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Research projects
Research projects
Supporting autistic students at university
Supporting autistic students at university
This project aims to improve the university experience for autistic students by focusing on both autistic and non-autistic students. Using a community-based participatory research approach, two questionnaires were co-designed with autistic and non-autistic students and disability support services in the UK. The first questionnaire aims to identify individual support needs of autistic students, including challenges and strengths in academic, social, and life skills. This is to inform professionals to provide the best support for the student. The second questionnaire aims to understand how non-autistic students react when they interact with autistic students on campus. This is to inform future training targeted at reducing stigma and increasing belonging.
To find out more about this project or to get involved, please contact Dr Emine Gurbuz at emine.gurbuz@port.ac.uk.
Family support for autistic students at university
Family support for autistic students at university
This PhD project investigates the role and impact of family on experiences of autistic university students, an area relatively underexplored. This is particularly important for autistic students transitioning into adulthood and developing independence during university. Using a mixed-methods approach, qualitative interviews showed while students benefit from family support, relationships between students and relatives are bidrectional and shaped by various factors. Quantitative data did not find any relationships between family support and student wellbeing or academic performance, suggesting a more complex picture between family support and student outcomes.
To find out more about this project including the lay summaries of the findings, please contact Elinor Lim at elinor.lim@port.ac.uk.
A new toolkit for neurodivergent postgraduate students
A new toolkit for neurodivergent postgraduate students
This project aims to co-create a toolkit designed to enhance inclusivity in doctoral education for neurodivergent students and to provide practical guidance for supervisors to best support their students. The toolkit is informed by open-ended interview data from both neurodivergent students and supervisors supporting neurodivergent students, followed by two workshops to revise and refine the tool.
To find out more about this project or to get involved, please contact Dr Merce Barrera-Ciurana at merce.barrera-ciurana1@port.ac.uk.
Autistic children's noise sensitivity in a classroom context
Autistic children's noise sensitivity in a classroom context
Over 95% of autistic people display some form of sensory processing difference, and auditory stimuli are frequently regarded by autistic people as the most disruptive. Auditory hypersensitivities are especially salient in school contexts, as classrooms are particularly loud. The effect of classroom noise has been shown to affect children’s academic performance and their welfare. However, the majority of research to date has relied on data provided by parents and teachers or direct measures of auditory perception, but hardly any research has sought to understand how autistic children’s experience noise in school. This project takes a participatory approach to explore how autistic children experience noise in the classroom and ultimately aims to gain insights on the outcomes that need to be prioritised in schools in term of noise.
To find out more about this project, please contact James Baggott at james.baggott@port.ac.uk.
Unpacking the Portsmouth Neurodiversity Profiling Tool: An evaluation of training and profile outcomes
Unpacking the Portsmouth Neurodiversity Profiling Tool: An evaluation of training and profile outcomes
The Neurodiversity (ND) Profiling tool and ND Pathway is a needs-led model launched and funded by Portsmouth City Council that has been used by local schools. It was co-produced with psychologists, teachers, parents, young people, and clinicians to help families and professionals work together to understand a child’s unique strengths and challenges and plan support that fits the individual. The aim of this project is to evaluate this tool as well as the training provided to professionals and the outcomes of this scheme.
In a first study we evaluate the training provided to professionals on the ND Profiling tool using a survey. You can read the report here.
In a second study, we are conducting a large-scale analysis of around 1,000 profiles collected by the Portsmouth City Council, with the aim of understanding how the profiling is supporting the needs of local children and their families. The findings of this research will be published here in due time.
To find out more about this project, please contact Dr Iris Nomikou at iris.nomikou@port.ac.uk.
Tracing the effects of a needs-led Neurodiversity Pathway to develop robust outcome measures: a stakeholder-led approach
Tracing the effects of a needs-led Neurodiversity Pathway to develop robust outcome measures: a stakeholder-led approach
In this project, which is funded by the Wessex Health Partnership, we aim to capture the outcome priorities of early support approaches for different stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and clinical professionals. In this project, we expand to the entire footprint of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with a series of community engagement events exploring the experiences and perspectives of different stakeholders. The summaries of these events will be published here in due time.
To find out more about this project, or get involved, please contact Dr Iris Nomikou at iris.nomikou@port.ac.uk.
Resources
Resources
Online training for teaching staff
Online training for teaching staff
Do you want to learn more about how to better understand, teach, and support autistic students? Watch these online training videos developed by autistic students in order to learn how to support your students and apply Universal Design to your teaching.
About Autism
About Universal Design
Do you want to design a group work assignment for your class? Read this book chapter for tips to design inclusive group work for neurodivergent students at university.
Are you considering going to university? Find a helpful guide with advice from the moment you start considering going to University until you graduate. This toolkit is based on what autistic students have told us they would have liked to know.
Postgraduate researcher toolkit
Postgraduate researcher toolkit
We are co-producing, with neurodivergent postgraduate researcher (PGR) students and supervisors supporting neurodivergent PGR students, a toolkit for PGR supervision. We will publish the toolkit here in due time. If you would like to know more about this project, please contact Dr Merce Barrera-Ciurana at: merce.barrera-ciurana1@port.ac.uk
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