Rachel Calderon

The social model in autism research - Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, Amy Pearson, Georgia Pavlopoulou, Kristen Bottema-Beutel, 2025

Firstly, an editorial from our special issue editors (including @kbottemabeutel.bsky.social and @dramypearson.bsky.social) introducing the social model in autism research

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

I'm very pleased that our new narrative review on autism in midlife and old age has now been published in the Annual Review of Developmental Psychology (by me and @proffrancescahappe.bsky.social).

We cover a lot of topics... more below!

Open access: doi.org/10.1146/annu...

#AutRes

Abstract for the paper: Verbal Collaboration in Same- and Mixed-Neurotype Groups of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults by Sarah Foster et al. As summarized, it reads: Background: Research suggests that some autistic adults communicate more effectively and build stronger rapport with other autistic individuals than with non-autistic people. This suggests that outcomes for autistic people in group settings may depend on the diagnostic composition of the group. Here, we examined verbal collaboration among autistic and non-autistic adults in same- and mixed-neurotype groups during a shared task. Methods: We assigned 136 adults (73 autistic, 63 non-autistic) to 34 four-person groups: all autistic, all non-autistic, majority autistic, or majority non-autistic. Researchers video recorded groups during a 5-minute Jenga tower-building task, and participants reported their rapport with the group. Researchers transcribed and coded the videos for collaborative speech using a validated coding scheme. Results: Preregistered analyses revealed that autistic participants expressed more positive opinions about the group and their own contributions than did non-autistic participants. Non-autistic participants expressed more negative group evaluations and elicited more building ideas. Participants in mixed-neurotype groups directed more negativity toward others than participants in same-neurotype groups. Autistic—but not non-autistic—participants verbalized more negativity in mixed groups. Exploratory correlations revealed links between aspects of collaborative speech and rapport. Discussion: Autistic adults expressed greater overall positivity but expressed more negativity in mixed group settings. These findings support evidence that autistic people often experience better rapport in all-autistic groups and may be more sensitive to mixed group environments than non-autistic people.

DON'T MISS! Verbal Collaboration in Same- & Mixed-Neurotype Groups of Autistic & Non-Autistic Adults by
@sarah-foster.bsky.social et al examined verbal collaboration during a group tower-building task among autistic and non-autistic adults

NEW FREE to Aug 28
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

Really proud that @journalautism.bsky.social published this...

...but also flabbergasted that we are still having to refute this.

www.sagepub.com/explore-our-...

This resonates deeply lol

Autistic Self-Diagnosis Can Be Both Valid and Necessary When we deny the validity of self-diagnosis, we fail to recognize how broken health care systems can be, and who is being excluded.

Yes, autistic self-diagnosis is valid: "When we deny the validity of self-diagnosis, we fail to recognize how broken health care systems can be. We effectively restrict our support to those privileged to afford a formal diagnosis." @autisticb4mmr.bsky.social:

thinkingautismguide.com/2019/04/the-...

“There is just too much going on there”: Nonverbal communication experiences of autistic adults. Our
free paper led by my PhD student Holly Radford & @bronteweissman.bsky.social (adapted from her thesis) w/ Ashley deMarchena. Holly delivered talk on it: INSAR 2023.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Would you like to be part of Research to Improve Cancer Care for Autistic Patients in the Northwest? The Study: Understanding the Needs of Autistic Patients with Cancer A research team from The University of Liverpool, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre & Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is conduct- ing a participatory research pro- ject. The aim of the project is to co-develop recommendations and guidance for cancer services in the Northwest region and to create information tailored to autistic individuals to help pre- pare for cancer care services. Who Can Participate? • Autistic patients or relatives of autistic patients who have experienced cancer care in the Northwest in the last 12 months. • Healthcare professionals who have assisted autistic patients during cancer treatment in the Northwest. Participation Opportunities: Interviews: One-hour interviews (online or face to face). Compensated with a £20 vouch- er. and/or Workshops: Three- hour in person. Compensated with a £20 voucher. and/or Workshops: Three-hour in person. Compensated with a £60 voucher. Interested in Participating? Please contact: Dr. Jennifer Kirton: * jennifer.kirton@liverpool.ac.uk 0151 795 5364 Or Principal Investigator * gcherry@liverpool.ac.uk 0151 795 5364

Research opportunity: Understanding the Needs of Autistic Patients with Cancer

This research is led by an Autistic or otherwise neurodivergent researcher/student.
Neurodivergent people have been meaningfully involved. Ethics approved.

Find out more:
api.typeform.com/responses/fi...

Tips for Unmasking

In case you are new to this topic, check out my previous posts on masking and how it can be difficult for neurodivergent people to tap into our authentic selves. Unmasking is not so simple - it might not be safe to let your true self show, and you might not even know what that…

Cambridge academic: University has ‘probably learned nothing’ from Spectrum 10K A University of Cambridge geneticist has said the institution has "probably learned nothing" from the controversy surrounding Spectrum 10K, the abandoned autism study which looked to analyse the DNA of 10,000 autistic people.

