With autism prevalence rates on the rise worldwide, understanding how to best support people on the autism spectrum and their families to realise their full potential is an increasingly important.
Dr Trevor Clark, National Director, Research for Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), who has been researching autism-specific programs and practices for over 20 years, said he had seen an explosion internationally in autism research focused on finding a cure for autism or the causes of autism, in the past couple of decades, but there was still much less research into programs and services to support people on the spectrum, their families and carers.
"In my view there is still a significant gap in the research into practices focussed on improving quality of life outcomes for people on the autism spectrum in the here and now, and supporting their families and carers, compared to the research into how and why autism occurs."
Dr Clark made the
