Our research and advocacy into public understanding and acceptance of autism and autistic people’s lived experiences is helping to develop resources and practices that enable autistic people to thrive by focusing upon strengths and identifying inclusive approaches.

 

Research

Amaze 2021 Experiences Survey: Experiences of autistic people (and parents/carers)

The Experiences survey sought to better understand the experiences and challenges faced by autistic people, their family members and carers in Australian society. Participants were recruited from subscribers to Amaze’s information and communication publications. The first wave of the Amaze Experiences survey was conducted with 1,353 people in 2017. This second wave of data will enable us to understand how the experiences and challenges faced by autistic people may have changed since 2017.

Amaze 2021 Attitudes Survey: Community attitudes and behaviours towards autism

The Attitudes survey sought to explore community attitudes to autism in Australia. The first wave of the Amaze Attitudes survey was conducted with 2,424 people in 2017. Similar to the Experiences survey, participants were recruited from subscribers to Amaze’s information and communication publications. This second wave of data will enable us to understand how the community’s autism-related knowledge and attitudes may have changed since 2017.

Autistics in Academia

Anecdotal evidence tells us that there are a significant number of autistics working in academia. There are many things about the university context that utilise the strengths of autistic people, however there are also an array of issues and areas where support is needed for autistic people in academia. To date, there is limited research published on the experiences of autistic academics.

The aim of this research is to understand the experiences of autistic people working in academia; and particularly to understand the barriers and facilitators of successful academic careers for this cohort.

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Autism Alliance 2020 - Survey to inform submission to the Senate Select Committee on Autism

A total of 3,884 people completed the survey, making it the largest known survey on the experiences of autistic people in Australia. Of these participants, 769 were autistic adults responding on behalf of themselves; and 3115 were parents/carers responding on behalf of an autistic person they care for. The survey included a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions, and covered a broad range of topics including the diagnostic process, accessing the NDIS, experiences participating in education, employment, wellbeing and housing.

Amaze 2017 - Community Attitudes & Behaviours towards Autism; and Experiences of Autistic People and their Families

The Attitudes survey sought to explore community attitudes to autism in Australia. The survey was conducted with 2,424 (primarily non-autistic) people who completed a survey on autism-related knowledge and attitudes. A primary aim of the survey was to measure understanding of autism and levels of belief in facts and myths. A number of misperceptions and knowledge gaps were identified in the general community.

The Experiences survey sought to better understand the experiences and challenges faced by autistic people, their family members and carers in Australian society. The survey was conducted with 1,353 people who were primarily parents and carers of autistic people. A primary aim of the survey was to promote voices and views of autistic people, as well as what they would most want the public to know about how autism affects them.

Evaluation of I CAN Network’s School and Online Mentoring Programs

The I CAN Network is Australia’s largest provider of autistic-led group mentoring programs, training and consultancy. Their school and mentoring programs empower autistic young people aged 8 – 22 with an ‘I CAN’ attitude. The Victorian Department of Education and Training (VDET) have commissioned this project as an independent evaluation of I CAN Network’s School and Online Mentoring Programs. The evaluation seeks to understand the impact (if any) of the mentoring programs on autistic students, their parents and teachers within government schools across Victoria.

Book Chapters

  • Jones SC (2020) Defending the ‘I’ in tribe. In Freeman D (Ed.) Tribalism’s Troubles. The Kapunda Press, 115-130.

Journal Articles

  • Jones SC, Gordon C, Akram M & Sharkie F (in press) Autism in Australia: Community knowledge and autistic people’s experiences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (accepted 25/11/20)
  • Smith O & Jones SC (2020) ‘Coming out’ with Autism: Identity in People with an Asperger’s Diagnosis after DSM-5. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50, 592-602.
  • Garner A, Harwood V & Jones SC (2016) Discourses of autism on film: An analysis of memorable images that create definition. In O’Reilly M & Lester JN. The Palgrave Handbook of Adult Mental Health. Palgrave Macmillan, 151-166.
  • Cridland E, Jones SC, Stoyles G, Caputi P, & Magee C (2016) Families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Roles and responsibilities of adolescent sisters. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 31(3), 196-207.
  • Cridland EK, Caputi P, Walker BM, Jones SC & Magee CA (2016) A Personal Constructivist Approach for investigating the patterns of dependency of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Case study of two families. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 29(1), 30-50.
  • Cridland E, Caputi P, Jones SC & Magee C (2015) The perceptions and experiences of adolescent boys with autism spectrum disorder: A personal construct psychology perspective. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability 40(4), 354-367.
  • Cridland E, Jones SC, Caputi P & Magee C (2015) Qualitative research with families living with autism spectrum disorders: Recommendations for conducting semi-structured interviews. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability 40(1), 78-91.
  • Garner A, Jones SC & Harwood V (2015) Authentic representations or stereotyped ‘outliers’: using the CARS2 to assess film portrayals of Autism Spectrum Disorders. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health 8(4), 414-425.
  • Cridland E, Caputi P, Jones SC & Magee C (2014) Understanding high functioning autism during adolescence: A personal construct theory approach, Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability 39(1), 108-118.
  • Cridland E, Jones SC, Caputi P & Magee C (2014) Being a girl in a boys' world: Investigating the Experiences of Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders during Adolescence, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 44(6), 1261-1274.
  • Cridland E, Jones SC, Magee C, Caputi P (2014) Family focused Autism Spectrum Disorder research: A review of the utility of family systems approaches. Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice 18(3), 213-222.
  • Jones SC & Harwood V (2009) Representations of autism in Australian print media, Disability and Society, 24(1), 5-

