Description
Autistic Sociality & Quality of Life: How should the latest research news inform "autism services"?
Autistic Sociality & Quality of Life: How Should the Latest Research News Inform ‘Autism Services’ is a transformative 90-minute professional development course featuring George Watts—an autistic researcher and self-advocate. This course explores the latest autism research insights on autistic sociality, well-being, and quality of life, challenging outdated perspectives on autistic social experiences and autism services best practices.
👤👤 Course Description
For decades, autism services have been shaped by research that frames autistic social communication as a deficit. Traditional interventions have prioritized training autistic individuals to conform to non-autistic social norms, often at the expense of mental health and authentic social connection.
However, a growing body of neurodiversity-affirming research—including studies on the Double Empathy Problem—reveals that social differences in autism arise from a mutual lack of understanding between autistic and non-autistic people. Rather than a one-sided deficit, these differences highlight the need for autism services that foster authentic autistic relationships and support autistic well-being.
Building on these insights, recent studies affirm that autistic people often experience more ease and connection in interactions with other autistic individuals. This phenomenon, sometimes called autistic sociality, has been linked to improved mental health, stronger social networks, and increased quality of life for autistic people. By centering autistic voices and lived experiences, this course explores how professionals can apply cutting-edge autism research to create ethical, effective, and neurodiversity-affirming support services.
► Featuring: George Watts, Autistic academic and self-advocate
► 90 minutes of Professional Development credit
► On-Demand Course: Therapy Providers have access to the recording and materials for 180 days from the date of enrollment.
► Audience: Therapy Providers who work with young Autistic children.
🔓🔓🔓 (Therapy Neurodiversity Collective Members, this course is included in your membership!)
✨✨✨ Included:
☑ Slide handout
☑ Course handout for reference
☑ Certificate of Attendance for 90 minutes of professional development
🌟Why Take This Course?
Therapists will discover why we need to reframe our approach to autistic social skills and how implementation of this knowledge in practice may be used to improve Quality of Life. This course will focus in particular on the domains of Personal Development, Interpersonal Relations and Social Inclusion to empower autistic people to engage with others in ways that are authentic and meaningful.
🎯 Gain Insight Into
➥ The latest autism research viewed through the lens of the Neurodiversity Paradigm.
➥ How autistic-to-autistic connections can positively impact the autistic quality of life, including learning-disabled individuals?
➥ Why the outcomes of training and enforcing neurotypical social norms result in autistic masking and camouflaging and lead to poor mental health outcomes.
➥ Reframing approaches to autistic social skills and how implementation of this knowledge in practice may be used to improve autistic Quality of Life.
➥ Actionable strategies you can use in the domains of Personal Development, Interpersonal Relations and Social Inclusion to empower autistic people to engage with others in ways that are authentic and meaningful.
✨ Empower Your Practice with Neurodiversity Paradigm Focused, Evidence-Based Knowledge
Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to therapy services for autistic populations. Enroll today and earn neurodiversity-paradigm-centered professional development credit!
George Watts (they/she) is an autistic academic and self-advocate. They were diagnosed as an adult while doing a degree in Autism Studies. They have since completed an MA in Autism Studies, their dissertation focused on the relationship between autistic identity and quality of life in autistic adults. They are now studying for a PhD which is looking at contact between autistic people and the impact this has on quality of life for all autistic people, including those with intellectual disabilities. They are also a parent to two young autistic children. They live in Scotland and their interests include autistic mental health, social policy and legislation, and autistic parenting.
