Action on Autism Research Seminar 4

Action on Autism
Research in Scotland
– Improving Impact Seminar Series
Seminar 4
9, 10 June 2014
Lord Hope Building, University of Strathclyde
Educational Research,
Interventions and Impact
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Action on Autism Research in Scotland – Educational Research, Interventions and Impact |
9, 10 June 2014
Welcome
We are delighted to welcome you to the
Fourth Two-day Seminar in the Action
on Autism Research in Scotland Seminar
Series which aims to link policy, research
and practice: An international perspective
on Psychological, Clinical, Social and
Educational fields of research into autism
will show the quality and level of research
evidence needed to inform policy direction.
Internationally known speakers will lead on
the topics shown in this programme and their
presentations will be complemented by local
Scottish research presentations: each will be
asked to demonstrate and explore how their
own research links to policy and practices.
International research studies make an
enormous contribution to our wider
knowledge base and we would like to
understand better where Scottish research
sits in this picture, where we may be making,
or could make, a unique, distinctive or
culturally relevant contribution and how
this can link to the Scottish policy direction
encapsulated in the Scottish Government’s
ten year Autism Strategy.
The series was launched in November by
Scotland’s Minister for Public Health, Mr
Michael Matheson. Each Seminar will be
chaired by Professor Tommy MacKay in
his role as Interlocuteur for the Series. The
development of the series has been led by
Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop with the
support of the Organising Team.
PROFESSOR TOMMY MACKAY
PROFESSOR ALINE WENDY DUNLOP
Professor Tommy MacKay is Director of
Psychology Consultancy Services, CoFounder of the National Centre for Autism
Studies at the University of Strathclyde and
Clinical Director of the National Diagnosis
and Assessment Service for Autistic
Spectrum Disorders. He has over 40 years’
experience in working with children and
young people with ASD and other difficulties.
His work has won many national awards
as an ‘outstanding and original contribution
to psychology’. He has been described by
former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown as
‘an inspiration and a visionary’.
Professor Aline Wendy Dunlop leads the
Action on Autism Research in Scotland
Seminar Series Organising Team. She is
Professor Emerita at the School of Education
at the University of Strathclyde, where she
was the first Course Director of the Masters
in Autism. Aline-Wendy is a member of the
Scottish Government Autism Reference
Group, Chair of Autism Network Scotland’s
Steering Group and was awarded an MBE
“for services to autism in Scotland” in June
2013: She extends a huge thank you to
each of our funders: Scottish Government,
Research Autism and Scottish Autism.
Seminar 4
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Action on Autism Research in Scotland – Improving Impact Seminar Series
Lord Hope Building, University of Strathclyde
PROGRAMME DAY 1
Monday 9th June 2014
12.30 – 13.15
Lunch (posters + impact)
09.45
Educational Research, Interventions and Impact
Opening remarks – Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop and
Professor Tommy MacKay
10.00 – 11.00
Dame Stephanie Shirley, The Shirley Foundation
Introduced by Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop
13.15 – 14.15
Professor Tony Attwood
“Continuity of education for people on the Spectrum: strengthening the
relationship of research to practice to the benefit of people with autism.”
14.15 - 14.35
Break
11.00 – 11.20
Break
14.35 – 16.00
11.20 - 12.30
Seminar 1 – 3 Scottish Researchers: Short Presentations.
Chaired by Dr Jackie Ravet
1. Catriona Stewart
“Experiences of girls with Asperger’s syndrome/ASC and
anxiety: Where can we be what we are?”
2. Barbara Dritschel
“Knowing me knowing you: Do individuals with autistic
spectrum disorders have a theory of their own mind?”
3. Carolyn Brown and Shirley Paterson
“The contribution of educational psychologists to the
identification, assessment and diagnosis of autism :
a Scottish perspective.”
Autism Seminar Series Film Compilation followed by round
table discussion focusing on the relationship of research, policy
and practice in the light of the Action on Autism Research
Seminar Series.
