On Friday 11 September 2020, the HASH Network co-hosted the online Autism in Academia seminar with the RMIT Social & Global Studies Centre to mark Social Sciences Week.
The seminar brought together Autistic activists, academics and the public to discuss how universities and research can be more accepting of Autistic people. We heard from three Autistic activists engaged in research and academia about their experiences.
Kathy Isaacs (she/her), Chair of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network – Australia & New Zealand (ASAN-AuNZ) and CRM Administrator at the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), commenced our seminar with a presentation on the importance of researching with the Autistic community as partners throughout the research process.
Dr Jac den Houting (they/them), Postdoctoral Research Associate at Macquarie University and Secretary of the ASAN-AuNZ, followed with a presentation describing the findings from their recent publication on the extent and nature of community engagement in Australian research projects commissioned by the Autism CRC. The publication can be accessed here.
Beth Radulski (she/her), PhD candidate and Project Officer: Neurodiversity at La Trobe University, concluded with a presentation outlining how La Trobe University are working towards being more inclusive of Autistic and other Neurodivergent staff and students.
Over 120 people attended the seminar live, including people from across Australia and internationally. The online format allowed people from across the globe and in different time zones to join in. The HASH Network looks forward to presenting future events in an online format.
If you were unable to attend or would like to revisit the event, the recording is now available on the Social and Global Studies Centre website.
Please feel free to email Dr Anna Urbanowicz at anna.urbanowicz@rmit.edu.au with any questions.
