On September 5, 2024, the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre played host to their annual showcase at La Trobe University's city campus. The event drew a diverse audience of approximately 100 attendees - including researchers, clinicians, students, local council and state government representatives, autism support organisations, Autistic people and their families.
The showcase featured a series of thought-provoking presentations delivered by a range of experts from the centre. Speakers included Dr. Jac den Houting, Dr. Melissa Gilbert, Dr. Patrick Dwyer, Dr. Nancy Sadka, and PhD candidates Clare Kermond, Lyndel Kennedy, Dianne Blackwell, and Kate Gore.
The program was divided into three sessions, each including talks addressing various aspects of autism and neurodiversity. Topics covered included the educational experiences of Autistic students, mental health support strategies for Autistic working mothers and parents, sound intolerance in autism and investigating ADHD traits in Autistic toddlers and preschoolers through network analysis. Each session concluded with an audience Q&A.
In a commitment to neuroinclusivity, the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre made several thoughtful adjustments. Lighting was adjusted for comfort, and attendees were provided with color-coded communication stickers to indicate their preferences: green for those open to conversation, yellow for those who prefer to engage only with familiar faces, and red for those who wish to avoid interaction. Additionally, detailed pre-event information about the program and venue was provided to help attendees prepare for the event.
One attendee commented, “the event information before the day outlining what to expect helped with anxiety about coming to the event. Having name tags with the traffic light stickers were great. The event environment felt very accessible as an Autistic person.”
Attendees appreciated the encouragement of movement and the acceptance of fidget toys. “I haven't ever been to an event where this was socially acceptable before, but seeing others use fidgets gave me the courage to not be self-conscious about it,” one attendee said.
The event also featured ample breaks between sessions, a change praised by those in attendance for allowing necessary sensory and regulation breaks or opportunities for networking. This decision was driven by community feedback from the previous year’s showcase.
“The extended breaks were very welcome as they allowed time for sensory or regulation breaks, or for networking,” noted another guest.
Overall, the showcase was a resounding success, reflecting the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre’s dedication to advancing autism research and fostering an inclusive environment for all participants.
Pictured (L-R): Dr Nancy Sadka and Dr Patrick Dwyer