16.00 - 16.30
Summing up from chair
Seminar 4
SPEAKERS – DAY 1
DAME STEPHANIE SHIRLEY
Dame Stephanie Shirley is an ardent philanthropist
and has invested over £50m to various autism
projects. The International Meeting for Autism
Research (IMFAR) honoured her with its Research
Advocate Award last year.
She founded the Kingwood support charity for 70
challenging adults with autism because she was
unable to find facilities for her late son Giles. And also the Prior’s Court
residential school, Autism Cymru and Autistica charities plus many other
autism projects including the Shirley Imaging Suite of Edinburgh’s Patrick Wild
Research Centre.
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CAROLYN BROWN
“The contribution of educational psychologists to the
identification, assessment and diagnosis of autism :
a Scottish perspective.”
Carolyn Brown is a Depute Principal Psychologist with
Fife Council Psychological Service. She has worked in
Fife Education Service as an educational psychologist
for over twenty- five years. She has contributed to a
number of national groups involved with autism including
the HMIe Autism Report and the Scottish Government’s Education Autism Working
Group. She has been a long-standing member of the Scottish Autism Reference
Group and she is currently Chair of the Association of Scottish Principal Educational
Psychologists (ASPEP).
She has had a long-term interest in children and young people on the autism
spectrum based on her contact with pupils, schools and families as well as her
involvement in policy development and strategic planning within Fife Council. This
includes being a founding participant over the last ten years in developing and
embedding in practice, a multi-agency autism assessment and diagnostic process
and care pathway.
Her memoir Let IT Go is available from Amazon.
DR CATRIONA STEWART
“Experiences of girls with Asperger’s syndrome/
ASC and anxiety: Where can we be what we are?”
Dr Catriona Stewart: has studied autism for over 12
years, carrying out firstly a research MSc and then
a PhD funded by Edinburgh Napier University which
focused on girls with Asperger’s syndrome and anxiety
(2011). An extract of the findings were published in
professional journal Good Autism Practice in 2012. Dr
Stewart founded Scottish Women with Autism Network (SWAN) in partnership
with Autism Network Scotland in 2012.
Work experience includes as a university lecturer, student training supervisor
and professional mentor; Dr Stewart’s passion is to improve awareness and
understanding of autism in girls and women and what this means in a real, lived
sense. She leads talks and workshops for public access and CPD events.
BARBARA DRITSCHEL
“Knowing me knowing you: Do individuals with
autistic spectrum disorders have a theory of their
own mind?”
Barbara Dritschel is a lecturer in Psychology and
Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews. Her
work focusses on mechanisms underlying memory
and social problem-solving deficits that contribute to
depression, eating disorders and autism spectrum
disorder. Her research in autism spectrum disorders has examined how deficits
in autobiographical memory and social problem -solving are related and also
investigated a range of autobiographical memory deficits in both children and
adolescents. A current goal is to identify mechanisms for these deficits and to
use these findings to design interventions to improve both memory and social
functioning in autism spectrum disorder.
SHIRLEY PATERSON
“The contribution of educational psychologists to the identification,
assessment and diagnosis of autism : a Scottish perspective.”
Shirley Paterson is a Depute Principal Psychologist with South Lanarkshire Council
Psychological Service. She has worked for South Lanarkshire for the past 7 years,
having previously spent 15years with Stirling Council. She is currently a member of
the Scottish Government’s Advisory Group for Additional Support Needs and has
presented at many conferences both in Scotland and abroad. In 2010, she worked
for a time in a development centre for autistic children in China.
In her own Service, she has a strategic role in both early years and in autism-related
issues, and is involved with partner agencies in the revision of diagnostic and early
intervention processes.
PROFESSOR TONY ATTWOOD
“Continuity of education for people on the Spectrum:
strengthening the relationship of research to practice
to the benefit of people with autism.”
