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Diana Tan

@dianatan.bsky.social
967 followers 143 following 32 posts

Autism researcher at Macquarie University (Australia). She/Her. Views are my own.

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Reposted by Diana Tan
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 26/12/2025
"Autistics with Complex Support Needs" (CSN) is a far more useful term than #ProfoundAutism, & we recommend using it instead. We also endorse listening to people doing participatory work to improve the lives of autistics with CSN, like paper authors @dianatan.bsky.social & @drstevenkapp.bsky.social.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24/12/2025
"The concept of ' #profoundAutism ' is deeply problematic. It risks reinforcing dehumanizing assumptions—that the absence of speech equates to an absence of thought, agency, or interiority, & that Autistic people with CSN are–as the Lancet Commission claims—'unable to advocate for themselves.'" 1/2
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Autism in Adulthood @autisminadulthood.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
By tracking how camouflaging behaviours change over time in a group of autistic adults, Zhuang et al (2025) found that earlier psychological and social pressures, such as fear of negative judgment, predict later camouflaging. FREE until 24th December www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
liebertpub.com
Continuity, Change, and Psychosocial Predictors of Camouflaging in Autistic Adults: A Three-Time Point Follow-Up Study Over 2 Years | Autism in Adulthood
Background: Many autistic people camouflage their autistic traits to fit into non-autistic environments. While psychosocial factors influence camouflaging, its development and relationship with these ...
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Bec Poulsen @becpoulsen.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
I'm delighted and excited to announce that I have been awarded the 2026 Macquarie Lighthouse Research Fellowship! Thank you to my sponsors @dianatan.bsky.social and David McAlpine. It is fantastic that I can continue my program of work here at MQ! www.mq.edu.au/research/our...
mq.edu.au
Macquarie University Lighthouse Fellowships
The scheme provides an incubation period for early career researchers to increase their competitive edge in securing non-University sources of funding.
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Bec Poulsen @becpoulsen.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
New paper alert! We psychometrically validated the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory. Please check it out. The main takeaways are below, but this has been such a wonderful project! Open access paper tinyurl.com/CATIAUTISM
Understanding Autistic Traits with the CATI

Our new study confirms the CATI is a reliable, inclusive tool to explore Autistic traits! 

What is the CATI?
The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI) is a 42-item questionnaire designed with Autistic input. It explores six key trait areas — like sensory sensitivity, masking, and self-regulatory behaviours (all traits named or endorsed by an Autistic focus group)

What did we do?
We tested the CATI with over 2,600 adults. Half were Autistic (diagnosed and self-identifying) and half non-Autistic people to check ensure it is a valid and reliable measure of autistic traits for both autistic and non-autistic adults.

Autistic-led and community-shaped
This is an Autistic co-led paper, that was steered by the community which included a review of the original CATI trait names and question wording.

