by Caroline Young, for the Fall 2020 Symposium on Community Engaged Scholarship.
Autistics are disproportionately affected by anxiety disorders and the lack of a reliable communication method experienced by many non-speaking autistics further complicates the diagnostic and treatment process. In partnership with members of The Tribe, I examined how anxiety is diagnosed in non-speaking autistics and created a list of symptoms based off of their lived experience. Symposium Theme: Challenging assumptions and unconscious biases.
This project was part of Dr. Sean Cleary's course, PUBH 6299 The Autism Experience: A Public Health Perspective. In this unique course, designed in collaboration with local, autistic community members, GW students learn community participatory research methods while engaging with autistic young adults, their parents, researchers, clinicians and other service providers. The course covers the science, viewpoints, and experience of autism with a focus on young adults transitioning to adulthood. Working in partnership with community advocates, students explore research relevant to the autistic community.
Please be sure to cast your vote for the Symposium for Community Engaged Scholarship Audience Choice Award. You are welcome to post comments and questions below.
Loved learning something new. Investing in this work for autistic individuals with anxiety is important.