Centre for Research in Autism and Education

Co-Constructing Creative Methods for Voice with Sarah Parsons [5-MAR-25] Most research that includes the voices of autistic children and young people uses traditional research methods (interviews and surveys), which can exclude many from participating. ACoRNS research focuses on the co-creation of creative methods to enable autistic children and young people to contribut

Last weeks #CRAEwebinar is now up on YouTube:
'Co-Constructing Creative Methods for Voice' with the lovely Sarah Parsons (@acornsoton.bsky.socialwhere) in which we heard about ways to enable autistic children and young people to contribute their views.

Evidenced care pathways for autistic children with Kathy Leadbitter (13-Jan-22) Full title: "An evidence-based, ethical and person-centred care pathway for autistic children and their families: How can we make this happen?" There has been significant progress in autism intervention research over the past two decades. New interventions have been developed, tested in increasingl

From the #CRAEwebinar archives

Evidenced care pathways for autistic children with Kathy Leadbitter (13-Jan-22)

“Trapped in a no-win situation” Loneliness is a common emotion experienced by many, but previous research indicates higher rates of loneliness within the autistic adult community. Led by Kana Grace, an autistic researcher, this s…

“Trapped in a no-win situation”
A qualitative exploration of autistic adults' experiences of loneliness.
#CRAEresearchSummaries

There's still time to book a place on this afternoons' #CRAEwebinar:
Co-Constructing Creative Methods for Voice with the lovely Sarah Parsons
Thursday, 5th March at 4 pm

The construction of autistic people by researchers - Monique Botha (3-Feb-22) Full title: "The construction of autistic people by autism researchers" In this webinar Dr Botha discussed the findings from a mixed method study conducted with Dr Eilidh Cage investigating how researchers talk about autism and autistic people. The mixed-method study invited autism researchers to

From the #CRAEwebinar archives

The construction of autistic people by researchers - Monique Botha (3-Feb-22)

We've a #CRAEwebinar later this week, do book to get your link for Thursday:
Co-Constructing Creative Methods for Voice with Sarah Parsons
Thursday, 5th March at 4 pm

No, autistic people are not ‘mind blind’ – here’s why The idea that autistic people lack a ‘theory of mind’ has shaped ASD research for 40 years. The evidence never supported it – and it’s time to move on.

There’s a good piece in The Conversation on the issues with ToM as a concept in describing autism (and it refs our Geoff Bird’s work)

Ameliorating the disadvantage for autistic job seekers Traditional interviews tend to use open ended questions, such as ‘what qualities would you bring to the job’ or ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years’, which require interpreting social cues and im…

Ameliorating the disadvantage for autistic job seekers
#CRAEresearchSummaries

Any #SENDwhitepaper will not be perfect - and we are still slowly digesting Monday's 'Every child achieving and thriving' - but may we commend them on including an easy read version:

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This defines success of the SEND reforms not in specific accommodations, “but by whether neurodivergent children fundamentally feel that they belong and are wanted in school, and that they are supported to achieve, attain and prepare for adulthood.

Alongside the government's #SENDwhitepaper the The Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group have published their recommendations for mainstream education.

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Autism and psychological colonialism - Joris Lechêne (3-Mar-22) This webinar draws from lived experience and explore the parallels between the Cultural Deficit Model, as the main ideology behind the Colonial Mindset, and the Social Deficit Model which is still the most common lens through which autism is perceived by the public. This webinar was presented by Jo

From the #CRAEwebinar archives, one of our most watched webinars of all time:

Autism and psychological colonialism with Joris Lechêne (3-Mar-22)

So chuffed to have arrived at #A-Fest; amazing speakers lined up including the brilliant @petewharmby.com and @dean-beadle.bsky.social

PLASN primer Short introductions to this term's themes for PLASN-r, the Pan London Autism Schools Network. Aaron, Brian & guests give a little guide to the research.

For teachers in the PLASN-R network (and anyone else who's interested) - a new episode in our PLASN-R Primers. Daniel & Brian talk about movement confidence.

These Primers wrap around our Pan London Autism Schools Networks - Research meetings. Enjoy.

Virtual reality as a tool for supporting autistic people, with Nate Caruana (5-FEB-26) Virtual reality as a tool for understanding and supporting social interactions involving autistic people. In this talk, Nate shares how virtual reality has transformed our ability to study complex social interactions in autism. He discusses key insights from VR-based experiments that challenge tra

In case you missed it, last week we posted our latest #CRAEwebinar to our YouTube channel. A fascinating talk:

Virtual reality as a tool for understanding and supporting social interactions involving autistic people, with Nate Caruana (5-FEB-26)

Join us next week:
Understanding neurodivergent attention profiles to harness learning:
An evening exploring how learners process information. For educators & inclusion professionals.
With drinks & nibbles.

