Autism@Manchester

Poster outlining the following information: Researchers at The University of Manchester and NHS are looking for clinicians who work with autistic people without learning disabilities to support their sensory motor needs (even if this is a small part of their role). The study aims to show the need for routine sensory motor assessments and treatment for autistic people without learning disabilities and what kinds of assessments and support would be of help. You would be asked to complete a survey asking about your experience of using sensory motor assessments and support options with autistic adults without learning disabilities. If you need more information, please contact: sensorymotorsupport@gmmh.nhs.uk

New call for volunteers: we're looking for #clinicians who work with #autistic people without learning disabilities, supporting their #sensory motor needs. Please see attached advert & survey link here:
www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/.../SV...
For more info contact: sensorymotorsupport@gmmh.nhs.uk

Winter Roundup: Toolkit Evaluation, Café Autistique, and What’s Next

Winter Blog post📢 #autism #research reflections including our December Cafe Autistique, an update on the research involvement toolkit & the new 2nd year Autism module co-developed with #autistic people for second year psychology students @fbmh-uom.bsky.social
sites.manchester.ac.uk/autism-at-ma...

Research Poster including the following information in text: Are you autistic*? If so, we would like you to take part in some PhD research for the University of Manchester. The research involves completing some questionnaires online. We are aiming to learn more about difficulty getting started on things in your daily life. Some people call this inertia. We are interested in responses from people who experience inertia and those who don’t This study received ethical approval via The University of Manchester Research Ethics Committee. Who can take part? Autistic adults (18 or over). This includes being diagnosed or self-identified. Who is running the study? We are a team of researchers at the University of Manchester. The lead researcher is an autistic PhD student. How long does it take? The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete. Is there any compensation for taking part? There is no compensation for taking part in this study. How do I take part? For further information, and to take part in this study, please follow this link https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_bJl0HjTghBcg71Y. What if I have questions or concerns? Please email Leneh Buckle (karenleneh.buckle@manchester.ac.uk) or Emma Gowen (emma.gowen@manchester.ac.uk

Happy New Year Bluesky peeps!

Are you #autistic? Please see our latest call for survey volunteers for a PhD project exploring autistic #inertia.

Interested? More information & the survey can be found here: www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...

Text based poster with more information about this study - for an accessible participant information sheet, please email oad@manchester.ac.uk

Call for participants 📣 The Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness are conducting the 'Hearing in Noise' study. They are trying to understand why some people with normal hearing have difficulties listening in noise. They would love to hear from #autistic (or other #neurodivergent) volunteers 📢

Café Autistíque - 3rd Dec 2025 A space where autism researchers can discuss their recent work with the public. In an inclusive space with tea and biscuits.

Join us for Cafe Autistique 3 Dec at @contactmcr.bsky.social. Talks from: Niamh Farrell on transgender autistic individuals' experiences with social communication & Busra Besdere on primary school teachers’ experiences supporting autistic student mental health. Reserve a spot tinyurl.com/4x9974fc

As always, we prioritise autistic community attendees, although all are welcome. If Eventbrite says the event is 'sold out' they should contact Alexandra.sturrock@manchester.ac.uk

Café Autistíque - 3rd Dec 2025 A space where autism researchers can discuss their recent work with the public. In an inclusive space with tea and biscuits.

Join us for Cafe Autistique 3 Dec at @contactmcr.bsky.social. Talks from: Niamh Farrell on transgender autistic individuals' experiences with social communication & Busra Besdere on primary school teachers’ experiences supporting autistic student mental health. Reserve a spot tinyurl.com/4x9974fc

A flyer showing the University of Manchester logo, and a photograph of a man and woman holding hands dancing. The text reads as follows: Research opportunity! The Ada study, Access to Dance for Autistic adults. Researchers at The University of Manchester seek autistic volunteers to talk about dance. Are you: 1. Autistic (diagnosed or self-identifying)? 2. Aged 18 or over? 3. Living in the UK? This study is exploring how autistic adults experience dance in different settings: at home (e.g. having a boogie in the kitchen), socially, or in a dance class. We want to interview autistic adults with different types of dance experience. You can take part in one of three ways: by zoom (speaking or using the chat function), in-person: at the University of Manchester, or by telephone. This research has been developed with autistic project advisors. To find out more contact: Claire.Planner@manchester.ac.uk

📢 The Ada interview study is recruiting! We want to interview #autistic adults aged 18+ about dancing at home (kitchen disco anyone?), out socially, or at a dance class 💃🕺 To find out more/take part, email: claire.planner@manchester.ac.uk
The study has been designed with autistic project advisors.