A University of Cambridge geneticist has said the institution has "probably learned nothing" from the controversy surrounding Spectrum 10K, the abandoned autism study which looked to analyse the DNA of 10,000 autistic people.

Environmental influences on anxiety and depression in autistic young people Join Sarah Hampton as she shares research that asks, why do many autistic young people experience anxiety and depression, and what can help?

#CRAEwebinar tomorrow
10th July 4pm bst

Join Sarah Hampton as she shares with us research that asks, why do many autistic young people experience anxiety and depression, and what can help?

www.eventbrite.co.uk...

New article out today: www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

We examined verbal collaboration among autistic and non-autistic adults in same- and mixed-neurotype groups during a shared task.

Anyone can become disabled at any time. It’s one of the few minority groups you can always join.

Even if you do everything “right”. Even if you’re young and healthy. Even if you “try hard”

It’s not a moral failing. It’s a part of life. Engage in disability justice.

Neuro-Affirming Support For Your Autistic Young Person At School. A practical and empowering webinar to help you understand and advocate for your Autistic young person at school by David Gray-Hammond, Tanya Adkin and Helen Edgar Wednesday, June 11 • 6 - 8:30pm GMT+1 Free Workbook, E-Book and recording for all ticket holders Images of workbook and ebook

Are you struggling to know how to support your young Autistic person at school, and aren't sure how or what to ask for to help them?
Join us!
Neuro-Affirming Support For Your Autistic Young Person At School
11th June 8:30pm GMT+1
Free Workbook, E-Book
Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neuro-affi...

Apparently, Nathan Fielder references one of our studies in the latest episode of The Rehearsal.

Finally, something to impress my friends and family!

Very VERY proud to have been part of this incredible piece of work

Hundreds of paired and group interactions, exploring the double empathy problem in a large diverse sample.

I RAGED at this on the radio yesterday, and will repeat my mantra: you cannot (MUST NOT) ask people to develop 'resilience' or 'grit' against those things that are in your power to change. 'Develop resilience' so often means 'your disability is inconveniencing me, please be less disabled' 🧵

Cannot wait to do this with mine

We found

- Non-autistic people preferred interacting with non-autistic people

- Autistic people preferred learning from autistic people

- Mixed pairs had lower rapport

- People who knew their interaction partners diagnostic status had better rapport than those who didn’t

What did we find?

1: Autistic and non-autistic groups shared the same amount of information as one another. Mixed groups also performed similarly.

2: People shared the same amount of information whether or not they knew they were in an autistic, non-autistic, or mixed group.

❤️

Neural processing of social reciprocity in autism Social reciprocity and interpersonal synchrony implicitly mediate social interactions to facilitate natural exchanges. These processes are altered in …

"findings demonstrate intact processing of basic reciprocal interactions in autism"?--based on "similar neural and behavioral patterns for autistic and non-autistic individuals when interacting with high and low synchronous virtual partners"? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... free

Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma This book aims to define the process of autistic masking & the underlying reasons for its existence. It considers the social context, including an individual’s response to stigma.

pavpub.com/health-and-s... may be helpful for example. By Amy Pearson & Kieran Rose. "Autistic Masking". Research-based but very readable, and very important for any team working to 'normalise' autistic children.
It is a very dangerous pursuit.

Orange blending into green book cover of "neurodiversity: a very short introduction" by Robert Chapman and Sue Fletcher Watson, with this text written in a white font.

Excited to say that "Neurodiversity: A Very Short Introduction" written by myself and @suereviews.bsky.social is finally ready to preorder! Afaik the first general academic introduction covering the ND movement, ND studies, and applications of ND theory in practice.

global.oup.com/academic/pro...

“The research from the University of Glasgow led by the team at the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory also found that the risk of dying from treatable causes was nine times higher in young adults (aged 25-34) with learning disabilities than young adults in the general population.”

What is Masking in Autism? - Ferry Godmother Productions Masking in autism involves manually acting in a way that may not come naturally to an individual with autism. Keep reading to learn more.

Masking can be a way for autistic individuals to conceal their symptoms of autism. What is masking, and how does it affect people with autism?

Read more: ferrygodmother.com/masking-in-a...

#Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #AuDHD #TouretteSyndrome

Two fems talking: For mother's day, my mom would like the activism of her youth to not be for nothing

it's me i'm mom

#AutINSAR
Q3 The term "profound autism" threatens to become increasingly entranched, while its supporters may support the work of RFK Jr. to institutionalize and stigmatize etc. autistic people.
Also, subtyping autism more broadly and AI-based diagnosis are not well-supported but may be abused.

At #INSAR2025, Alison Singer of @autismsciencefd.bsky.social publicly praised RFK Jr. for "shining a bright light" on high support autistics.

No. RFK Jr. is going to wreak destruction in the lives of autistic people and families. We either oppose him wholly, or we will all suffer the consequences.

Autistic 4th Grader Goes Viral For Powerful Rebuke To RFK Jr.: 'I'm Not Broken' Beautifully stated, young man!

Bravo, young man! www.comicsands.com/autistic-boy...