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Critical Autism and Disabilities Studies

CADS explores Disability from a Social Model perspective encompassing ‘nothing about us without us’ which involves working ethically and fairly with disabled researchers.

CADS research is participatory and aspires to being emancipatory. The 2021 REF Impact Case Study illustrates the importance placed on usefulness of research outputs. CADS is  committed to ensuring a research-informed approach to student experience and curriculum. This is particularly relevant to LSBU’s MA  Education /Autism /SEND and teacher education and CPD.

The multi-disciplinary inclusive group includes disabled and non-disabled researchers, allies, students, academics and practitioners  from within and beyond LSBU.  CADS includes a number of high profile Visiting Professors and Fellows and a Writer in Residence.

The group holds events throughout the year, including an international conference in collaboration with The Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC), which began within CADS and has now extended its reach internationally, Autism Voice and Employment Autism.

PARC provides opportunities for autistic researchers to collaborate, develop and contribute to autism research. Current funded projects focus on autistic adults who have additional intellectual impairments, access to health checks, disability and loneliness and developing research-informed CPD.

CADS "Autism and Employment: Transitions" - June 2023

Following on from the collaboration with Employment Autism to bring you the 2022 Autism and Employment Conference: Identifying and Removing Barriers, CADS Research Group at LSBU, in collaboration with Employment Autism, return with our 2023 Autism and Employment Conference: Transitions", due to popular demand!