.1177/2754...
Autistic People's Experiences With Mental Health Services: Intersectionality Matters
"The most frequently reported problems were a lack of skilled therapists and therapists who understood autism."
doi.org/10.1177/2754...
September 3, 2025 at 9:48 PM
📰 New #openaccess autism research
Autistic People's Experiences With Mental Health Services: Intersectionality Matters
"The most frequently reported problems were a lack of skilled therapists and therapists who understood autism."
doi.org/10.1177/2754...
Autistic People's Experiences With Mental Health Services: Intersectionality Matters
"The most frequently reported problems were a lack of skilled therapists and therapists who understood autism."
doi.org/10.1177/2754...