Our researchers are leading work to improve how society supports autistic people across the life course.
This Autism Acceptance Month, we're highlighting how Durham research is helping shape a more inclusive society by encouraging positive change across education, healthcare and physical activity.
Changing the environment, not the person
Our Centre for Neurodiversity and Development brings together researchers from psychology, sport and exercise science, education and health and social care to turn understanding of autism into real societal change.
Much traditional thinking and interventions have focused on the individual, with a focus on what people can't do, rather than what they can do.
Our researchers challenge this approach by shifting the focus to how environments shape experiences for autistic people and asking how schools, physical activity settings and public spaces can better support autistic people.
Looking beneath behaviour
For example, our Triple-A approach looks at attention, anxiety and sensory arousal as three factors that shape how autistic children experience school.
Rather than seeing behaviour as 'misbehaving', the research encourages teachers to ask what might be happening beneath the surface.
More than 9,000 people have already taken part in training related to Triple-A and found that implementing better support for autistic pupils often benefits all students.
Our researchers have also studied how identity distress affects autistic people's mental health; contributed to a healthy relationship guide written specifically for autistic people; challenged the long-standing misconception that autistic people are inherently unable to understand others' thoughts or feelings; and how to support physical activity across the lifespan.
Working in neurodiverse partnerships
A core part of the approach to our work involves working in neurodiverse partnerships, to do 'Better Research Together'.
We work with the autistic and neurodivergent community to prioritise research on issues that can lead to meaningful impact and change, and to ensure that the community are involved in how the research is designed, conducted, and interpreted.
Crucial to supporting participatory research is reducing the power imbalances that the community often experience when engaging in research.
Our Centre for Neurodiversity and Development has produced a suite of guidance materials to enable researchers to do high-quality participatory research, and to empower community members to be involved as co-researchers.
A long-term commitment to change
Although public awareness of autism continues to improve, turning research into everyday policy and practice takes time.
Many autistic young people still face challenges in school or drop out of physical activity.
Research led by Dr Patrick Jachyra seeks to re-think physical activity environments and practices which support the motor skills, sensory, communication and information processing needs of autistic young people.
Challenges experienced by autistic people in physical activity and in society are not inevitable but instead reflect how environments, practices and systems have not been designed with their diverse needs, interests and abilities in mind.
At Durham, we're working with partners in the UK and around the world to rethink these systems and create spaces where autistic people can thrive, not just get by.
