MSc Psychology and Learning Disability

New free @forrt.bsky.social paper co-authored by our own @drstevenkapp.bsky.social, Bridging Neurodiversity and Open Scholarship: How Shared Values Can Guide Best Practices for Research Integrity, Social Justice, and Principled Education.
spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Hi! We are a part-time (can work alongside) online ("live" *options*; costs the same in/outside the UK, can study from everywhere) MSc course on learning/intellectual disability, autism, and neurodiversity. Students have own tutor. We are recruiting for this term:
www.port.ac.uk/study/course...

Thank you Chloe! We understand difficulties with health and disability - hence the unintentional delay in seeing and responding to your message. We hope you are enjoying your well-earned summer break.

I have officially finished the first year of my MSc despite chronic illness flare-ups around *practically every deadline*.

For anyone interested in learning disability, autism, & neurodivergence, @uoppald.bsky.social is utterly wonderful with the most supportive tutors - do check the course out!

In case you missed it, a presentation by our Director Beatriz López. @drstevenkapp.bsky.social, and @eminegurbuz.bsky.social delivered a good practice research showcase on Creating an inclusive research culture for neurodivergent researchers, as part of the Uni's Research Culture Connect-Fest.

Please consider taking part in this quick online study about how people form first impressions in social interaction, using AI avatars, by our student @valrentinaolivieri.bsky.social. The study also presents an opportunity to give feedback about the AI-generated scenarios. To participate, see below.

Today our own Alessandra Fasulo co-authored presentation on Improving prosocial behaviour in the primary school classroom through a school-based mindfulness programme, & @drstevenkapp.bsky.social presented on paper below on experience of autistic ppl AFAB, at Childhood & Youth Symposium. See thread:

Accentuated emotional, social harms (eg self-sexualisation, camouflaging, menstruation). Some experienced gender dysphoria. Increased risk of bullying, violence - need for relationship education (eg on grooming). Parents, friends (online, in person) provided support - more research needed. 9/

Participants experienced verbal, physical bullying, especially at school. They felt pressured by friends to socially conform. Several described unhealthy romantic, sexual relationships and manipulation, coercion, exploitation (eg grooming by older man who "shared me with his friends": Gabby). 8/

Many participants had support from mothers or friends (from hygiene to contraception, flirting) - novel finding that parents actively supported sexual, romantic development (maybe b/c prior to autism diagnosis?). Some lacked support but wish they had "guidance" (Maggie), eg with managing emotions 7/

Participants struggled to come to terms w/ being different. Later diagnosis or finding similar others helped.
Some coped w/ interest-based activities. Other behaviours harmful, risky - extreme masking, identity confusion; underage drinking, illegal drugs; self-injury: cutting, making self sick. 6/

Puberty often precious or delayed; onset distressing regardless. Body changes were uncomfortable for participants across gender ID (eg Lola "never wanted breasts at all"; "becoming curvier" was "real issue" (Karla); Ruby was being treated like an adult but still felt like & was "legally a child". 5/

Thematic analysis generated 3 themes of puberty, adolescence for autistics AFAB: overwhelming nature of puberty (distressing body changes, sensory impact of adolescence), navigating adolescent world (feeling different, finding ways to cope, finding & receiving support) & victimisation experiences 4/

17 participants via social media (thank you!) & word of mouth. Adults (ages 19-50) via recall (14 Zoom calls, 3 email). Mostly women (13) but also not comfortable w/ binary (4), White (16), British (13), diagnosed (16, 1 awaiting assessment) in adulthood (12, as young as 9; several recent years). 3/

No prior study broadly on autistic adolescents' lived experience of puberty. Limited lit suggests emotional, sensory impacts of menstruation. Little lit on sexual & romantic development even though autistic adolescents assigned female at birth often camouflage, high risk of sexual victimisation. 2/

Exploring the social and emotional impact of puberty and adolescence on autistic people assigned female at birth

@drstevenkapp.bsky.social presented on behalf of supervisee Bethany Fearon regarding her @uoppald.bsky.social MSc-turned-paper w/ @dramypearson.bsky.social on autistic ppl assigned female at birth's experiences of puberty & adolescence (free copy here): researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/publicati... 1/

Have 15 minutes for a study on interactive AI-generated avatars, to inform understanding of first impressions and social interactions? This is for @valrentinaolivieri.bsky.social's MSc, supervised by @drstevenkapp.bsky.social.
Link (or use the QR code on poster below):
research.sc/participant/...