Tony is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in
autism spectrum disorders since he qualified as a clinical
psychologist in England in 1975. He works in his own
private practice, and is also adjunct professor at Griffith
University, Queensland and senior consultant at the
Minds and Hearts clinic in Brisbane. His book Asperger’s Syndrome – A Guide for
Parents and Professionals has sold over 350,000 copies and has been translated
into over 25 languages. He has worked with over 8,000 individuals of all ages with
Asperger’s syndrome or an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Tony presents workshops and runs training courses for parents, professionals
and individuals with Asperger’s syndrome all over the world and is a prolific
author of scientific papers and books on the subject. His book The Complete
Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome was published in October 2006 and has
several subsequent books published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Future
Horizons Inc. and Guilford Press.
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Action on Autism Research in Scotland – Improving Impact Seminar Series
Lord Hope Building, University of Strathclyde
PROGRAMME DAY 2
Tuesday 10th June 2014
12.30 – 13.15
Lunch (posters + impact)
09.30
Arrivals
13.15 – 14.15
Opening remarks – Professor Tommy MacKay and
Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop
Professor Tommy MacKay
A fresh look at prevalence and cognitive ability: The implications for
education and the autism spectrum in Scotland (Drawing from the
Scottish Government funded Microsegmentation Project for Lifelong
Autism Education)
10.00 – 11.00
14.15 - 14.35 Dr Justin Williams, University of Aberdeen
Autism and the Science of Social Learning: from Scanner to Stage
Break
09.45 – 10.00
11.00 – 11.20
Break
11.20 - 12.30
Seminar 2 - 3 Scottish Researchers Short Presentations.
Chaired by Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop
1.
Dr Evelyn McGregor
“Fact or fiction: Narrative-related interests,
behaviours and skills in children with autism”
2.
Dr Jackie Ravet
“Interprofessional Education in Autism: What Difference
Does It Make to Professional Development, Workplace
Practice and Individuals on the Autism Spectrum?”
3.
Jayne Porter and Moira Park
“From Guidance to Use: taking the Autism Toolbox,
a resource for Scottish schools, onto the web.”
14.35 – 16.00 Impact Seminar – “What next in Autism Research?”
Professor Tony Charman, Dr Arlene Cassidy and Professor
Tommy MacKay
Linked Interests and Collaborative Working on Intervention and
Impact across the UK
16.00 - 16.30 Chair and Key Speakers
What is the message for Scotland in Policy, for Research and for
collaboration?
Summing up from speakers and chair
16.30 Departures
Seminar 4
SPEAKERS – DAY 2
DR JUSTIN WILLIAMS
Autism and the Science of Social Learning: from
Scanner to Stage
Justin commenced his scientific career in 1993 when
he took time out to study ecology and evolutionary
biology before returning to clinical practice to pursue
postgraduate training in psychiatry. He then specialised
in Child Psychiatry and moved to Dundee where he
began collaborating with Andrew Whiten and David
Perrett from the University of St. Andrews. Together they developed the ‘mirror
neuron’ theory of autism. In 2000 he took up the post of Senior Lecturer in Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Aberdeen where his research continues
to focus on the neural basis for social learning, particularly in relation to motor
function and autism, and still with an evolutionary bent! At the same time he serves
as Consultant at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital where he has been providing
psychiatric input into the tertiary service for children and young people with
complex mental health needs, many of whom have autism spectrum disorder.
For published articles see:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/profiles/justin.williams
Also: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2387112/
DR EVELYN MCGREGOR
“Fact or fiction: Narrative-related interests,
behaviours and skills in children with autism”
Dr Evelyn McGregor is a member of academic staff in
the School of Education at the University of Edinburgh,
a developmental psychologist, and currently Director
of Post-Graduate Studies. Evelyn and colleagues
formed the Scottish Autism Research Group (SARG):
an interdisciplinary group which has run several funded seminar series for
academics, practitioners and the autism community in Scotland. Her interests
include intervention to help people with autism learn about belief, narrative skills
and interests in autism and job interview skills in autism.
