This course is intended to educate autistic people who are not researchers about what research is like so that they can be:
- Informed Consumers of research. This means having a better understanding of research that is reported in the media, academic journals, and elsewhere, so people can decide whether the research is important and relevant to them.
- Empowered Participants in research. This means understanding their rights as a participant in a research study, and the responsibilities of the researchers conducting the study.
- Effective Collaborators in research. This means having confidence, knowledge, and skills to work with researchers as an equal and empowered partner.
The course is not intended to prepare people for postgraduate study, or a research career.
Why are we doing this project?
We want autistic community members to:
- have the skills to be able to judge if research is relevant for them
- know their rights as research participants
- be able to feel confident collaborating in research
We want researchers to be more competent in collaborating with autistic people, too. We have chosen to start with autistic people. See Sue’s twitter thread for more information here.
Who is involved?
Jackie Ryan is an autistic PhD student from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, whose research interest is self-determination for autistic people and enhancing self-determination through participatory autism research. She is also mum to a young adult son on the spectrum. Collaborative research can ensure that the research is relevant to the autistic community and improves quality of life.
Jackie Ryan
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Would you like to be involved?
You can complete our survey on training priorities before 4:00pm on October 22nd here: https://edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/learning-about-research-2
You can volunteer to co-design with Jackie to prepare the training by emailing her at J.G.Ryan@sms.ed.ac.uk . Compensation is available for autistic collaborators.
You can attend the training November 29, 30 and December 2. One and two day options will be available.
This is where we’ll tell you who is delivering the training
Training will take place at the University of Edinburgh, Kennedy Tower, Morningside Terrace, EH10 5HF.
Kennedy Tower is accessible at the front door and is equipped with an elevator.
The rooms we will be using have natural light and minimal extraneous noise (e.g. no air conditioning sounds).
This is where we’ll post materials for the course, including the timetable, slides and so on
For more information or to apply to co-design the training, email Jackie Ryan: J.G.Ryan@sms.ed.ac.uk There is compensation available for autistic collaborators.
You can also email Sue: Sue.Fletcher-Watson@ed.ac.uk
This is where we will add general information about the survey results.
Lunch and refreshments will be available throughout the day.