Optimising general practice support for autistic adults: a realist review protocol - Systematic Reviews Background Mental and physical health conditions are more common in autistic than non-autistic people, including anxiety, depression, suicidality, gastrointestinal problems, cancer, epilepsy, and heart disease. General practice is often the first point of contact for patients, yet research has found that autistic people face barriers to healthcare, report lower satisfaction with healthcare, and have more unmet health needs than non-autistic people. This can be due to misunderstandings about the needs of autistic people, different communication styles, the clinic environment, and challenges making and getting to appointments, compounded by slow dissemination of research findings. Our aim is to find out how, why, and to what extent general practice supports autistic adults with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) throughout their lives, in order to suggest improvements to practice. Methods We will conduct a realist review which is a theory-driven systematic review. Electronic databases will be searched including MEDLINE, PsycInfo, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, Scopus, ASSIA and grey literature sources (e.g. Google Scholar). To be included articles must concern general practice, autistic adults aged 18 and over, contain information relevant to a UK setting, and be written in English. Any study design or article type may be included and articles will be assessed for relevance and rigour. In line with realist synthesis methods we will identify relevant contexts, mechanisms and outcomes and develop a programme theory to explain how, why, and when general practice optimally supports (or not) autistic adults. We will also seek to identify resources that are available for and used by general practice to support autistic adults. We will involve stakeholders in each stage of the review including autistic individuals, family members, and healthcare professionals (including general practice staff). The review will be reported in line with the RAMESES publication standards. Discussion The findings will inform guidance for i) general practice about potentially helpful adaptations to service, and ii) autistic people to help them gain the support they need. This will help to improve access to and engagement with general practice care, and thus potentially improve the health and wellbeing of autistic individuals. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42024545403.

📢 Delighted to see the protocol paper for our realist review has now been published. In this review we are looking at how general practice supports #autistic adults (or not)- when, how, & in what circumstances. This paper describes the steps we're taking (Cont. ⬇️)

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

💃🕺 Any reposts would be appreciated, our interview study is open to autistic adults in the UK ⬆️ @autisticrealms.bsky.social @autismmanchester.bsky.social @thrivingautistic.bsky.social @semascot.bsky.social @blackautistics.bsky.social 💃🕺💃

📢 Call for vols: Tara Haynes, an MSc student in Health Psychology is exploring #neurodivergent experiences of #maternity care and would like #neurodivergent #parents whose youngest is over 3 months & born after Dec 2021 for a survey, with a possible follow up interview: tinyurl.com/ND-parents-s...

Rock on Ozzy: Reflections on Parkinson’s research from Professor Ellen Poliakoff

New Blog post! @erinbeeston.bsky.social discusses loving #rockmusic and #monotropism / #specialinterests then interviews Prof Ellen Poliakoff about her research into #Parkinsons and #music in our tribute to the music and advocacy work of #OzzyOsbourne
sites.manchester.ac.uk/autism-at-ma...

I can absolutely vouch for this study as being fundamentally autistic-led and produced by a neuroaffirming team. It's important work, and if you can support it I send you digital hugs, or no hugs if you don't hug, but much love.

Flyer showing more information about the autistic cancer care study - for a plain text information sheet please email jennifer.kirton@liverpool.ac.uk

Another call! Colleagues at University of Liverpool seek #autistic participants, their relatives, care/health staff and autistic co-researchers to explore experiences of #cancercare in #NorthWest #England supported by North West Cancer Research. Please see more info and contact details on flyer ⤵️

Flyer for study on the views of parents of autistic children on early support - please email elizaveta.nosova@manchester.ac.uk for a plain text version

Call for participants 📢 - views of autistic parents of #autistic children on early #autism support.
Elizaveta is seeking UK-based autistic adults (self-ID or diagnosed) who have autistic children (diagnosed or referred) ages 2-10
Info: tinyurl.com/3pmz2d5k
Email: Elizaveta.nosova@manchester.ac.uk

DNEP Purple - Crazy Train (An Ode to 2020) YouTube video by Ellen Poliakoff

We're thinking of #OzzyOsbourne today - his family, friends and fans (there's a few here!). Did you know our colleagues @beamlab.bsky.social work on Parkinson's research? We'll share more soon! For now, enjoy Prof Ellen Poliakoff and pals rocking out back in 2020: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYJu...

If you've just started following me (greetings!) for #autism related posts, do follow my work account where we share calls for participants and news from Autism@Manchester @autismmanchester.bsky.social

Poster giving further details of the research study seeking transgender and gender diverse autistic volunteers, if you would like a plain text version please email Research.socialcommunication@manchester.ac.uk

Happy Monday & Happy #Pride Month🌈!