DR JACKIE RAVET
“Interprofessional Education in Autism: What
Difference Does It Make to Professional
Development, Workplace Practice and Individuals
on the Autism Spectrum?”
Dr Jackie Ravet is currently a senior lecturer in the
School of Education at the University of Aberdeen.
She is also director of the Autism & Learning
programme - a Masters pathway for postgraduate students. Jackie has a
background in teaching pupils on the autism spectrum and also held the post
of Autism Development Coordinator for Moray Council. She now lectures and
researches in autism and inclusive practice.
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JAYNE PORTER
“From Guidance to Use: taking the Autism Toolbox,
a resource for Scottish schools, onto the web”
Before joining Autism Network Scotland, Jayne was a
specialist Class Teacher and subsequently Deputy Head
Teacher at New Struan School – A Centre for Autism.
Jayne has a range of National and International teaching
experience having taught at the International Schools in
Paris and Milan and in public and private sector schools
in Scotland. Jayne leads Autism Network Scotland’s Education and Early Years
Networks and has ongoing involvement in the development of the Autism Toolbox
website which launched in April 2014.
MOIRA PARK
“From Guidance to Use: taking the Autism Toolbox,
a resource for Scottish schools, onto the web”
Moira has been working for the past year on developing
the Autism Toolbox website. Until then she was Depute
Head in Scottish Autism’s New Struan School in Alloa.
She runs the organisation’s Education Network Days
which bring together staff from across Scotland to
share their autism knowledge and practice.
Moira joined Scottish Autism from East Renfrewshire where she was Depute
Head with main responsibility of managing the autism resource within a primary
school and an outreach team supporting pupils in mainstream schools.. She was
seconded to HMIE task group which produced the report on Education of Pupils
with ASD in Scotland (2006) and is currently a member of the subgroup with a
focus on employment, as part of the Scottish Strategy for Autism.
PROFESSOR TONY CHARMAN
“What next in Autism Research?”
Tony holds the Chair in Clinical Child Psycholgy at the
Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. His main
research interest is the investigation of social cognitive
development in children with autism and the clinical
application of this work via screening, diagnostic,
epidemiological, intervention, and ‘at risk’ studies. Tony
is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and works in a
specialist service for children with autism complex neurodevelopmental conditions
at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He has published more
than 200 peer-reviewed papers and is the author of over 30 book chapters.
DR ARLENE CASSIDY
“What next in Autism Research?”
Arlene Cassidy is a graduate of Queen’s and Stirling
Universities with a Master’s Degree in Social Work.
Previous development posts within Health & Social
Care and Barnardos led to her current position as
Chief Executive of Northern Ireland’s Autism Charity
(Autism NI). She was presented with the CO³
Voyager Leadership Award for Political Impact in 2010 and was nominated
again in 2012. Her recent appointment by the Minister of Health & Social Services
to Chair the NI Autism Research Advisory Committee of the NI Autism Strategy,
established by the Autism Act (NI) 2011, reflects her longstanding commitment
to evidence based practice and policy development based upon independently
validated research and equality and rights principles.
