Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
olgatennisonautism.bsky.social
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
@olgatennisonautism.bsky.social
Australia's first autism research centre, located at La Trobe University, Melbourne/Naarm. Leading neuro-inclusive research.
📰New #openaccess research

"Motivational interviewing was no more effective than dietary advice in increasing physical activity in the form of daily walking for community-dwelling older adults after hip fracture."
The effect of motivational interviewing on physical activity after hip fracture: a multisite, open-label, randomised controlled trial in Australia
Motivational interviewing was no more effective than dietary advice in increasing physical activity in the form of daily walking for community-dwelling older adults after hip fracture. The most effect...
www.thelancet.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:45 PM
📰New #sleep in Autistic children research

"Findings are consistent with independent reviews, suggesting the SDSC [Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children] may provide a more effective way to screen for sleep disturbances in autistic individuals."
Factor Structure of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children in a Cohort of Youth With Autism
Despite the substantial evidence base for poor sleep in autism, sleep problems are frequently under-identified and inefficiently managed. This is, in part, due to the fact that available tools do not...
doi.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
📰New systematic review: Effectiveness of self-regulation supports for Autistic children

"Findings showed mixed outcomes, with 48% reporting improvements, 40% mixed results, and 12% no significant effects."
Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Supports and Strategies for Autistic Children: A Systematic Review - Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
The effectiveness of emotion regulation supports for autistic children is of vital concern in autism practice, yet the literature is sparse and has not been summarized. A systematic review of 25 studi...
doi.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:05 PM
📰New #openaccess autism research

"Approximately one-third of children who had limited or no spoken language at baseline did not advance to spoken language stages following intervention. Development of spoken language was associated with modifiable factors at the child and intervention level."
Proportion and Profile of Autistic Children Not Acquiring Spoken Language Despite Receiving Evidence-Based Early Interventions
To determine the proportion and profile of preschoolers on the autism spectrum who do not acquire spoken language despite receiving evidence-supported interventions that target spoken language.We e...
doi.org
December 1, 2025 at 8:40 PM
📰New #openaccess autism #education research

"Quantitative narrative synthesis suggests an association between increased or specific noises and reductions in student learning and/or well-being, and a link between specific visual elements (lighting, distractions) and reductions in learning outcomes."
Are sensory aspects of the built school environment associated with learning or well-being outcomes for autistic students? A systematic review
Recent reviews have suggested promising evidence for creating built environments for autistic people but, to date, none of these have focused specifically on the school setting. This systematic rev...
www.tandfonline.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
📰 New commentary - Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood

"Professional and government bodies should support the development of neuroaffirming, client-centered practice guidelines that actively include input and co-design from autistic adults."
Understanding Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood: Where Are We Now and How Do We Move Forward?
Assessment and diagnosis of autism in adulthood is a growing area of interest for both clinical and research practice. In this commentary, we present a thematic analysis following the first Internati....
doi.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 AM
📰 New #openaccess cross-cultural healthcare research

"Adopting the CTAQ [Checklist for Translating and Adapting Questionnaires] standardizes translation workflows and promotes the production of valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate questionnaires."
A checklist for translating and adapting questionnaires (CTAQ) in healthcare research: insights from a Delphi method approach - Tropical Medicine and Health
Purpose Accurate translation and adaptation of survey questionnaires are essential for ensuring validity and reliability in cross-cultural healthcare research. Despite the global expansion of healthca...
doi.org
November 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
Today is the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.

Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.

otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Today is the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.

Read about how we helped shape the Ant-Bullying Rapid Review’s Final Report and the new National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.

otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/the-new-nati...
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 AM
📰New young people with disability research

"A student-mentored community-gym-based physical activity intervention increased self-reported physical activities in the intermediate term but did not change health-related quality of life in young people with disability."
A community-based physical activity intervention (FitSkills) can improve participation attendance of young people with disability: a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial
Objectives To determine the effect on participation attendance (being there) and involvement (experience of participation) compared with usual activities of a community gym-based physical activity int...
bjsm.bmj.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:40 AM
World Access to Higher Education Day - 28th of October!

@lyndelkennedy.bsky.social, OTARC PhD schollar & research officer, will be talking about their work - Improving supervision for neurodivergent graduate researchers at a free online event.