Read the paper open access  https://tinyurl.com/CATIAUTISM

You can complete the CATI or want to know more  www.cati-autism.com
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Bec Poulsen @becpoulsen.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
I’m thrilled to be sharing this opportunity with you. Our team is recruiting a neurodivergent advisory group. Our work spans experiential (interviews), perception (listening tasks) and auditory neuroscience. redcap.link/NLBadvisoryg... #neurodversity #research #sensory #auditory #actuallyAutistic
Flyer titled "Neurodivergent Research Advisors Needed – Guide research on Neurodivergent auditory experiences".
Who are we?
The Neurodivergence and the Listening Brain (NLB) program – a research group exploring how Neurodivergent people experience sound. We want your input!
Main call to action:
"Help create the research that matters to you"
What will you do?
You will collaborate with community members and researchers to ensure the research is relevant and respectful. There are multiple ways to engage:
Discuss: Give your input on research directions and topics
Share: Participate flexibly, e.g., via Zoom or discussion boards
Review: Provide feedback on study materials for projects
Who is eligible? Adults (18+)
Neurodivergent (both self-identifying and diagnosed)
Comfortable with English (spoken or written)
You will be remunerated for your time!
How to get involved:
Register your interest at: https://redcap.link/NLBadvisorygroup
Register by 16 July 2025
Email: nlb_engagement@mq.edu.au
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 06/07/2025
Autistics aren't merely "sensitive" to sound; autistic tendencies also include "expanded access to auditory information, heightened perception to pitch, difficulties dealing with speech in background noise, and taking longer to adapt to auditory environments.": www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Auditory environments influence the link between Autistic traits and quality of life - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Auditory environments influence the link between Autistic traits and quality of life
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Steven Kapp @drstevenkapp.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Editorial on neurodiveristy frameworks in East Asian cultures: identity vs person-first debates don't make (linguistic) sense in some languages. These cultures may value harmony/cultural tightness over individuality; important to learn from local autistic ppl. 1/ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com
Neurodiversity paradigms and their development across cultures: Some reflections in East Asian contexts - Tomoya Hirota, Keun-Ah Cheon, Meng-Chuan Lai, 2024
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2025
Tan: The involvement of autistic people with high support needs in participatory research is still lagging. We need to shift the power redistribution in research to underrepresented groups, including multiply marginalized autistic people, autistic young ppl, & autistic people with HSNs. #INSAR2025
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Steven Kapp @drstevenkapp.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Beyond Vikram Jaswal's @craeioe.bsky.social talk on supporting nonspeaking autistic ppl's flourishing (recording below), Vikram collaborated w/ nonspeakers to design augmented reality communication technology "The quest to ensure nonspeaking autistic ppl are heard" spectrum.ieee.org/nonverbal-au...
spectrum.ieee.org
Augmented Reality Could Unlock the Voices of Nonspeaking Autistic People
Jeremy, a 31-year-old autistic man, defies assumptions by using an AR headset to communicate via the HoloBoard. Despite challenges, new research shows that nonspeaking autistic individuals can type in...
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Shannon Rosa @shannonrosa.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
"Instead of trying to make our [autistic] kids blend in or minimize their differences, we should prioritize treating our kids with affection and compassion, and focus on what it means for them to be happy." Evergreen, hard-won wisdom gleaned from autistic mentors.
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Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice. @journalautism.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
“I’m not feeling alone in my experiences”: How newly diagnosed autistic adults engage with a neurodiversity-affirming “Welcome Pack” journals.sagepub.com...
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Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH @cnicolaidis.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
@autisminadulthood.bsky.social annual Editorial Board dinner at #INSAR2025 (with a few guests). What a phenomenal team! Hard to believe that 7 years ago we showed up to INSAR with our first little Preview Issue. I so appreciate all the people who have made our journal into what it is today.
Group photo of 19 people and a service dog posing in a Moroccan restaurant. Most of the people are Autism in Adulthood Editorial Board Members.
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Hannah Morton @hannahmorton.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
As an autism community we should be coming together to defend and support the services and supports that allow autistic people to live a life of their choosing - @drstevenkapp.bsky.social Thank you Dr. Kapp for your continued leadership and advocacy at #INSAR2025 and beyond
Steven Kapp presenting at a podium at INSAR
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2025
Now: Neurodivergence-Affirming and Inclusive Research Practices for Autistic People with High Support Needs. Chaired by @drstevenkapp.bsky.social & @dianatan.bsky.social, featuring Drs. Teresa Girolamo, Aimee Grant, Jackie Ryan, Holly Sutherland. Discussants: Grant Blasko & Vikram Jaswal. #INSAR2025
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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Now attending the Neurodivergence-Affirming and Inclusive Research Practices for Autistic Peopke with High Support Needs panel discussion: @drstevenkapp.bsky.social, @dianatan.bsky.social, @heasutherland.com & Teresa Gironomo are live presenting, Aimee Grant & Jackie Ryan have recorded. #INSAR2025
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2025
The amazing panel "Neurodivergence-Affirming and Inclusive Research Practices for Autistic People with High Support Needs" is today at 10:30 Pacific Time. We need more panelists like non-speaker Grant Blasko & researcher Vikram Jaswal at #INSAR2025 & #INSAR in general. We will provide live coverage.
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Dr Aimee Grant @draimeegrant.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
In 2.5 hours, my #INSAR2025 pre-recorded talk will be played in the "Neurodivergence-Affirming and Inclusive Research Practices for Autistic People with High Support Needs" panel (Room 608-609). I'll be checking in here if anyone has questions, and will be sharing the recording next week.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 02/05/2025
Now! Dora Raymaker is giving today's #INSAR2025 keynote: Transdisciplinary and Co-Produced Futures in Autism Research. So excited!! What is the future of autism research that we want to see?
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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
VERY excited to hear this morning's keynote, Dora Raymaker, on "transdisciplinary co-produced futures in autism research" So far, I have been missing research with autistic voices and autistic led research at this conference, so this is well needed. #INSAR2025 desperately needs more of this work!
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Brian Irvine @brianirvine.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
In the desired futures: -Neurodivergence is normalised. -Complexity is celebrated -Intersectionality is assumed -Abelism becomes socially and scientifically unacceptable -Neurodivergent voice is always included -Neurodivergent cultures are centred, respected and integrated -Epistemology is fluid
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
After travelling halfway across the globe, happy to share that I'm finally in Seattle attending #INSAR2025. I'm chairing a panel with @drstevenkapp.bsky.social on Saturday - come along if you're interested!
This is a screen capture from the INSAR conference programme. The top of the page reflects the title of the panel which reads, "223 - Neurodivergence-Affirming and Inclusive Research Practices for Autistic People with High Support Needs". 