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Action on Autism Research in Scotland – Improving Impact Seminar Series
The AAR Seminar Series:
Overview
Aims
As our third Action on Autism Research Seminar Series begins, we
look forward to building further understandings about the strengths
and gaps in autism research in Scotland and to taking action of
the knowledge gained. The discussions at this third seminar will
consider the aims of the series, the key points emerging from
Seminar 2 and how our growing evidence base links to the Scottish
Autism Strategy. We will ask participants to consider the various
impacts of research and would like you to share your dissemination
process so that we can gauge the outcomes of the series. Our aims
are to 1. Invite participation from a number of respected international
researchers to learn from their work and to debate priorities for
the development of new studies
2. Contribute to a process of mapping current research through
involving Scottish autism researchers in presenting their work at
a series of two-day seminars
3. Make a call for paper or poster proposals to populate the
working days with contemporary Scottish research into autism
4. Enhance the relationship between research, policy and practices
through knowledge exchange workshops
5. Consider the relationship between intervention and impact
6. Generate new research collaborations and proposals where
gaps are identified
7. Establish an Action on Autism Research in Scotland Network
(through Autism Network Scotland)
8. Make recommendations for a National Research Action Plan for
Scotland
9. Commit to building closer relationship between the academic,
health, social services and education communities and autism
policy development in Scotland
10. Disseminate the findings of the series with the support of
Scottish Government, Autism Network Scotland and Research
Autism through their websites, newsletters, a conference,
publications and consequent good practice events
The third from the series of Action on Autism Research Seminars
was held at the end of April 2014 at the University of Strathclyde and
as it was the case with the previous two events, it sparked thoughtprovoking debates on future direction of autism research, policy
and practice in Scotland. Gathered attendees heard Professor Gary
Mesibov from the University of North Carolina reflecting on his mantras
from over 40 years of experience of working in the field of autism. Dr
Katie Maras from the University of Bath discussed the representation
of autism in the criminal justice system. Dr David Simmons from the
University of Glasgow talked about sensory problems in ASD and
Dr Michael McCreadie from Studio III discussed the notion of wellbeing in service delivery as a means of meeting the holistic needs
of people on the spectrum. Presentations from Scottish researchers
including Dr James Richards from Heriot-Watt University, Dr Joe Long
from Scottish Autism, Dr Anna Robinson and Dr Ewelina Rydzewska
from the University of Strathclyde focused on a range of topics from
employment to transitions for people with ASD.
Delegates had a chance to reflect on the presentations by discussing
implications for policy and practice of autism research in social
sciences. Priorities such as recognising the potential of practitioners
as researchers and involving them to conduct practice-based
research were mentioned. The dearth of research investigating
autism-related difficulties and support needs of people with more
severe forms of autism and accompanying disabilities or conditions
was also emphasised.
Action on Autism Research in Scotland Conference
This conference will build on the outcomes of the 4 two-day
Action on Autism Research in Scotland seminars held to date. The
Conference will take place 6th-8th November 2014 in Glasgow. We
will be joined again by some of the seminar keynote speakers and
plan to link the work of the seminars to recommendations for an
Autism Research Strategy for Scotland.
CALL FOR PAPERS – We will be issuing a call for Abstracts for
three strands of work: Research, Policy and Practice-implementation
papers for the Action on Autism Research in Scotland Conference
shortly. If you would like to be included on the mailing list please
email [email protected] to note interest and we will
include you in the call.
Seminar 4
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SEMINAR SERIES
ORGANISING TEAM
ALAN SOMERVILLE
Alan Somerville is Chief Executive of Scottish Autism,
Scotland’s national autism charity and co-funder
of this seminar series. He is also a Trustee of the
Autism Alliance UK and a member of the Scottish
Government’s External Reference Group developing
and implementing the Scottish Strategy for Autism.
DR ANDREW STANFIELD
Dr Andrew Stanfield is the co-director of the Patrick
Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X
Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities at the University
of Edinburgh. Within the NHS, he is also an honorary
consultant in intellectual disability psychiatry and
a member of the SE Scotland autism diagnostic
service. His research is focused around the
biological and psychological mechanisms of autism and related conditions,
with a particular focus on the translation of these findings into clinical practice.
ANNA ROBINSON
Anna Robinson is the Course Leader for the
PgCert;PgDip;MEd in Autism at the University of
Strathclyde. Prior to this she managed The Centre
for Education and Training in Autism and the Autism
Advisory Service for Scottish Autism. She has been
a practising therapist for people with Asperger’s
Syndrome for over 17 years. Her research explores
emotional processing and the mechanisms of change within group EmotionFocused Therapy.