We have an apt #research study to share, Niamh is seeking adult #autistic volunteers who are #transgender or gender diverse for a study into social communication. For more information, please email: Research.socialcommunication@manchester.ac.uk

A flyer showing the University of Manchester logo, and a photograph of a man moving his arms, dancing. The text reads as follows: Research opportunity! The Ada study Access to Dance for Autistic adults. Researchers at The University of Manchester seek autistic volunteers for an online survey about dance. Are you: 1. Autistic (diagnosed or self identifying)? 2. Aged 18 or over? 3. Living in the UK? We are exploring autistic people’s experience of dancing - or choosing not to dance. Dance can mean anything from having a boogie in the kitchen, dancing in clubs and other social settings, to attending a dance class. The online survey takes about 30-60 minutes depending on how much you’d like to share. It includes questions about your background (e.g. age and gender) and your experiences of dancing and watching dance, or choosing not to dance. Some members of the research team are neurodivergent and the survey was developed with autistic project advisors. To find out more and take part visit: https://tinyurl.com/Aut-dance Or contact: Claire.Planner@manchester.ac.ukResearch This project has been reviewed and approved by the University of Manchester Research Ethics Committee. Ref.: 2025-22235-41162

Love dancing? Hate dancing? If you're #autistic, age 18+, in the UK, please take part in our survey (designed with autistic project advisors). We want to hear about why people don't dance, dancing at home (kitchen disco anyone?), socially, or at dance classes. For more info: tinyurl.com/Aut-dance

Next week @beatrixbird.bsky.social and I will be presenting b2b for Cafe Autistique at the Contact Theatre in Manchester. Talking research on attention,distraction and monotropism

IMPORTANT NOTE - if eventbright says we are 'sold out', please do email the organiser to secure a ticket: alexandra.sturrock@manchester.ac.uk. Mention you are an autistic attendee to get priority booking.

Café Autistíque - 11th June 2025 A space where autism researchers can discuss their recent work with the public. In an inclusive space with tea and biscuits.

Join us @contactmcr.bsky.social for Café Autistique on 11 June 5.30-8.30pm! Elizaveta shares autistic adults' views on early #autism #interventions; Dr Daniel Poole explores #ADHD, #autistic & #neurotypical distraction & Beatrix Butnicu discusses #monotropism www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cafe-autis...

Join our colleagues @manchstm.bsky.social for a FREE workshop: 'Rethinking #Neurodevelopment - From WHO Policies to #Neurodiversity and #Care'
Open to all, 17 June at 1pm @uniofmanchester.bsky.social #UoM Simon Building - see blog for Eventbrite 🔗

May 2025 Spring Catch-up

Catch up with our latest news 📣 we have a Spring Newsletter celebrating 10 years of #autism #manchester #coproduction #research & an overview (and link) on the #blog site: sites.manchester.ac.uk/autism-at-ma...

📢 Free public lecture: 'From disorder to neurotype: a neurodiversity-affirming take on the #autism diagnostic label' on Tuesday 13th May, 15:00-16:30
with Dr Gert-Jan Vanaken
Please book here:
www.tickettailor.com/events/sofia...
Lecture Theatre 1.3, Kilburn Building @uniofmanchester.bsky.social

image showing the words 10 years in white, with a confetti background

Did you know that we’re 10 years old!

To everyone who has been part of this journey THANK YOU!

Your voices and contributions to research have shaped Autism@Manchester into what it is today.

#Autism #Autismacceptance #Autismawarenessmonth #Autismsupport #Autismacceptancemonth

hello! Thanks for getting in touch, email erin.beeston@manchester.ac.uk and I will forward your message to Leneh :)

Photograph of a large group of tiny spoons used in the inertia board game.

Let's talk about spoons!

A drawer of spoons has become an analogy for #autistic energy levels, which are swiftly depleted on everyday tasks.

Our researcher, Leneh Buckle, has been busy testing 'the inertia game' boardgame to communicate her research on this - read more: tinyurl.com/3ksur65h

Can you help with a quality of life #research survey?

✅ Autistic adults (diagnosed or self-identified)
✅ Aged 40+
✅ Living in UK, Germany or Luxembourg

Our colleagues at Université du Luxembourg would like to hear from you! 👇

✨ www.soscisurvey.de/aqol/ ✨

Queries? contact: hannah.viner@uni.lu

Poster with University of Manchester logo on and a person walking in woodland in a photograph. Details about the research study include that this requires autistic people aged over 18, an free from neurological movement problems to participate in a 30-60 minute questionnaire. Please contact Courntey.nabb@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk if you are interested in this study.

Happy Friday Bluesky peeps! Please share this call for #autistic adult volunteers for a research study into balance and falls, this involves completing a survey, to find out more email: courtney.nabb@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk 📨