This is followed by information about the location and time of the panel, which will be held on Saturday, 3 May 2025, from 10.30-12.30 pm, in room 608-609, 6th floor of the Seattle Convention Centre.

Finally, a list of panel chairs: Steven Kapp, Diana Tan and Vikram Jaswal, and discussant, Grant Blasko.
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Bec Poulsen @becpoulsen.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Thanks to co-authors @dianatan.bsky.social , Liz Pellicano, David McAlpine and Paul Sowman. And of course, a HUGE thank you to the almost 300 people who participated in the study! Enjoy, and please share :) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Auditory environments influence the link between Autistic traits and quality of life - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Auditory environments influence the link between Autistic traits and quality of life
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
📢 New publication alert: doi.org/10.1089/aut.... Our team of Autistic & non-autistic researchers ran a qualitative study to explore how universities can create conditions that truly support Autistic students. We interviewed 21 Autistic adults across Australia and identified four key themes: 🧵
doi.org
“Seeing the Value of Who We Are”: Understanding and Supporting Autistic University Students | Autism in Adulthood
Background: The number of autistic students enrolling in universities is increasing, yet many of them face significant challenges in navigating academic, social, and environmental demands. Existing re...
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
📢 New preprint alert: osf.io/preprints/os... We conducted a systematic review to synthesise existing literature on the experiences of neurodivergent research students. As there is little empirical studies on this topic, we included perspective articles written by neurodivergent people. 🧵
osf.io
OSF
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Laura Crane @lauramaycrane.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Important new insights on how to make consent materials and procedures more accessible when conducting research with autistic people and people with intellectual disability #AutRes www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10....
liebertpub.com
Guidelines for the Creation of Accessible Consent Materials and Procedures: Lessons from Research with Autistic People and People with Intellectual Disability | Autism in Adulthood
Informed, voluntary, ongoing consent is a central tenet of ethical research. However, consent processes are prone to exclusionary practices and inaccessibility. Consent materials are often too long an...
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Centre for Research in Autism and Education @craeioe.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
It is a delight to be able to announce our speaker for this year's #CRAElecture: the wonderful Dr Vikram Jaswal. 6pm (GMT) 3rd April (It's a slightly longer webinar than our usual webinars, and later in the evening so hopefully more of you can join us) bit.ly/CRAEJaswal
bit.ly
Supporting nonspeaking autistic people's flourishing
... using collaborative cognitive science. With Vikram Jaswal
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Cathy Manning @cmanning.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
I'm seeing lots of charities etc saying that 15-20%, or 1 in 7, of the population are neurodivergent. Can anyone help me locate the evidence/citation for this? I've got Doyle (2020) but this is a "reasonable estimate" based on prevalence of various conditions. Is there anything more precise? #AutRes
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Lorna Hamilton @drlornaham.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Prof Dorothy Bishop resigns from Royal Society over Elon Musk’s continuing fellowship www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Oxford scientist resigns from Royal Society over Elon Musk’s continuing fellowship
Prof Dorothy Bishop said fellowship was ‘a contradiction of all the values’ of UK’s national academy of sciences
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Thank you @craeioe.bsky.social for creating this short video summarising our study findings!
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Julia M. Rohrer @dingdingpeng.the100.ci · 20/11/2024
New stroop task just dropped
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Seb Shaw @autisticdoc.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
🗞️🗞️NEW PAPER🗞️🗞️ "medical education will fundamentally fail in its mission to support neurodivergent learners unless we undergo a significant transformation" Read free: asmepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #MedEd @autisticdoctor.bsky.social @asmeofficial.bsky.social
