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

Radio interview (1:04:39 start)

Radio interview (1:04:39 start)

Claudia speaks with Autistic autism researcher, PhD candidate and Neurodiversity Project Manager at La Trobe University, Beth Radulski about neurotypical privilege, Autistic burnout and safety for Autistic staff and students in the university environment.

3CR Radical Radio website

Podcast

Podcast

Melanie Muniandy talks about coping and mental health outcomes of Autistic people

Listen on 3RRR

Podcast

Podcast

World expert in Autism Josephine Barbaro and Trevor Keen discuss NDIS, Autism and Pediatrics

Conscious Healthcare SA

Videos

Our seminar series videos are hosted on Vimeo which offers auto-generated captions.

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 intervention for Autistic children and their families and present the findings from two studies from the Engaged Eaters Program pilot work:

  1. Evaluation of Changes in Caregiver Stress, Efficacy, and Mealtime Practices Following Participation in the Engaged Eaters Program.
  2. Changes in Family Mealtime and Caregiver-Child Interactions During Feeding after Participation in the Engaged Eaters Program.

Watch Brittany's talk


March

Up and Down: Use of a Dynamic Partial Body Weight Support Play Environment to Encourage Upright Mobility and Exploration in Infants

Physical therapy interventions 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.

Watch Alison's talk

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.

Watch Syazwan's talk


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.

Watch Sandra's talk


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.

Watch Beth's talk

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.

Watch Elizabeth's talk

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.

Watch Jennifer's talk


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.

Watch Kate's talk

Bold Thinking Series: Autism: Disability or Ability?

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Introducing research into autism

Professor Cheryl Dissanayake talks about OTARC's research programs and describes our key connections within Australia and globally.

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Interview with Professor Margot Prior

Professor Cheryl Dissanayake talks to Margot about their career as an autism researcher.

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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.

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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.

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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).

Watch video

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".

Access the GYM-SPARK workshop

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.

Watch video


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.

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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).

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Research into early interventions

A discussion of the growth and trends of research into early autism supports.

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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.

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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.

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Specialisterne employment model in Australia

A discussion of the Specialisterne employment model for Autistic adults and its use in Australia.

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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.

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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.

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Identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders

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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.

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Transforming the early detection of autism

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Mapping autism diagnoses in Australia

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Understanding the DSM-5

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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 Doctor.

ASDetect website Learn more about the SACS


The benefits of ASDetect

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ASDetect: Early detection app for Apple and Android

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The technology behind ASDetect

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Learning & Teaching

A talk explaining why it’s critical to undertake research into Learning and Teaching.

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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.

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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).

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Focus on families

Why is Focus on Families important to OTARC?

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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.

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Wellbeing in toddler aged siblings of Autistic children

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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.

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Language and communication

A talk about some of the difficulties experienced in language and communication.

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Supports across the lifespan for Autistic people

A talk about the types of research at OTARC that relate to supports across the lifespan.

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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).

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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.

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Related Conditions

A discussion of related conditions and autism.

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Collaborative mental health care to support adults on the autism spectrum

A discussion of collaborative mental health care to support Autistic adults.

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Autism and Suicide

Prisoner of the Mind podcast with Dr. Jessica Revill

Watch video

*sign into YouTube required - age restricted content


The Suicide Response Project

Prisoner of the Mind podcast with Dr. Jessica Revill

Watch video

*sign into YouTube required - age restricted content

Podcasts

Prevention as intervention with Dr Kristelle Hudry


Early intervention in Child Care with Dr Giacomo Vivanti

Melanie Muniandy talks about coping and mental health outcomes of Autistic people.

Listen


Dr Katy Unwin talks about autism, neurodiversity and sensory difference.

Listen


Professor Cheryl Dissanayake talks about Mrs Tennison's bequest, and the history and future of OTARC.

Listen

"Cracking autism’s sleep conundrum" on the Spectrum News podcast

Listen


"Sleep and Autism" with the host of a different brilliant (Aspect)

Listen


"Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder" on SCN2A Australia

Listen


"Sleep: it’s what’s important for autism" on the ABC

Listen


"Sleep: it’s what’s important for autism" on ASF Weekly Science Podcast (USA)

Listen

Other OTARC Resources

We develop and evaluate innovative approaches that enrich the lives of Autistic people.

Explore OTARC’s resources