Audio and video resources
We produce videos and podcasts about our research talking with our researchers and those with lived experience of Autism.
Featured Media
Videos
Our seminar series videos are hosted on Vimeo which offers captions.
October
Conceptual analysis of self-regulation: Combining education and occupational therapy perspectives
August
Inclusive Health Research: Amplifying the Voices of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Dr Karla Ausderau Dr. Ausderau’s discusses her collaboration with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their carepartners in identifying health research priorities and developing resources for investigators and research teams to facilitate the participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as research participants and team members. The development and implementation of Research Engagement and Advocacy for Diverse Individuals (READI), a health research curriculum to build capacity to facilitate meaningful engagement in research practices for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will also be described.
July
Facing Stress: Coping Strategies, Resilience and Mental Health Outcomes in Autistic Adults
Dr Melanie Muniandy discusses the research conducted as part of her PhD. Melanie examined coping strategies and resilience, and their links with stress, mental health and well-being in Autistic adults. A broader synthesis of the research findings will be presented, followed by a discussion on potential future empirical and clinical directions in the field.
June
Autism-Ready Libraries: Early Literacy Services for Autistic Children and Their Families
Milly Romeijn-Stout and Associate Professor Hala Annabi discuss Autism-Ready Libraries. The program aims to enhance a library's ability to offer early literacy programs designed for Autistic children and their families. In this talk, they will summarise their research and share the discoveries that guided the Autism-Ready Libraries Toolkit (ARLT) creation. This toolkit aims to empower libraries in delivering inclusive and accessible early literacy services to Autistic children and their families.
May
Using a Contextual Behavioural Science Framework to understand health and wellbeing of Autistic and non-Autistic adults
Dr Lauren Lawson will discuss their work being conducted at the ACTUALISE Lab at La Trobe University to understand human behaviour and develop evidence-based models of care. The seminar will:
- present work being conducted to understand how sleep difficulties arise and are maintained among Autistic and non-Autistic adults. Including the development of an ACT support program and new work using data dense methods to understand the complex interactions between sleep and psychological constructs
- focus on mental health among Autistic adults, discussing results from large survey datasets examining the interactions between mental health and psychological flexibility and process-based approaches to care for Autistic adults.
April
Exploring shifts in caregiver practices and family mealtimes after a caregiver-mediated feeding intervention for Autistic children
Brittany St. John will briefly overview feeding challenges in Autistic children, including results from the Feeding and Eating in AutiSm Together (FEAST) US Survey. Brittany will introduce the Engaged Eaters Program, a caregiver-mediated feeding support program for Autistic children and their families and present the findings from two studies from the Engaged Eaters Program pilot work:
- Evaluation of Changes in Caregiver Stress, Efficacy, and Mealtime Practices Following Participation in the Engaged Eaters Program.
- Changes in Family Mealtime and Caregiver-Child Interactions During Feeding after Participation in the Engaged Eaters Program.
March
Up and Down: Use of a Dynamic Partial Body Weight Support Play Environment to Encourage Upright Mobility and Exploration in Infants
Physical therapy supports for infants with motor delay, including those with Down syndrome and Autism, frequently focus on the development of postural control and repetition of emerging motor skills. Partial body weight supported (PWBS) harness training combines body weight support with an enriched environment to encourage new movement patterns. It allows the child to safely access their environment and provides the space to play and interact with toys and family.
Professor Julia Looper will present the background for harness training, how children with Down syndrome responded to the training, and how it may be expanded to other populations.
Watch Julia's talk Julia's slides [PDF 1.26MB]
February
Making sense of sensory experiences in Autism: the path forward
Watch OTARC's Director, Professor Alison Lane:
- discuss the range of functional impacts, both positive and negative, of sensory differences on daily life
- review what is known about the basis of these differences from traditional research
- provide a critique of methods adopted to mitigate the functionally limiting impacts of sensory differences
- lay out a proposed vision for future research identifying key limiting assumptions of current work and reflecting on the promise of participatory methods to advance the field.
Our seminar series videos are hosted on Vimeo which offers auto-generated captions.
