Heureka! is a forum for participatory autism research. In this forum, autistic and non-autistic people collaborate on designing autism research that can make the highest possible contribution to improving living conditions of autistic people and their families.
Results report for the 2019 Bavarian autism survey
The results of the 2019 Bavarian autism survey are now online. In this online survey, a total of 677 autistic people living in Bavaria or their legal guardians reported on their living situation and their needs. The survey was created in collaboration with autistic people, legal guardians, and representatives of professional groups involved with autism.
Autism and School – A Guide for Teachers
During the winter semesters of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, members of the Heureka! Research Forum, together with students of school psychology at LMU, created this guide for teachers of autistic students. It brings together experiences and practical tips from autistic students, their parents, and teachers.
There is an exchange of information about current research findings and their relevance to the everyday lives of people with autism and their families.
In lectures and courses, we provide professionals who work with autism with the latest research findings on autism, thereby attempting to prevent potential prejudices.
Together, we are looking for ways to implement participatory research. A brief description of what participatory research entails can be found here. One result of a participatory application-oriented project is, for example, a guide for teachers of autistic students, which was developed as part of a seminar at LMU. In order to make use of the experiences of autistic people, parents, and educators, we formed focus groups, a method of qualitative data collection. Together with the students, we created this guide. Another example of our work is the 2019 Bavarian Autism Survey. In this online survey, a total of 677 autistic people living in Bavaria or their legal guardians reported on their living situation and needs. The survey was created in collaboration with autistic people, legal guardians, and representatives of professional groups involved with autism.
An association of people with autism, their families, and professionals who deal with autism (including those from the fields of psychology, medicine, and education). Researchers at LMU Munich provide the institutional framework for the project. The Heureka! Research Forum has the following structure:
The forum is the core of this network. Anyone who wants to participate can contribute something. Currently, around 300 people are involved. The members are mainly autistic people and their families, but also representatives of professional groups that deal with autism.
All important decision-making processes take place in the entire forum with the participation of all members. For smaller (primarily organizational) decisions, there is an advisory board. The advisory board also consists primarily of autistic individuals, their family members, and representatives of relevant professional groups.
The participatory research project is based at the Department of Psychology at LMU Munich and is supervised by:
PD Dr. Tobias Schuwerk (LMU Munich)
Dr. Hanna Thaler (LMU Medical Center)
Prof. Dr. Leonhard Schilbach (LMU Munich/LVR Clinic Düsseldorf)
The forum thrives on the participation of as many people as possible. If you find this worthy of support or would like to contribute, click on the "Register" link below and sign up as a supporter of Heureka! Follow the instructions to subscribe to the mailing list. This is voluntary, can be canceled at any time, and does not entail any obligations or costs.
You will then receive regular updates about the project. We will also conduct short surveys in which we ask you about your experiences with autism research and related topics, with no obligation to respond. In addition, this mailing list will be used to distribute other relevant information (e.g., about events such as research meetings or workshops, opportunities to participate in studies). You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time if you no longer wish to receive messages.
The mailing list is anonymous. Others cannot see your email address or name.
Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects different areas of perception and experience. The core characteristics of autism are evident in social interaction and communication, in special interests and ritualized behavior, and in sensory perception.
It is assumed that autistic traits are genetic and develop as a result of altered brain development. Worldwide, autism occurs in approximately 1 in 100 people. Autism can be diagnosed from early childhood to late adulthood.
Typical characteristics are:
Autistic traits can also bring strengths, such as a particular attention to detail. Every person with autism has a unique pattern of autistic traits. Consequently, there are also differences in whether and to what extent they need support.
You can find more information about autism on these pages:
www.aspies.dewww.autismus.dewww.autismus-kultur.de
The quality of autism research is measured by its usefulness for people with autism and their families. Research findings must not only be theoretically significant, but also practically relevant for living with autism.
The best way to achieve this goal is to systematically involve people with autism, their families, and professionals who shape the everyday lives of people with autism in all stages of research. For example, direct experience of what it means to be "autistic" or parents' knowledge of the individual development of their child or children is crucial to a better understanding of autism. For such cooperation, structures must be created that institutionalize this participation.
Examples of this are:
The involvement of all stakeholders (including people with autism and their relatives, as well as psychologists, doctors, and educators) offers the opportunity to make autism research theoretically significant and practically relevant for people with autism and their environment.
In addition to the project's open meetings, educational events are held regularly as part of teaching at LMU Munich or in the form of training courses for professional groups involved with autism. Are you organising a similar event and interested in support from our project? Write us an E-Mail
Heureka! Autismusforschungsforum
c/o PD Dr. Tobias Schuwerk
LMU München
Leopoldstr. 13
80802 München
Email: tobias.schuwerk@psy.lmu.de
Contact details for self-help groups and counselling services for people with autism and their families.
Self-help:
Further counselling and support services:
Here you will find contact details for companies, training providers and vocational rehabilitation programmes that specialise in autism.
Jobs
Training
Vocational rehabilitation measures
Housing
Contact details for housing options for people with autism with varying levels of support needs.
Leisure