For our most recent publication 'The overlap of disordered eating, autism and ADHD: future research priorities as identified by adults with lived experience', published in The Lancet Psychiatry(10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00186-X), we wanted to make sure the important results of this priority setting project reached the widest audience.

We worked with the illustrator Jo Philips (https://theaoi.com/folios/jo-phillips/) to create an Easy to Read document which would sum up the rationale and results of the research project. We hope this will make the project more accessible to people who do not have a research background. Feel free to download and make use of the easy to read document.

This engagement project, funded by a Wellcome Enrichment Award, sought to raise awareness and understanding of neurodivergent experiences through orchestral performance. The project began with a series of online focus groups with neurodivergent people, where we discussed the ways in which neurodivergent people felt their minds may work differently, and the strengths and challenges that come with being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world.

Working with a neurodivergent steering committee, composer, dramaturg and the City of London Sinfonia, we created a series of musical compositions that reflected the experiences discussed in the focus groups. The project culminated with an impactful live performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. As part of the project, we also created a Toolkit of lessons learnt for other researchers wanting to conduct creative projects with the neurodivergent community - this is free to download using the link above.

See https://www.kcl.ac.uk/a-sonic-exploration-of-neurodivergent-identities-1 for more information and a short video about the project.

‍

This project was conducted in collaboration with the IAmHealth project (PI Professor Emily Simonoff) at the IoPPN, King's College London and funded by the King’s College London Collaborative Innovation Scheme for Early Career Researchers. Based on conversations with parents of autistic children taking part in the research, we worked with a graphic designer to illustrate some situations that autistic youth might find anxiety provoking or challenging.

The idea was to create something engaging for the public to help them better understand autistic overwhelm and meltdowns, and therefore reduce the stigma autistic people and their families often face. The four final vignettes are displayed in CAMHS waiting rooms around South East London and are freely available or others to use (contact us for the rest of the files).