November
Building neurodiversity-inclusive postsecondary campuses
Watch Patrick Dwyer discuss proposed reforms based on an article written by neurodivergent students, researchers, and their allies. In addition to measures to promote better communication and to increase the accessibility, usefulness, and extent of disability accommodations and supports, these reforms include changes aimed at fully recognizing neurodiversity as an important aspect of diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as by tackling stigma and supporting disability/neurodivergent community and culture.
Watch Patrick's talk Download the slides (PDF 1.28 MB)
September
Relationship Between Autistic Traits, Gender, and Field of Study in Malaysian Undergraduate Students
Watch Mohd Syazwan Zainal present an overview of the findings of his study; the profile of Autistic traits among undergraduate students in Malaysia. Syazwan is a lecturer at the Universiti Kebangsaan in Malaysia and is a PhD candidate in the Special Education Program at the Universiti Sains Malaysia.
August
Autistics in the Academy
Watch Professor Sandra Jones present a first of its kind study. Sandra collected detailed reflections from Autistic people working in academia on their thoughts, experiences, triumphs and challenges. Sandra is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Impact) at the Australian Catholic University.
July
Early detection for better outcomes
Watch Dr Beth Mozolic-Staunton present her research on the use of the SACS-R by early childhood education professionals. Beth is an Associate Professor in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at Bond University.
Download the talk [PDF 1.37MB] Learn more about the SACS-R
June
Healthy Mothers Healthy Families (HMHF)
HMHF is an online program that aims to empower women who have extra family care duties. Watch Dr Helen Bourke-Taylor, present the results of research into the program outcomes. Helen is an Occupational Therapist and Associate Professor, Monash University.
Watch Helen's talk HMHF website
We Care
The We Care program aims to improve confidence, competence, and family quality of life. Watch Dr Anoo Bhopti present:
- the early findings from the project
- a sneak peak at the evidence based resources developed.
Anoo is a Senior lecturer (Monash University) & Occupational Therapist.
Watch Anoo's talk We Care website
May
A Model for telehealth Autism assessments
Many Autistic people face barriers to reaching services in a clinic. Watch Dr Elizabeth Kryszak offer a model for providing Autism assessment services by telehealth. Elizabeth is a Psychologist with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Child Development Center (CDC) and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Ohio State University.
An update on the key themes identified and progress of Autism Connect
Autism Connect is a free national Autism advice service that has received more than 20,000 individual interactions with the community.
Watch David Tonge, Executive Manager of Autism Connect & Resources at Amaze, talk about what they have learned so far.
Watch David's talk Autism Connect
March
Autism@Work Employment Programs and Meaningful Work for Autistic Individuals
Watch Dr Jennifer Spoor talk about the ethical tensions that might arise in Autism at work programs,. For example, do these programs provide Autistic people with meaningful work. Jennifer is an Associate Professor in Management/HRM at La Trobe University.
February
Environmental factors impacting on the participation of children on the Autism spectrum
Watch Dr Kate Simpson talk about findings from research on environmental aids and barriers to participation in children on the Autism spectrum. Kate is a Senior Lecturer in Education with the Autism Centre of Excellence at Griffith University.
Bold Thinking Series: Autism: Disability or Ability?
Introducing research into Autism
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake talks about OTARC's research programs and describes our key connections within Australia and globally.
Interview with Professor Margot Prior
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake talks to Margot about their career as an Autism researcher.
Interview with Professor Dissanayake
Dr David Trembath talks to Cheryl about their career as an Autism researcher and the past, present and future of Autism research.
Behavioural and cognitive development and differences
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake talks about issues relevant to differences and similarities in behavioural and cognitive development of Autistic children compared to non-Autistic children.
N1: Practice is research
Dr David Trembath talks about the N1 research project. The project was designed to teach clinicians how to evaluate client outcomes using Single Case Experimental Designs (also known as N1 designs).
Supporting young people with disability exercising in gyms
Aims:
- provide an update on the GYM-SPARC project
- share information about social support strategies you can use in the gym to support people with disability
- ask for your feedback on the social support strategies and how we can disseminate this information to the wider recreation gym industry
- form a community of "gym inclusion champions".
The ‘Inside the Lab’ series was filmed in 2013. Since then, language in Autism research has evolved based on feedback from the Autistic community. All new OTARC research and media content follows our Statement on Language.
Separating Autism and intellectual disability
Learn about the early supports program implemented at ASELCC, the Early Start Denver Model, and related research projects, which focus on how Autistic children learn.