A screenshot of the first page of the article, showing the title ("when I say ... neurodiversity paradigm"), the author information, and the start of the main text.
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Bec Poulsen @becpoulsen.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
So excited our review is now published open acccess - How auditory processing contributes to the Autistic profile! And on my birthday no less! This review looks at 2 main aspects around auditory processing for Autistic people, as reported in the literature. doi.org/10.1002/aur....
doi.org
How auditory processing influences the autistic profile: A review
Autistic people often have increased sensitivity to certain noises or trouble ignoring background noise, which can affect people's wellbeing and how they go about their daily lives. This review looks...
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Sue Fletcher-Watson @suereviews.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
A wee PSA for anyone wanting to use the Autism Research feed on here To start with, here’s the feed link: bsky.app/profile/did:...
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Laura Crane @lauramaycrane.bsky.social · 16/09/2024
Gave this Starter Pack thing a try... #AutRes #AutismResearch #Autism go.bsky.app/B9XV8UA
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Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice. @journalautism.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
Factors underlying differences in knowledge, explicit stigma and implicit biases towards autism across Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States journals.sagepub.com...
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Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice. @journalautism.bsky.social · 09/09/2024
Reporting community involvement in autism research: Findings from the journal Autism journals.sagepub.com...
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 29/04/2024
Pleased to share a new preprint reporting community involvement in autism research. In Jan 2021, @journalautism.bsky.social introduced mandatory reporting of community involvement. Our team of autistic and non-autistic researchers evaluated the impact of this policy. osf.io/g89w4
osf.io
OSF
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Laura Crane @lauramaycrane.bsky.social · 12/01/2024
"we suggested implementing Universal Design for Learning, neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed practices, together with a participatory approach to better design university curricula, processes, and support services for autistic students" New paper from @dianatan.bsky.social et al. #AutRes
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 23/11/2023
I did a thing! It was a challenge to present my research as a visual art but I'm very pleased that my gallery submission for Macquarie University's ECR Showcase 2023 won the People's Choice award!
This is a photo of Diana who is an Asian woman with shoulder-length black hair. She is wearing glasses with dark grey rim, black top, and red pants. She is standing next to a poster board with blue background, on which is a photo she created of a little girl walking up to a statue of a female graduate.
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Dr Jud Lowes @judlowes.bsky.social · 12/10/2023
Agree 100%! "Participatory design can advance Cognitive Science through...designing timely studies that reveal variations in human cognition across authentic contexts, and implementing practices that directly benefit and empower community members". doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
doi.org
Participatory Design for Cognitive Science: Examples From the Learning Sciences and Human−Computer...
Given the recent call to strengthen collaboration between researchers and relevant practitioners, we consider participatory design as a way to advance Cognitive Science. Building on examples from the....
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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 05/10/2023
captapnetwork.wordpress.com/2023/09/19/h... Hurrah. Our lovely guide to using kind and respectful language about autistic people is out. Feel free to share.
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Diana Tan @dianatan.bsky.social · 08/10/2023
I finally got my hands on "Not without us: Perspectives on disability and inclusion in Singapore". Here's a brilliant excerpt from the editors' foreword: "Historically, disability has been cast as an individual problem, a medicalised pathology and a psychological deficit. 1/n
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