DR EVELYN MCGREGOR
Dr Evelyn McGregor is a member of academic
staff in the School of Education at the University
of Edinburgh, a developmental psychologist, and
currently Director of Post-Graduate Studies. Evelyn
and colleagues formed the Scottish Autism Research
Group (SARG): an interdisciplinary group which has
run several funded seminar series for academics,
practitioners and the autism community in Scotland. Her interests include
intervention to help people with autism learn about belief, narrative skills and
interests in autism and job interview skills in autism.
DR EWELINA RYDZEWSKA
Dr Ewelina Rydzewska was appointed a Network
Adviser for Autism Network Scotland in May 2012.
Ewelina’s main research interest is on the process
of transition to adulthood for people with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). Ewelina’s research is
concerned with multidimensional reflections on
adulthood and on the quality of life for people with
disabilities. Ewelina is also interested in the impact of the available service
provision on service users’ developmental trajectories and opportunities for
social engagement.
DR HELEN MARWICK
Dr Helen Marwick is a Senior Lecturer at the
University of Strathclyde. A developmental
psychologist, she is currently involved in research
on intersubjectivity and conceptual development
within autism spectrum disorders. She developed
the Joint-Play Intersubjectivity Assessment Method
(JPIAM), Helen is a member of international
research groups investigating neurodevelopmental disorders and social
communication, and has published widely in this area.
DR JACKIE RAVET
Dr Jackie Ravet is currently a senior lecturer in the
School of Education at the University of Aberdeen.
She is also director of the Autism & Learning
programme - a Masters pathway for postgraduate
students. Jackie has a background in teaching pupils
on the autism spectrum and also held the post of
Autism Development Coordinator for Moray Council. She now lectures and
researches in autism and inclusive practice.
RICHARD MILLS
Richard Mills is the National Autistic Society’s
Director of Research and Research Director of
Research Autism, an independent UK research
charity specifically concerned with research into
interventions in autism and co-funders of the present
seminar series. His other appointments include
Autism Advisor to the States of Jersey CI and
Research Fellow, Bond University, Brisbane, Australia; He is Editor of Autism
the International Journal of Research and Practice.
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Action on Autism Research in Scotland – Educational Research, Interventions and Impact |
9, 10 June 2014
Scottish Government recognises that autism is a national priority.
Given the importance of this agenda, the development and creation of
a new Scottish strategy for autism was vital to ensure progress across
Scotland in delivering quality services to people with autism and their
families. Scottish Government Autism Strategy funding was awarded to
The Action on Autism Research Seminar Series as an initiative to reach
out to the autism research community and to bridge research, policy
and practice.
Research Autism describes itself as “ the only UK charity exclusively
dedicated to research into interventions in autism. We carry out high
quality, independent research into new and existing health, education,
social and other interventions. Our goal is the improvement of quality
of life and outlook for people on the autism spectrum and those
around them.”
They have generously supplemented the original Scottish Government
grant to the series.
http://researchautism.net/pages/welcome/home.ikml
Scottish Autism describes itself as “an organisation dedicated to
enriching the lives of people with autism. We are the largest provider
of autism-specific services in Scotland and a leading authority and
advocate for good autism practice. We exist to help those diagnosed
with autism to lead full and enriched lives and become valuable
members of the community they live in. We also seek to share our
knowledge and expertise with parents, carers and other professionals
in order to support the development of skills and strategies needed to
provide the best care and support for people with autism”.
They have generously supplemented the original Scottish Government
grant to the series.
http://www.scottishautism.org/
Seminar 4
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The Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Strathclyde
collaborated with the seminar series proposal to develop the seminar series.
The Scottish Strategy for Autism
http://www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk/
You can follow the Autism Seminars online by joining Autism Network Scotland:
www.autismnetworkscotland.org.uk
@Autism_Network