Register now: events.humanitix.com/world-access...
World Access to Higher Education Day – online event series
Join the WAHED online event series, where our speakers will explore student equity and highlight shared challenges and innovations.
events.humanitix.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
A new initiative will see the co-design of a physical activity navigator program to help adults with intellectual disability lead more active and healthier lifestyles.
$2m grant for adults with intellectual disability
Grant to improve health equity for adults with intellectual disability.
www.latrobe.edu.au
October 20, 2025 at 2:25 AM
📰New #openaccess autism education research

".. autistic students placing high value on having friends, being near friends or being accepted by peers. This was a priority for students, but it did not seem to be well understood or supported by the practices at school."

doi.org/10.1017/jsi....
What Listening to Autistic Secondary Students Tells Us About Their Experience of School and the Change They Want to See | Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education | Cambridge Core
What Listening to Autistic Secondary Students Tells Us About Their Experience of School and the Change They Want to See
doi.org
October 19, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
🚨🚨🚨 New resource alert 🚨🚨🚨

CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life is live 💪

A free, online resource designed by and for young adults with cerebral palsy to support getting active at home or in the community. 🌟

👉 Explore it here: cerebralpalsypathfinding.org

#WorldCerebralPalsyDay #CerebralPalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life
A free resource dedicated to empowering young adults with cerebral palsy to plan and participate in physical activities of their choosing. Practical advice, real stories, and step-by-step support for...
cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
October 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
📢 New evidence-based resources!

To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.

A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.

#cerebralpalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life
A free resource dedicated to empowering young adults with cerebral palsy to plan and participate in physical activities of their choosing. Practical advice, real stories, and step-by-step support for...
www.cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
October 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
📢 New evidence-based resources!

To better support physical activity experiences at home or in the community.

A resource designed for young adults with cerebral palsy, by young adults with cerebral palsy, their key supporters, allied health professionals, and researchers.

#cerebralpalsy
CP-Pathfinding: Fitness for Life
A free resource dedicated to empowering young adults with cerebral palsy to plan and participate in physical activities of their choosing. Practical advice, real stories, and step-by-step support for...
www.cerebralpalsypathfinding.org
October 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
📌 New impact story!

CW: mentions of suicide

Read about how #co-designed suicide prevention tools are transforming clinical care for Autistic people, leading to more inclusive, effective, and life-saving supports.

otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/neurodiversi...

#suicideprevention #autism
October 1, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
📢 Feeding difficulties affect up to 89% of Autistic children and nearly half of all children.

Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.

Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
September 29, 2025 at 9:47 PM
📢 Feeding difficulties affect up to 89% of Autistic children and nearly half of all children.

Our Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework provides evidence-based guidance for early identification, training, and systemic change.

Download now: tinyurl.com/eewrgqer
September 29, 2025 at 9:47 PM
📢 In the news

OTARC Director, Professor Alison Lane responds to the Trump administrations announcement on autism and medication use in pregnancy on ABC's 7:30 report.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJR0...
TGA rejects Trump’s statements linking paracetamol use to autism | 7.30
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
www.youtube.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Reposted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
I'm helping to set up a community of practice to end the bullying of autistic students in Australian schools. If you'd like to participate, please get in touch using the form below. Further details in the thread following.
forms.gle/RFPJag4wffdq...
Expression of Interest: Community of Practice to Prevent Bullying of Autistic Students
Please use this form to express your interest in joining a community of practice to help end the bullying of Autistic students in Australia. There are 11 questions on this form. 10 are compulsory a...
forms.gle
September 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
📢 In the news - Dr Jac den Houting, Senior Research Fellow at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre and Autistic activist responds to the Trump statements about Autistic people.

Listen now: 6 min 30 seconds in
Unproven autism claims cause global ripple effects - ABC listen
The US President Donald Trump has linked autism to vaccines ... even pointing the finger at paracetamol. He urged parents to delay childhood vaccinations and announced the FDA would soon warn about po...
www.abc.net.au
September 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
From our new Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research, Professor Dawn Adams.

"...blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning moment for science and public health."

Read more on LinkedIn
Autistic people aren't looking for treatments or cures. They want a world that accepts and values them for who they are.
The Trump administration’s claim to have found both the cause and a treatment for autism, blaming the use of painkillers in pregnancy and promoting an unproven therapy, marks a deeply concerning momen...
www.linkedin.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:00 AM
📰 New #openaccess autistic hyperfocus and #monotropism research

"Participants and their caregivers overall viewed hyperfocus’ impact as modestly positive, with individual opinions differing. Self-reported hyperfocus was related to self-reported misophonia and sensory hyperreactivity."
Investigating autistic hyperfocus and monotropism: Limited convergence of event-related potentials, laboratory tasks, and questionnaire responses
The autistic-developed monotropism account suggests autism is characterised by hyperfocus towards interests, although hyperfocus research has not expl…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
📰 New #openaccess autism and ADHD research

"Path analysis suggested hyper-vigilance, hyper-focus, and inattention were related to auditory hyper-reactivity, which was related to anxiety, which was related to hyper-vigilance, potentially reflecting a cyclic relationship."
A Trans-Diagnostic Investigation of Attention and Diverse Phenotypes of “Auditory Hyperreactivity” in Autism, ADHD, and the General Population - Patrick Dwyer, Zachary J. Williams, Wenn Lawson, Susan ...
Objective: Experiences of “auditory hyper-reactivity” and decreased sound tolerance, which can be separated into phenotypes such as hyperacusis and misophonia, ...
doi.org
September 22, 2025 at 11:05 PM