GET INVOLVED
If you are a family or individual affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder you can make a valuable contribution to unravelling the mysteries of autism. One of the ways you can do this is by becoming involved in research into this complex body of disorders. Indeed, many families ask 'what research is underway into autism?'
There is a lot of research into Autism Spectrum Disorders here in Victoria, and elsewhere in Australia and overseas. One key researcher said recently, "it seems every completed research project asks more questions than it answers."
Current research projects recruiting participants
Complete our Research Participant Register
What is research?
Research takes many forms. It may be a large, international project seeking to establish a cause, or locate a gene, or trial a specific treatment. It may be part of a research program that incorporates smaller student projects such as a twelve-month undergraduate project or a three-year doctoral project. Research projects can cover different areas including medical issues, education, causes and other areas related to child and family needs and functioning.
Research findings are usually presented at conferences and ultimately published in peer reviewed scientific, medical and educational journals. Some research findings feature in the media and initiate considerable discussion and debate. An example would be the recent debate about the MMR vaccination and autism. Others remain unpublished for decades - such as the work of Hans Asperger in the 1940's.
An often-overlooked outcome of honours and post graduate student research is its important role in developing the next generation of professionals. More and more students are becoming interested in Autism Spectrum Disorder, and they carry this interest and expertise into their working life.
Why am I important?
The most important component of Autism Spectrum Disorder research is you - the families and individuals. Without your participation there can be no research findings, and thus no change in our scientific knowledge of these conditions.
Please consider being part of the Autism Victoria Research Participant Register. You only need provide basic information about yourself and/or your family. The register is kept securely by Autism Victoria and is not issued to any other organisation. A researcher will be able to request a listing of subjects defined by the following criteria:
- Date of birth
- Postcode
- Specific Diagnosis
- Verbal/non-verbal
- Level of intellectual disability
- Gender
- Number of siblings with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Number of siblings not affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder
This is an email-based list. Sometimes we may need to contact you to verify details, which is why we need your personal details. However, only your email address will be made available to bone fide researchers. When a researcher contacts you, s/he will explain the study briefly. You are under no obligation to participate in the study unless you wish to do so. You may remove your details from the list whenever you wish by sending an email to j.barbaro@latrobe.edu.au. To register your interest in participating in research projects, click here.
Current research projects recruiting participants
Sleep in adolescents with Asperger's disorder or high functioning autism
Stress and coping in parents of autistic children
An education and skills training programme for parents of young adults with autism
Children's sleep patterns and psychological wellbeing
Teaching emotion recognition in young children with autism
Sleep in adolescents with Asperger's disorder or high functioning autism
A new study is being conducted by an Honours student in the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) in the School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, under the supervision of Associate Professor Amanda Richdale. This research will investigate the sleep patterns of adolescents aged 14-17 years with Asperger disorder and high-functioning autism and typically developing adolescents.
Sleep shows developmental changes through the lifespan, but particularly from birth through adolescence. Sleep problems are associated with daytime sleepiness, behaviour difficulties, anxiety and impaired cognitive performance and sleep problems are known to occur in up to two thirds of children with an autism spectrum disorder. However less is known about sleep in adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder, particularly in the age range targeted here, including what impact puberty may have on their sleep.
Adolescents will complete questionnaires concerning sleeping habits, sleepiness and fatigue, worries about sleeping, general anxiety, and stage of puberty, as well as a 7-day sleep diary. Parents will complete questionnaires about their adolescent’s general health and background and HFASD-related behaviours.
If you would like further information regarding this project or you and your child are interested in participating, please contact Emma Baker on (03) 9479 2151 or email: ek4baker@students.latrobe.edu.au
Stress and coping in parents of autistic children
This research project, conducted by Joshua Whelan and Dr David Hamilton, is investigating how parents deal with stress in different types of situations. Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are being sought for participation. Participants will be tested in a single online session which should last about half an hour. The online questionnaire includes a number of demographic questions (such as your age and gender), items measuring current emotional functioning, and items measuring how you deal with certain stressful situations.
We hope your participation in the research will contribute to what we know about the ways in which parents of autistic children deal with stress, and that this may assist in the development of services which are more sensitive to the needs of parents and their children.
If you have any questions about the project, before or after participating, please email Dr David Hamilton at david.hamilton@acu.edu.au in the School of Psychology at the Australian Catholic University. If you wish to participate please go to www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=135928.
An education and skills training programme for parents of young adults with autism
Parents and family carers of young people with autism are invited to participate in a new Monash University Project conducted by experienced clinicians and researchers.
If you care for a son or daughter aged 18-25 you would be eligible to enter the study in July 2010 and following an initial interview may be asked to attend a 20 week group and individual intervention. The group program has sessions designed to help parents and other family carers cope with the specific autism related issues associated with the developmental stage of early adulthood, and the individual sessions help each family group apply the knowledge and skills they have learned to their situation at home.
Parents and family carers may also be invited to enter the study as members of the control group, and asked to complete the assessment package three times in the next 12 months.
Find out more about the project by telephone or email:
Christine Migliorini 9905 1442 christine.migliorini@monash.edu
Caroline Mohr 9905 1442 caroline.mohr@monash.edu
Avril Brereton 9905 1402 avril.brereton@monash.edu
Children’s sleep patterns and psychological wellbeing
RMIT University Master of Psychology student, Courtney Michaels is investigating psychological factors related to sleep patterns in typically developing children and children with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism aged 8 to 12 years.
Sleep can have both positive and negative effects on children’s behaviour and learning. Information from this study will provide a greater understanding of sleep patterns and problematic sleep in school-aged children.
If you are interested in finding out more about this study, please contact Courtney on
0430 050 052, or email: courtney.michaels@rmit.edu.au; or
Adjunct Prof. Amanda Richdale (supervisor) on 9925 7366, or email: amanda.richdale@rmit.edu.au
Teaching emotion recognition to young children with autism
We are inviting the parents of children with autism to assist us with a project looking at emotion recognition. This project is being conducted by Dr Kylie Gray, Professor Bruce Tonge, and Ms. Beth Williams of the Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry & Psychology.
This study will assist in investigating the effectiveness of a children’s DVD, the 'Transporters', in teaching emotions to children with autism. This study will also investigate whether the DVD improves social skills and behavioural problems.
The eligibility criteria for this study are:
- The child is aged 4 years 0 months to 7 years 0 months
- The child has a confirmed diagnosis of Autism
If you require more information please contact Dr Kylie Gray or Ms. Beth Williams on: 03 9594 1301 or email beth.williams@med.monash.edu.au. If the phone is unattended please leave a message for Dr. Kylie Gray or Ms. Beth Williams.
A new study is underway at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University examining overall growth in boys with autism, its relationship to hormone levels, bone and ligament development, and degree and form of autistic behaviours. This growth data will be used to identify possible subgroups within the autism spectrum.
Boys who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder aged between 4 to 16 years are invited to participate. We are also currently recruiting boys with typical development to serve as control participants.
The testing will take place over three sessions (one session every six months) at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University, Bundoora. The results of the developmental assessment of participants with an Autism Spectrum Disorder undertaken as part of the study will be available to parents free of charge.
If you and your child would like to participate or if you wish to obtain further information about this research, please contact Ms Cherie Green (Tel: 03 9479 3271; email: c.green@latrobe.edu.au or Dr Cheryl Dissanayake at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3083 (Tel: 03 9479 1162; email: c.dissanayake@latrobe.edu.au).
Research Participant Register Form
A parent or primary carer, or the person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (if possible) can complete this form. Please complete a separate form for each child/adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder you wish to include on the register.