@drstevenkapp.bsky.social's panel at International Society for Autism Research on Neurodivergence-affirming research practices for autistic people w/ high support needs illustrates relevance of neurodiversity framework for people w/ significant disabilities - an important principle of our MSc course

Following public false claims on autism causation and attacks on science, INSAR has released a statement that people are “born with autism”
www.autism-insar.org/page/insarst.... Autism as innate and lifelong is the focus my new free paper (long thread incoming): www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...

Frontiers | Sensory–movement underpinnings of lifelong neurodivergence: getting a grip on autism

@drstevenkapp.bsky.social has timely new paper (w/ 600+ sources) on autism as a lifelong neurodivergence underpinned by sensory+ differences prior to & if applicable even after meeting criteria. It deconstructs "autistic regression” & challenges outgrowing autism:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...

New papers on autistic ppl's experiences by our graduates from their @uoppald.bsky.social dissertations are temporarily free. See Beth Fearon's on puberty and adolescence (free this month) www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/aut.2024.0298 & below thread for @addiebabe.bsky.social's on mental health.

Not April Fools: @uopcidd.bsky.social has worked w/ neurodivergent ppl & local partners to co-design profiling tools. 3 temporary research assistant positions to create a website to centralise & disseminate tools+, create & maintain a database to evidence impact of benefit from tools, lead project

Poster reading Volunteers need with a rainbow infinity (neurodiversity) symbol at the top. Autistic adults needed for research study Autistic adults' experiences and perspectives on the ADOS autism assessment: A qualitative exploration Eligibility - Over 18 - Assessed for autism - with the ADOS - Willing to share your perspective and experience of the assessment What is needed Fill out a short survey Followed by an interview This can take place online via Zoom, Google Meet, or via audio or via email When Weekdays & weekends interview options available [Symbol for location]: Online University of Portsmouth logo For more information Contact Edward Fisher [email symbol] up2148452@myport.ac.uk This project is supervised by Dr Steven Kapp from University of Portsmouth

Edward Fisher is recruiting autistic adults who have been assessed by the ADOS for his @uoppald.bsky.social project, to share experiences and views. The ADOS could have been anytime (even as children) and does not need to have resulted in diagnosis. Participation options include video, audio & email

In honour of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a paper accepted in Neurodiversity co-authored by our Neurodiversity Studies module coordinator
@drstevenkapp.bsky.social on neurodivergent researchers' views on what the neurodiversity movement is and what it should do free here:
oro.open.ac.uk/101508/

YouTube video by CoorDown NO DECISION WITHOUT US | World Down Syndrome Day 2025

As we close Neurodiversity Celebration Week, let's observe World Down Syndrome Day 2025 with this short video, NO DECISION WITHOUT US:
youtube.com/watch?v=xRIQ...
#EndtheStereotypes
#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #worlddownsyndromeday2025

Exploring the Social and Emotional Impact of Puberty and Adolescence on Autistic People Assigned Female at Birth | Autism in Adulthood Background: Emerging research suggests that puberty and adolescence may be particularly difficult for autistic people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but there is currently very little exploration of...

New @autisminadulthood.bsky.social paper: social and emotional impact of puberty and adolescence on autistic people assigned female at birth. Beth Fearon's @uoppald.bsky.social MSc thesis supervised by @drstevenkapp.bsky.social with @dramypearson.bsky.social.
Free: www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

Thanks to those who shared a version of this study on the experiences of autistic parents of autistic children (who became aware of being autistic or sought their autism assessment since having an autistic child). Here is the corrected link - @thinkingautism.bsky.social kindly shared an older post.

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED Are yo an autistic parent to an autistic child? What is the study about? We are looking to talk to autistic parents of autistic children about their experiences. What would need to do? You will be invited take part completed face short interview which can face or online. What are the participant requirements? You will need be an autistic biological parent of an autistic child. You or your child can be formally diagnosed, awaiting assessment, or self identify as autistic. You will need have gained this autistic status since becoming parent. How do take part? Please scan the QR code here to register your interest in taking part, or email me directly: sarah.harwood@myport.ac.uk.

My @uoppald.bsky.social student Sarah Harwood is calling autistic parents (especially fathers) of autistic child(ren) to share their experiences, by e-mail or video anywhere, or in person (SW England). 5-min questionnaire to express interest (more options on poster): research.sc/participant/... Thx

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Our student Sarah Harwood is recruiting autistic fathers of autistic child(ren) living anywhere for a short interview. Online (e-mail, video) and in-person (in SE England) options. If you think you meet criteria, please fill in the initial (5-min) questionnaire: research.sc/participant/ Thank you

We are recruiting for a study on the support experiences and needs of autistic university students in the UK, alongside @notts-psych.bsky.social @uniofnottingham.bsky.social researcher Dr Lauren Marsh. Please consider participating if eligible and share widely with your networks. More info below!