Friday, 27 Feb 2026
6pm
UCL IOE, London

Autistic identity: A systematic review of quantitative research A positive Autistic identity has a part in wellbeing. This systematic review of 20 papers explores this. It shows that support and autism acceptance from family and friends contribute to a more pos…

Autistic identity: A systematic review of quantitative research
#CRAEresearchSummaries

CRAE Annual Lecture 2022: "Neurodiversity-affirmative education" Sue Fletcher-Watson (16-Mar-22) Full title: "Neurodiversity-affirmative education for autistic learners" Neurodiversity is a simple, incontrovertible scientific fact, but the implications of this concept are both profound and radical. In this CRAE annual lecture, Sue explored how recent findings are undermining historic models of

From the #CRAEwebinar archives

The CRAE Annual Lecture 2022 with Sue Fletcher-Watson "Neurodiversity-affirmative education" (16-Mar-22)

CRAE’s Geoff Bird is delivering the CBCD seminar tomorrow on “Re-thinking theory of mind”
Tue 17th Feb 1pm Birkbeck Malet St rm. 612

‘I can’t say that anything has changed’: parents of autistic young people (16–25 years) discuss the impact of the Children and Families Act in England and Wales Despite hopes of better support systems and outcomes, the consensus was that little had changed. Parents noted limited support as their children navigated the challenges of transitioning to adultho…

‘I can’t say that anything has changed’: parents of autistic young people (16–25 years) discuss the impact of the Children and Families Act in England and Wales #CRAEresearchSummaries

Virtual reality as a tool for supporting autistic people, with Nate Caruana (5-FEB-26) YouTube video by Crae IOE

It’s up

youtu.be/Gk1Uhs3YTag?...

Virtual reality as a tool for supporting autistic people, with Nate Caruana (5-FEB-26) Virtual reality as a tool for understanding and supporting social interactions involving autistic people. In this talk, Nate shares how virtual reality has transformed our ability to study complex social interactions in autism. He discusses key insights from VR-based experiments that challenge tra

Last weeks #CRAEwebinar is now up on YouTube.
Our very many thank to the fantastic Nate Caruana for leading our thinking on VR in autism understanding and support. Well worth a view.

Inclusion in School: Learning Lessons from Autistic Pupils and Teachers - Rebecca Wood (07-Apr-22) Full Title: "Inclusion in School: Learning Lessons from Autistic Pupils and Teachers". In this presentation, Rebecca set out some of the typical difficulties faced by autistic pupils in school resulting from the environment, a lack of understanding and support, and the prevalence of neuro-normative

From the #CRAEwebinar archives

Inclusion in School: Learning Lessons from Autistic Pupils and Teachers with Rebecca Wood (07-Apr-22)

Students walking along a street. UCL heading. Text: MA Special and Inclusive Education. Online distance learning. "Take the next step and make a difference" maise@ucl.ac.uk

There's a new way of doing a MASIE - the online distance MA in Special and Inclusive Education. Folk from CRAE will be teaching the Yr2 Autism: Research and Practice element.

Find out more:
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospe...

Evaluating the impact of an online autism training on changing employers’ autism knowledge and commitment to inclusion in the workplace This study addresses a really important issue – the gap in autism knowledge among employers, which often hinders employment opportunities for autistic individuals. The research evaluates the effect…

Evaluating the impact of an online autism training on changing employers’ autism knowledge and commitment to inclusion in the workplace #CRAEresearchSummaries

Book on desk. It Takes All Kinds of Minds

This just appeared in the CRAE reading pile. Really enjoying Ch3 and the flexible seating project with Heba Jayoosi & Laura Crane

Understanding neurodivergent attention profiles to harness learning:
An evening exploring how learners process information. For educators & inclusion professionals.
With drinks & nibbles.

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026
6:30pm
UCL IOE, London
Free
Sign-up

Virtual reality as a tool for supporting autistic people. Exploring how VR can help us understand—and improve—the social experiences of autistic people.

For tomorrow's #CRAEwebinar we're to be joined from Adelaide by Nate Caruana exploring how VR can help us understand - and improve - the social experiences of autistic people.

Thursday Feb 5 at the earlier time of 10am GMT

Still time to sign up at:

Flexible seating in a mainstream primary setting - Heba Al-Jayoosi (6-Oct-22) In this webinar, held on 6th October 2022, Heba Al-Jayoosi discusses flexible seating in a mainstream primary setting for neurotypical and neurodivergent pupils. Heba is the Assistant Headteacher and Lead for Inclusion and Research at Mayflower Primary School, and a PhD student at CRAE.

From the #CRAEwebinar archives

Flexible seating in a mainstream primary setting with Heba Al-Jayoosi (6-Oct-22)

Virtual reality as a tool for supporting autistic people. Exploring how VR can help us understand—and improve—the social experiences of autistic people.

A little nudge if you've not signed up for this weeks #CRAEwebinar
VR as a tool for supporting autistic people with Nate Caruana
Thursday Feb 5 at the earlier time of 10am GMT

Reg at: