Our Values

We recognise research participants first and foremost as people with human rights, agency and value. We also recognise that autism research can have real-world consequences for autistic people and is closely connected to the wider context of neurodiversity in society. We are committed to conducting research responsibly and ethically, guided by the following values.

Equal rights

We believe that everyone, regardless of autism, intellectual ability or language ability, has equal value and equal human rights. We recognise that autistic people do not yet enjoy these rights equally in practice, and we are committed to supporting greater equality, dignity and inclusion.

Working together with autistic people

In the spirit of ‘nothing about us without us’, we are committed to meaningful engagement with autistic people and the wider autism community, including families, carers and professionals.

We believe our research is stronger when it includes people with lived experience. We therefore seek to involve autistic people as early as possible and throughout the research process, and to include groups whose voices are less often heard. Depending on the research, this may also include clinicians, educators, social care professionals, policymakers, researchers, employers, charities and other stakeholders.

Where autistic people cannot communicate their views independently, we may work with parents, carers or advocates to understand what matters to them.

Respecting preferred language

We respect the different ways autistic people choose to describe themselves and use language that reflects the preferences of the people we are speaking with. When discussing autism more generally, we aim to use language that is widely preferred within the autistic community, while recognising that there is no universal consensus.

Neurodiversity, support and inclusion

We recognise autism as one form of neurodiversity. We believe that autistic differences can bring both strengths and challenges, and should be respected and valued. We take a neuro-affirmative approach, recognising and celebrating the diversity of autistic people and their individual strengths, needs and experiences.

We recognise that some autistic people experience disability, distress or co-occurring health conditions that may require support or treatment. We believe autistic people should have access to appropriate support, reasonable adjustments and optional treatments where these are wanted. Research should help reduce barriers, improve quality of life and enable autistic people to thrive.

Ethical research

We aspire to the highest ethical standards. All our research is subject to appropriate ethical review, through the University or the NHS. We recognise that some ethical questions are complex and may require meaningful discussion with the autism community before formal ethical approval is sought.

Transparency

We aim to be transparent about our research aims, potential impact, timescale and funding. We seek to explain what benefits research may bring to autistic people and their families, whether directly or through future work by others, and how long this may take.

Where confidentiality is necessary (e.g., before research is published or to protect the anonymity of research participants), we will take appropriate steps to ensure that it is maintained.

Treatments and interventions where they are wanted

When wanted by autistic people, we support research into interventions and treatments for co-occurring conditions and aspects of autism that cause distress or suffering. We recognise that views about interventions differ, and we will engage with autistic people and others when considering whether research is appropriate.

Autistic people should be able to make informed decisions about interventions, with appropriate support where needed. Research should consider potential harms and unwanted effects as well as benefits, and report these transparently. Researchers should also disclose any commercial conflicts of interest.

We take seriously concerns raised by autistic people about particular interventions. For example, we do not endorse approaches that seek to ‘normalise’ autistic behaviour through reward or punishment, including forms of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) that we consider disrespectful or potentially harmful.

Prenatal testing for autism

We will not develop or seek to develop a prenatal test for autism. We do not believe such a test would be valuable and recognise the risk that it could be used to prevent autistic people from being born. We oppose eugenics and do not want a world without autistic people.

We may conduct research during pregnancy to better understand prenatal brain development and the biological pathways involved in autism. However, such research will never be undertaken for the purpose of developing prenatal diagnosis.

Autism is not something to be cured

We do not seek a cure for autism itself. Autism is part of who a person is. Instead, we support research that improves understanding, support and quality of life, including interventions for specific difficulties that cause distress and where these are wanted by the autistic person.

Where autistic people experience co-occurring medical conditions, such as epilepsy or gastrointestinal problems, they should have access to appropriate treatment if they wish to receive it.

We also recognise the needs of families of autistic people with high support needs and believe they should be listened to and supported alongside the autistic person.

Our commitment

These values recognise that the questions researchers choose to investigate and the way they conduct research are inseparable from their values and responsibilities.

We recognise that autism research has changed significantly over time and that some approaches of the past do not reflect these principles. Our values will continue to evolve through ongoing dialogue with the autism community and wider society.