The aims of this study will be to support the creation and implementation of interventions designed to support the wellbeing and mental health of the autistic community. This data will help providers and agencies who offer care to the autistic community to better assess the risks an individual may have and to develop more individualized protocols for support.
The research team comprises of members of the autistic community as well as clinical providers who opperate under a neurodivesity affirming paradigmn. For more information about this approach please visit embrace-autism.com
The researchers team also comprises of several members of the LGBT+ community, and allies, including two transgender PI's. The CO-PI is an active contributor to the Transgender Health Collaborative at SLU, where they partner with the transgender community in St. Louis. In addition the design of this study has been developed using the voices of members in transgender and autistic community.
Additionally the PI and CO-PI have a dedication to addressing gender based violence with in our community. The PI has was the co-founder of the GAP Initiative which was in operation for 3 years and facilitated and hosted several trainings within local bars and businesses to help raise awareness and train prevention of gender based violence.
Additionally, this team has a dedication to diversity and representation within the autistic sample being collected. This stems from the PIs background doing research in decolonizing neuroscience research.