#AutisticStrengths

Throughout April, we have been celebrating Autism Acceptance month with a series of graphics highlighting some of the unique strengths of autistic individuals. Join the conversation by following us on social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn) and using the hashtag #AutisticStrengths.

Autism Acceptance Month Keynote Presentation

Mr. Hari Srinivasan delivered the keynote presentation in our Duke Center for Autism Seminar Series. He is a PhD student in neuroscience at Vanderbilt University, a self-advocate, and a member of the Duke Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) Advisory Committee. Srinivasan addressed the critical need for autistic individuals to be included in conversations about autism in social, medical, and research settings. With more than 250 attendees from 12 countries, this seminar was among the highest attended in the history of the series. Read more on our news page.

A slide from Hari Srinivasan's presentation "Redefine the Table"

Bullying Prevention

Center staff members Sam Brandsen, PhD; Jordan Grapel, MS; and Raghav Swaminathan sat down for a conversation about their experiences with bullying. A short preview video of this series is on YouTube, with additional related videos coming soon. In the full interview, they share tips for parents, teachers, peers, and victims of bullying on how to respond to and prevent bullying.

Stay tuned to our social media channels to hear more from Sam, Jordan, and Raghav!

Creating Better College Experiences for Autistic Students

Sam Brandsen, PhD; Tara Chandrasekhar, PhD; and colleagues recently published "Developing an Inclusive Campus for Autistic Students" in the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. In the paper, they discuss specific ways that colleges can become more accessible for autistic students. Read a short summary of the article on Kudos.

New Autism Research Interest Form

We now have a single interest form for families interested in signing up for any of our research studies that are currently recruiting (except for the SenseToKnow/STAR projects). After you fill out the form, your information will be reviewed and matched to the study or studies for which your family may be eligible. You will be contacted by a study team member if matched to a study.

View Publications and Faculty Articles

You can see a complete list of publications by Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development faculty on our website. To see a particular faculty member’s publications, click on their profile on our faculty page.

Visit to Forest View Elementary

Sam Brandsen, PhD, and Raghav Swaminathan visited Forest View Elementary School in Durham and spoke to third and fourth grade students about neurodiversity. They talked about the five senses, and how many people can experience the same thing differently. The children asked questions about what it's like to be autistic and how to be friends with classmates who are different.

Sam Brandsen, PhD and Raghav Swaminathan at Forest View Elementary

Carolina Theatre Sensory Friendly Film Series

At monthly matinee screenings at the Carolina Theatre of Durham, movies are shown with the house lights up and sound down slightly for kids and their families to experience the movies in a calmer environment.

Duke Center for Autism staff members provided consultation to the Carolina Theatre’s staff about how to make the movie-going experience more enjoyable and accessible for kids on the autism spectrum and with other sensory processing differences.

The entrance to the Carolina Theatre of Durham

2024 Sensory Friendly Film Series schedule:

May 18 – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

June 1 – School of Rock

All movies are at 11:30 am. Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats in advance.

We’re excited to announce that the Sensory Friendly Film Series has been extended for a second season! The next season of monthly film screenings will start in August 2024!

In-Person Meeting of the Duke ACE Community Engagement Advisory Board

The Duke Autism Center for Excellence Community Engagement Advisory Board held its first in-person meeting since the board was established in 2020. Eight members of the board, representing different perspectives within the autistic community, gathered with our faculty and staff at Duke to tour our research space and provide feedback on our outreach events and research dissemination efforts. Their input continues to help guide our work and we are grateful for their continued contributions.

Duke ACE Community Engagement Advisory Board and staff members, from left: Miles Ndukwe; Evan Watson, MLS; Kristin Bell, EdD; Kerry Morrison-Thomas, PhD; Whitney Sukonick, LPA, BCBA; Lauren Franz, MB, CHB, MPH; Danai Fannin, PhD; Raghav Swaminathan; Rebecca Sorensen, MSW; Lauren Driggers-Jones, PhD; Lori Reinhart-Mercer, RN 

2023-24 Autism Seminar Series

Our 2023-2024 presenter series has featured autism investigators, clinicians, practitioners, and self-advocates sharing the latest research, interventions, and perspectives.

Next Seminar:

May 1 – Connor M. Kerns, PhD, “Distinct Expressions of Anxiety in Autistic Youth (and Why They Matter)”

Dr. Kerns is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Anxiety Stress and Autism Program at the University of British Columbia.

This is the final event in the 2023-2024 Seminar Series. The 2024-2025 series will begin in September.

These free one-hour virtual presentations start at 4 pm EST. Visit our website to see details for the final 2023-2024 series presentation and register to attend.

Connor M. Kerns, PhD

2023 Impact Report

ICYMI: Check out the recently-released Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development 2023 Impact Report!

2024 Meeting on Language in Autism

On March 14-16, Duke University hosted the second Meeting on Language in Autism (MoLA). MoLA is organized by Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development faculty member Elena Tenenbaum, PhD, and colleagues from other institutions. The conference welcomed researchers from around the globe and focused on the acquisition and use of language in autism, as well as perspectives from the lived experience of autistic individuals.

Elena Tenenbaum, PhD, introducing a speaker at MoLA

Podcasts and Interviews

The Center's founding director, Geraldine Dawson, PhD, was recently interviewed on the EMJ Reviews Podcast and the ABCs of Disability Planning Podcast. She discusses new digital health approaches for autism screening and outcome monitoring, characteristics of autism in infancy, and the use of data in autism research.

Do you like listening to our research news in an audio format? You can now hear the latest interviews with our faculty on podcasts and radio programs on our website.