Student research

2021

Qualitative study of Victorian teachers’ perspectives on supporting autistic secondary students undertaking online learning during COVID-19

Clare Mcinnerney
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Professor Sandra Jones, Dr Chloe Gordon & Dr Lisa Milne

Qualitative study of Victorian parents’ perspectives on supporting autistic secondary students to learn from home during COVID-19

Rebecca Powers
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Professor Sandra Jones, Dr Chloe Gordon & Dr Lisa Milne

University educators’ understanding of autism, and of reasonable adjustments for autistic students

Charlotte Skinner
Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Supervisors: Professor Sandra Jones, Dr Chloe Gordon & Associate Professor Annette Joosten

View project summary poster

Exploring the creation of an autism-friendly university environment

Maxine O’Connor
Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Supervisors: Professor Sandra Jones, Dr Chloe Gordon & Associate Professor Annette Joosten

Perception of the portrayal of autism in Netflix’s Atypical within the autism community

Emma Trott
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Professor Sandra Jones, Dr Chloe Gordon & Dr Lisa Milne

View project summary poster

An evaluation of Surfing the Spectrum

Caitlin Carlos
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Amy Syer
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Dr Mathew Pink, Professor Sandra Jones, & Dr Lisa Milne 

Analysis of Autism Alliance data

Rabi’atul Adawiyah Jali
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Kyle Moat
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Professor Sandra Jones, Dr Chloe Gordon & Dr Lisa Milne

Autistic women’s experience of parenting: A qualitative analysis of Reddit posts

Imogen Melgaard
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)

Supervisors - Dr Lisa Milne, Prof Sandra Jones and Dr Chloe Gordon

View project summary poster

2017

Parents’ Adaptation to Their Child’s Diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Rachael DeLuca
Masters of Psychology 

Supervisors: Prof Sandra Jones and Prof David Kirchhoffer

The Impact of the DSM-5 Changes on Identity in Adults with Asperger’s

Olivia Smith
Masters of Psychology 

Supervisors: Prof Sandra Jones and Prof David Kirchhoffer

Autistic adults’ lived experiences of food and eating

Maddy Wilson
Master of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Hanna Stephenson
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)

Supervisors: Dr Lisa Milne, Prof Sandra Jones and Dr Chloe Gordon

View project summary poster

Parents’ perceptions of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for their autistic children

Carly Wadsworth
Master of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Prof Sandra Jones, Dr Lisa Milne and Ms Jennifer Lowe

View project summary poster

What is the understanding and attitudes of external placement providers towards autistic allied health students, and what supports can be provided to facilitate inclusion?

Shadia Hancock
Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)

Supervisors: Prof Sandra Jones, A/Prof Diane Jacobs and Ms Jennifer Lowe

View project summary poster

Understanding the needs of autistic university students

Madeleine O’Rourke
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Supervisors: Prof Sandra Jones, A/Prof Annette Joosten, Ms Jennifer Lowe and Dr Chloe Gordon

View project summary poster

Perspectives of autistic adults on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Erina Tan
Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental)

Supervisors: Dr Lisa Milne, Prof Sandra Jones and Ms Jennifer Lowe

View project summary poster

For more information, please contact us

autism@acu.edu.au

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Autism at ACU

Through research, advocacy and a range of supports and initiatives we seek to build a more inclusive society where autistic people are supported to reduce barriers and recognise and celebrate strengths.

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Autism resources

It is estimated that 1 in 70 Australians are autistic. Learn more about autism and download fact sheets and other resources.

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Our projects

Our projects and initiatives aim to address the challenges experienced by autistic students attending university and to build a more inclusive society for autistic people.

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Our collaborators

Our program is unique in being conceived and guided by autistic people to ensure we are meeting their needs. We also work with industry partners to share knowledge and influence policy.

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