Stakeholder driven research
Learn about changes in the diagnostic tools for Autism and training for the use of these tools. Presenters also discuss practices in the UK for involving stakeholders (Autism professionals, parents of Autistic children and Autistic adults) and how these drive policy and research development.
Autism in China
OTARC researchers and their Chinese partners discuss Autism diagnosis and supports in China including the use of the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS).
Research into early interventions
A discussion of the growth and trends of research into early Autism supports.
Focus on adults
A talk about Autistic adult research and why there seems to be a lack of research in the adult space in the past.
Early Autism and Global Knowledge Transfer
A discussion of issues related to early identification and Autism diagnosis, and global knowledge and resources transfer as part of Autism Speaks' Global Autism Public Health Initiative.
Specialisterne employment model in Australia
A discussion of the Specialisterne employment model for Autistic adults and its use in Australia.
Frame of Mind: Ray David
Frame of Mind, an exhibition showcasing the work of Melbourne artist Ray David, is an Autism awareness campaign that invites you to engage with art.
Ray David's Mural at La Trobe University
Dr Ray David was the first artist selected to exhibit in Frame of Mind exhibition in 2014. Ray speaks about what his work represents and his appreciation of having the work displayed at the University.
Identification and diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorders
Jaidyn's story
Watch how the early detection of Autism program at OTARC has had a profound effect on the life of Jaidyn and his family.
Transforming the early detection of Autism
Mapping Autism diagnoses in Australia
Understanding the DSM-5
ASDetect is a free mobile app based on the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) method. The app guides parents through age-appropriate assessments of social communication milestones using videos of Autistic and non-Autistic children. Parents receive:
- an on-screen result of either 'low' or 'high' likelihood of Autism
- a comprehensive formal assessment results email, which they can take to their family general practitioner.
ASDetect website Learn more about the SACS
The benefits of ASDetect
ASDetect: Early detection app for Apple and Android
The technology behind ASDetect
Learning & Teaching
A talk explaining why it’s critical to undertake research into Learning and Teaching.
Understanding and facilitating learning in Autistic children
A talk about research on how Autistic children learn and how we can improve the learning outcomes using innovative support approaches.
Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre
The Centre is committed to addressing the needs of families of Autistic children at the Margot Prior Wing (MPW). The early supports program being researched at the Centre is the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM).
Focus on families
Why is Focus on Families important to OTARC?
Raising an Autistic child: an exploration of family adaptation
A talk about the potential predictors of stress and family quality of life in parents/carers.
Wellbeing in toddler aged siblings of Autistic children
Emotional Reactions of Autistic children
A talk about the widespread belief that Autistic people are "emotionally detached" from others to see if this view can still be maintained.
Language and communication
A talk about some of the difficulties experienced in language and communication.
Supports across the lifespan for Autistic people
A talk about the types of research at OTARC that relate to supports across the lifespan.
Longitudinal study for Australian School Leavers with Autism (SASLA)
A description of the SASLA study which aims to find out about the lives of Autistic young people (15-25 years).
The Dandelion Project: Employing Autistic adults
A talk about the 'Dandelion Project', a study that looked at factors related with successful transition to work for Autistic adults.
The impact of sleep quality, fatigue and social well-being on depressive symptomatology in autistic older adolescents and young adults
A discussion of sleep, fatigue and social wellbeing with Professor Amanda Richdale.
Collaborative mental health care to support adults on the Autism spectrum
A discussion of collaborative mental health care to support Autistic adults.
Autism and Suicide
Prisoner of the Mind podcast with Dr. Jessica Revill
*sign into YouTube required - age restricted content
The Suicide Response Project
Prisoner of the Mind podcast with Dr. Jessica Revill
*sign into YouTube required - age restricted content
Related Conditions
A discussion of related conditions and Autism.
Podcasts
"Cracking Autism’s sleep conundrum" on the Spectrum News podcast
"Sleep and Autism" with the host of a different brilliant (Aspect)
"Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder" on SCN2A Australia
"Sleep: it’s what’s important for Autism" on the ABC
"Sleep: it’s what’s important for Autism" on ASF Weekly Science Podcast (USA)
Other OTARC Resources
We develop and evaluate innovative approaches that enrich the lives of Autistic people.